Depression has plagued humans for many years. The pain and suffering endured at its hand has been documented by many. The search to find answers has led to the discovery of medications and therapies designed to alleviate its pain, but all too often it has been to no avail and the suffering has continued resulting in increasing suicide rates leaving families shocked and dumbfounded and grasping to know why. "Depression," if not treated and managed, can be totally disabling for some. It costs society millions of dollars in lost wages, disability and medical care and while management has been the accepted norm, nobody to date has found a permanent solution. The greatest cost to humanity is not in dollars but rather the loss of experiencing a life of freedom and joy which we so richly deserve.You might be asking how I know this. I, too, am one of the millions of people who have "suffered" from this condition. It started when I was in my early twenties without much warning but was not a complete surprise due to the extensive family history I had surrounding this problem. I grew up with a mother who was disgnosed as severely depressed and attempted suicide and had two grandparents who committed suicide. I sought out both traditional and nontraditional approaches to my symptoms and sometimes experienced temporary relief but the sadness, hopelessness and desire to end my life always returned. As my search to feel better and have joy in my life kept coming up with dead ends I started to think that life was always going to be dark and despairing. That changed for me in the late 1990's when I met Michael Cavallaro. Unlike the other practitioners and therapists I had encountered, Michael guided me inward to find the source of my symptoms that I blamed on outside circumstances which is how "depression" is generally managed. For me modalities such at medication and counseling provided little relief. That is not to say that the individuals who assisted me were not kind, loving professionals who did their best to help me with what they knew. The problem was their work was limited and only temporarily alleviated my pain and I wanted more. I am not an expert, but I am a human being who knows how devastating this condition can be when trapped in its web. I have tried many modalities and multiple medications over the course of thirty-eight plus years. Many of these interventions provided a temporary respite but none led me to the life of peace and joy I so wanted.My story may provide insight to those who have lost a friend or loved one to suicide. When someone takes their life, those who love them are left behind unable to understand why someone they love so much would do something like that. Getting into the mind and heart of a "depressed" person can help them to see how the individual perceived their world even if it makes no sense. I sought to eliminate myself due to my inability to love myself because of how I perceived myself and my world.The interesting thing is that the answer I found did not lie within a pill, alternative therapies or a mental health professional. Instead I discovered that the key to the door of freedom from this "suffering" was inside me all the time. I could not open that door until someone assisted me to put the key in the lock and that assistance came from Michael and later his wife Adele and a loving group of friends who served as guardrails to assist me on my journey. Once I put the key inside, my world was changed forever. I never dreamed life could get this good. This is my story.