Insidethebunker,
I want to commend you for telling your story. That is hard to admit openly. Thank you for sharing your story.
I was just on the phone at this exact time. My son in law is where you were.... he is so angry, so depressed. Just sits and plays video games when he is home and yells at the games. She can't get him to get help because he thinks it is everyone and everything else that is wrong. So awful to see my sweet daughter and grandson living like this. I can't do much, other than pray for them. I live an hours drive away. I have health issues that keep me from doing as much as I would like in life. I am also teaching food preservation classes at this time, so I am busy, too. I do have my own life here. I can't live her life for her. I realize that, too. Still, it hurts to see her like this.
I take Lexapro. Works wonderfully for me. I had taken a couple other ones, but not for depression at the time. It was for my chronic back condition. They were so awful ! I felt like climbing the walls on them. However, once I did become depressed, I asked for help. The Lexapro makes me feel normal. I don't even know I am taking it other than I feel like myself again.
If you need help, then get it. Keep trying different things until you find what is the right one for you. I am not saying to not deal with things on an emotional level. Dealing with the root issue is most important. However, if medication is needed, that is good, too.
Even pioneer women had drug addictions. I forget the name of what they took. They also used herbs, like some still do today. St. Johns wort, things like that. People used to work hard physically, so they worked off stress. They dealt with other things, like crop failures and ran out of water, etc. We don't work as hard these days, at least most of us don't. They also ate good food they grew, not this genetically modified Frankenfoods. We don't even have real foods anymore. No wonder we feel lousy and have diseases.
Everyone, take care the best you can !