For a long time now (years and years in fact) I have had periods of feeling really down. I generally manage to drag myself to work but everything else suffers, I spend a lot of time in bed, can't be bothered to do my hair properly, or cook, or engage with other people, in fact I get a bit paranoid about seeing other people at all. Everything seems hopeless. I have been to the GP several times but when he sees me, he just sees that I am functioning as I managed to make it to the appointment (!) - despite the fact that I often don't make it to other appointments/social engagements at all. He says that he doesn't believe in prescribing antidepressants for people like me who aren't suicidal. I am NOT suicidal but life just seems grey to me and that is affecting everything else from my career to my relationship to my children.He says exercising will help - and he is right but when I am in the slough of despond I can't even get out of bed let alone exercise! I can't accept that my life will always be like this and feel I am ruining my family's life too. Any tips on getting out of this gratefully received, this recent bout seems to be going on and on....