Terriamn, I admire your ability to catch yourself when you get depressed and take care of yourself. It is really devastating to watch someone you love go through this especially if they get so overwhelmed they can’t or won’t do self care.
I have a son who has had major depression. The school district sent him to Montana for a year. It was so devastating to watch him. Montana taught him to power through the depression, get up in the morning and go to school no matter how he felt. He exercises a tremendous amount because he doesn’t want to go on depression pills and for him exercise is worth half a depression pill. I admire the people like yourself and my son who have worked out a system to deal with the depression, and have figured out triggers.
Take care of yourself. I’m thinking of you.