"The moment I received my official diagnosis, I dropped all my assumptions about depression. It was so freeing." -Member of MyDepressionTeam

Living with a chronic condition can be difficult and even a burden, but also an opportunity to rid yourself of what you think you know.

Have you heard the saying, "People don't get it until they get it"? That is so true about depression.

"The more I learn about depression, the more I realize that it's not my fault." -Member of MyDepressionTeam

A depression diagnosis forces us to drop our negative assumptions about life with a chronic condition. Members on MyDepressionTeam gain perspective from other members' experiences to become better informed about what it's really like to live with depression.

Here are recent conversations from members of MyDepressionTeam:

• "Did some research and I’m figuring my body has to start producing the brain enzymes on its own. Learning that made me feel better, knowing it’s not necessarily a sign I have to go back on meds, but my physiological body needs time to kick back into action."
• "I think I've actually acquired some great coping skills, I just need to learn when to use them and remind myself that I know what to do during these stressful situations."
• "My counseling session went well today. I think it is safe to say I still have a long way to go, learning how to deal with these things, but this is a start."

What negative assumptions have you let go of about depression? Tell us about it in the comments below or directly on MyDepressionTeam.com.