i think that last quote is right on. i think i am a deeper, rounder, and /better/ person since surviving bouts of clinical depression. i didn't like what brought me there, but i love what came out of it.

that said... therapy is really good. seeing someone objective and with outside experience is good. seeing someone who is qualified to judge if you need to think about taking some anti-depressants for a time is good. really, really good.