kpc, MY deepest sympathies to you and your family on your loss.

I wanted to chime in with my story - about 5 years ago I was unable to function - period stopped, was falling asleep at work, really down, other funky things going on (was only 41 at the time). A friend who had been on Zoloft for about 9 months and found a drastic change in her ability to function encouraged me to see my m.d. So I went and said, I need drugs, menopasual or depression, just give me something. Zoloft was my answer and here I am doing just fine. (Better nutrition and daily calcium and other supplements helped my cycle). Btw, my wise friend, once on Zoloft, realized she'd been depressed most of her life. She's a completely new person!

I think depression was once seen as a failure of character or something, but it's really just confused or lacking (as in my friend's case) body chemistry. Thank God it can be fixed nowadays!