nepal_tara888, I am sorry but you don't know the first thing about depression and mental health. I am not "temporarily disoriented in a new culture." That is called culture-shock. Everybody goes through it and everybody passes through that phase. I started being depressed after 3 years in the US. It had nothing to do with the new culture b-s. You said: --- It seems that your condition per DSM 4 TR used by US based psychiatrists is "adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression feature." Other term is also labelled as "reactive depression." It should not last over more than few months and if it persists you need a Psychiatrst. --- It seems like you did not read what I wrote. I said I was compelled to seek medical help and was diagnosed with Bi-polar Disorder. It has nothing to do with USA, and everything to do with my brain the way it is. Mental instability and depression is a serious clinical issue that is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. It is a disease such as typhoid or cancer. I did not choose to be depressed and it's not that I did not have any friends or the social network. It's just that I had no control over it. Sure being with friends helped but I never wanted to be depressed. Your seem to think that we are just bringing it on ourselves by not following GROW. You are wrong. You said: --- We describe a mature person as having: * A strong mind * A strong chsracter and * A loving heart or as possessing the following great habits or strenghts which we call the five foundations of maturity: * Understand * Acceptance * Confidence * Control * Love --- First of all maturity has nothing to do with one's mental state. I have seen and met mature people, professionals, in serious mental conditions. You seem to think that I have a weak mind and an unloving heart? The terms that you threw around are just b-s abstract terms that do not mean a thing unless they are used in a proper context. How the f!ck do you control typhoid from infecting you? Same goes for depression. So you think that my depressed mind is unable to "understand" whatever truths that you seem to propound. Do you mean to say that if I am depressed then I am not a loving person. you said--- Be sorry for those who don't understand (instead of resenting them) --- dyam that does it, If you think I don't understand please atleast don't be sorry for me. Resentment is better than your pity. mG.