Hi, I just read the "Hyperbole and a Half" post about Adventures in Depression, and I saw your link at the bottom of the page; this is how I came here to your page. I only speak very little German (very very little), enough to know what you are talking about but not to translate exactly. I assumed you are very good at English if you were reading Hyperbole and a Half, so I'm sorry I can't say all of this in German! I don't know how to send a message to you so I posted a comment.

I have a question to ask you, about the German perception of depression. I am American, and my boyfriend was German.. I had a hard time accepting that I had depression because I used to think I could deal with anything if I wanted to. But I couldn't stop feeling this way, so I had to try to accept this and deal with this by medication, etc. My boyfriend could not deal with it and could not support me or help me, and he said he doesn't know if he believes in it (depression). So I thought it was maybe a very American "trend" and that Europeans - Germans especially - are much more determined or something. But now reading your post I see that Germans too have Depression. So is it just my boyfriend who feels this way? And if so, how can I explain it to him?

If it would be easier to talk by e-mail, I can give you my e-mail address.