Ok, so the market went down. Run the numbers for the amount that your stocks "lost" comparing the statements from 4-5 months ago to the most recent. Then compare that to how much the Dow Jones or Standard and Poors has lost between those dates. If you find that your investments didn't lose as much as the market, they are pretty good investments.

You say you won't need the money for 25 years. Well, by that times, things will have changed. Stocks may split, value will be added. Dividends will be removed in the short term from some companies as they need to recover, and maybe added later when they recover. A good financial advisor may help you understand all this, as well as figure out how to get out of the bad stocks.

And I put "lost" in quotes because you haven't lost any money until you sell.

And meanwhile, as the first letter said, the CD interest rate will be changing.

Don't let the emotions of a down market push you out at a low, especially since you have no need for the money at this point.

When you take care of yourself through such harrowing emotional pain that depression brings, it's really difficult to see the world outside you. But please, please take a look at that world. You think only a few people really care about you, but your death will affect more. Your brother may not get over it. What if your suicide causes his latent depression to come out leading him to do the same, and thereby ruining his lovely family. What if everything in "It's a Wonderful Life" was like your life, that all these people's lives depend upon you?

You are worth it. Not just for the connections to other people, but for yourself. There is a way out. Try different therapists, try different methods. Try travel, try exercise, try bungee jumping, get a pet to take care of. You have a way of writing that people like to read. Start a blog, grow a fan base, and then there are even more connections of people, who like us, can cheer for you to keep your head above water and keep trying. And gain strength for yourself from that.

Someone once said to me that suicide is the most selfish thing a person can do. And I remind myself of that any time that option crosses my brain.