I know this thread is kind of old and all, but I went through a nasty bout with depression myself seven years ago. My depression started when my parents and I left California right after my Junior Year of High School and moved to South Carolina at the beginning of my Senior Year.
Needless to say I was messed up mentally and tried to find an outlet for my sadness. I did write poetry which ultimately held my anger, bitterness, and depression at bay temporarily, making friends also helped as well, but once I graduated there was literally nothing for me and everyone around me either changed into different people or hurt me. A lot of my depression was more or less me being a needy individual at one time and letting people say anything, do anything, and still forgive them even though they meant no good at all.
Eventually I started cutting myself to cope with the pain and this happened quite often. I would sit in my room, get my house key, and just slash it across my arms. Self mutilation is like a drug and while it's not heroin, cocaine, LSD, or any of that junk, it really does get you addicted to pain and the more you do it the more you just want to die you know? I would cut myself with my key, let it bleed and welt over, afterwards I would get a bottle of alcohol and pour it all over the cuts.
So bitterness, loneliness, anger, a needy mentality, and not having that special lady in my life really messed me up at one point. Looking back on it I automatically think to myself "What the **** was wrong with me? What the hell was I thinking?". Right now I am very happy even though I'm trying to get over the last bit of this cold. But I'm happy now, I haven't cut in 7 years, I have a job, and feel free physically and mentally.
But depression is a horrible, horrible thing to deal with and I understand how people can struggle with it.