Guess what?! You don't have to be miserable if you have depression! This may sound like a new concept or maybe an impossible concept, but just try and believe it.
You can be happy and have depression. How do I know? I'm living it.
There have been times in my life when living was not the most desirable thing on my list of stuff to do, but I hung in there. I have been absolutely miserable and I have been uncontrollably happy (don't confuse this with bipolar disorder ;D). If I can do it, you can too.
I know I give similar tips post after post, but only because repetition works and you need to know these things. You can be happy and miserable but not at the same time. I don't want to focus on being miserable because that comes all too easily. So let's talk about being happy.
Your depression may stem from genetics, tough economic times, terrible and traumatic life experiences and so one. But where does your happiness stem from? It stems from right inside you.
Only you, nobody or nothing else, can make you happy. You are the only one in control of you. Your circumstances may have been caused by something or someone else, but how you approach them is entirely up to you.
Try not to dwell on the negative. This is really difficult to do. Look for positive things in your situation. You can't pay your bills right now, but you have food to eat. You don't have a job, but you have family who is helping support you in your time of need.
Look for the good things in your life. If you can't find any, make them up. And make them come true for you.
Fake it until you make it. You're probably really good at masking your emotions. Most depressed persons are. Tell yourself that you are happy and do it everyday. Tell yourself you are beautiful or handsome and do it everyday. You will be begin to believe and eventually know it.
Remember, you can control your destiny, who you are and what you become. Don't let yourself down.