I damn near committed suicide. The depression lasted for three years. It was a struggle just to survive.

I expect that it's been a lot worse for me, that my resume says I attended grad school, rather than for my resume only to say that I have a bachelor's degree. However I am very insistent on stating that I attended grad school, even if I lose jobs by doing so.

There are a lot of people who fail their exams. It's quite common for graduate students to take ten years or more to earn their doctorates.

If you don't pass your exams, save up some money, go on vacation someplace nice, get laid - then go back to school.

You're not generally required to take any specific course as a graduate student. When you come back, take classes that interest you, not what you require to pass the exams.