I was in love with the avatar.

What you've done is in itself a very positive step. Wishing you all the best for the future.

CD123 - So sorry to hear about all the setbacks and I wish you the best.  I feel I can really relate to your situation as I too have serious heart disease, a pile of other chronic diseases, and I struggle with depression (which usually comes out as irritation and anger, like nearly assaulting a guy twice my size because he was not climbing up the escalator ).  While not the sole cause of my depression, the impact of my chronic diseases on my life is significant and ongoing.  I�m fortunate to work with a great team of doctors and a fantastic therapist so I�m doing OK. 

Hopefully you are able to get treatment for you depression, as there are treatments you can do that likely will make a big difference.  While taking a short break from MSG might help, based on my experience, the one thing I would say is that depression thrives on withdrawal.  The more I pulled away from things that did or might frustrate me, the more depressed I got in the long term.  If MSG is too frustrating, I urge you to replace it with something else (not necessarily stock related) that lets you find �a place� again.  I did that when I stopped reading/participating in the Istock forums and joined MSG and I�m much happier for it.

PS I picked my screen name as I was sad about what happened to Istock, not because I get depressed. 

Great advice.  I hope that knowing that there are now quite a few people that have pubically stated that they were sad to see him go will help in a tiny way.   Wishing a healthy and happy new year to you all especially to those of you with ongoing depression and other health problems.

Charl, please come back when you feel up to it.  We are really all in the same business, competitors yes, but have the same desires....success.  You're right though.  Sometimes people cannot post meaningful, thoughtful or query type messages without ultimately being attacked by a few "wolves".  For me, I tend to push back, but that's just me.  You should do what amplifies your health, then came back when you feel up to it.  Sometimes you feel alone.  My mom just had a major heart surgery issue while throwing a stroke right in front of me when I was visiting her in ICU. I have two brothers who essentially do nothing to help out while I handle the medical decisions, take care of the house, pay her bills, deal with banking issues and long term care funding, all by myself.  Not even an offer to by my brothers to mow my mom's lawn.  Yes, little things can mean A LOT, so depressions and loneliness can easily set in. Like you, I've used MSG as an outlet and, I admit, I let certain kinds of posts get to me in these forums.  Then the flaming begins. This year I am stepping back, as you are, because there are way too many other important things in my life than to let forum posts get to me.  I'll be here but more as a lurker, working on my port really hard this year and enjoying my family for the short time I have left with them.  Good luck with your health and hope to see you back in the forums someday soon.