I don’t know if this will work for you, but I can share what helped me get through the days.

I did a lot of reading about what causes depression, and I found that the more I knew, the more control I got over my own symptoms.

I actually participated in a discussion group online for awhile – I know that this is not everybody’s thing, but I needed support that was not judging me and expecting me to get better overnight, and this group really was there for me. I stopped when I felt it was time for me to try to manage without a support group for a while, to fly solo.

And everyday, I make every effort to think positively. Some days I fail miserably and I feel weird and foolish, but other days, I find myself in step with the world, just for a brief moment. In those moments, I realize that everbody else is just doing the best they can with what they have, and I don’t feel so bad about my own life.

I was never diagnosed with depression as a child, but as I look back, my whole life was under a cloud. I lived in despair. If I can feel happy, then anyone can feel happy.

Remember, you are valuable. You are a worthwhile human being. And you can feel better.