It is an illness beset by stigma, which compounds the illness. I was happy to link to an essay yesterday on the subject. A reader who deals with the illness also recommends this Stephen Fry BBC special on the subject, "The Secret Life Of The Manic Depressive." Here's Part One. The rest is on YouTube.
See web-only content:
http://www.theatlantic.com/daily-dish/archive/2007/08/unmasking-depression/225880/
This article available online at:
http://www.theatlantic.com/daily-dish/archive/2007/08/unmasking-depression/225880/
