I sometimes wonder if people who write in these forums understand depression or are suffering from it. When I get depressed my only though is to try something that will stop me harming myself in the next 30 seconds... the long term effects are not at all relevant! Because when I am depressed there is no long term! I would be happy to be an addict - rather that than depressed, angry & likely to use self harm as a distraction method (although sometimes I have no choice!)