[thaumaturgy]

Distractions are good, but HN also still has some remnants of a "community", and depression has been a recurring topic here for years. There are some factors that can make small business and startup founders susceptible to severe depression, and it wasn't that long ago that we lost one of our members to suicide -- and at this point, unfortunately, I'm sure there have been others, statistically speaking.

A few people, like me, have decided to start talking more openly about depression rather than trying to maintain the appearance that nothing was wrong. I was motivated by Stephen Fry and by a few other events around the same time, including the suicide of one of my clients.

I don't think anybody understands depression well enough yet to give advice that will work for everyone. (I sure as hell am long past wanting to receive any more advice; I hate being told to talk to a professional.)

But, if you'd like to just chat about stuff for a while, my email address is in my profile. Open invitation. You wouldn't be the first. It might be better than jumping out a window.

On the balance though, I think it would be good to de-stigmatize depression a bit. People who struggle with depression shouldn't also feel alone.