I too have lifelong depression. I don't think you ever get over it you just have to live with it like having an illness like diabetes. Have you tried reading some self help books or counselling. I know it is harder for men to talk than women. what about physical exercise? I find that helps for me when I am able to do it. good luck

Oh, I sure want the answer though! Personally, I think it is possible through hard work, being aware, changing behaviors, etc...

Try these websites, they are really amazing.
http://www.eft-talk.com/
www.emofree.com

These worked when most everything didn't.

hi
I have suffered on and off for the last 20 yrs
you have to find ONE thing that makes you happy.
One little tiny thing. an incentive. And understand all humans have issues.
I relate to you
anytime you want to chat

I want to leave a comment too. I personally think life is reflective. Meaning life reflects off us and we are then interpreted on that reflection. Many times our reflection is seen by others as wrong or not understandable. Sometimes this is correct when we have learned behavior and ways of thinking that are truly destructive. But for many it is just having a hard time taking your gifts and putting into appreciative practice in the world. I don't think it is a coincident that our country has one of the highest rates of depression. 80% of people hate their jobs. We have a cooking cutter society and if you don't fit the mold you begin to question your own essences. I have many times listen to people tell me what I should do and within the same conversation admit to being unhappy. I hated corporate America. I worked as a therapist for 14 years. Now I work with young athletes and run a home based business. The irony is that many hate the corporate structure but try to defend it when I offer help. "Oh you are talking about one of those pyramid things". And I have to gently tell them that they are working in a pyramid or as I like to call it "a Monarchy". CEO/King up top, VPs/Royal subjects, and dispensable Employees/Peasants.

You are the real hero because you're not sitting there and defending things that make you joyless. You are sitting there saying that life today is making you uncomfortable but instead asking the in-depth question of "why are we all so unhappy?", you are asking why do I feel so unhappy and why to do I feel like I am sitting on this island all by myself. Please turn around because I guarantee you that your island is full.

But the battle becomes between the admitted depressed and the closet depressed. Maybe if everyone would stand up and say that life isn't enjoyable maybe the government would spend money on trying to understand why most of us live in fear and in anxiety. It is so commonplace that we see it on sitcoms and movies. No better example is the teen movies where the snobbish prom queen and the arrogant jock rule the school and treat others as dirt. And usually those movies have the underdog winning. But you go a real school and people are still trying to find a place in the human hierarchy. Ever watch the office. The whole show jokes on typical office structure.

I know I haven't based any of my opinions on any research, but I take some serenity in the idea that I don't play those games any more and that I respect and love all people, especially those that dare to be themselves.

Do you want to know something really funny. When my family made 6 figures I was going through daily panic attacks and severly depressed. I just went through bankruptcy and foreclosure but I feel wonderful (relatively). I won't lie, I am nervous about making a living for my family right now. I know things are going to get better, but the emotional side of my problems make sense.
Check out those sites you may like the exercises.

uhm, .. if it is categorized "life long", it is for life. One does not get over a "life long" malady.
Fortunately, depression (to my knowledge) is NOT considered a "life long" condition. Of course there are people who have depression their entire life, so THEIR depression would be "life long" depression. In general, it is considered "treatable" meaning it can be made to go away.
Having blue eyes is a life long condition. Depression is (supposedly) not.

lemonade + lots of money + love.
add something soft in there too.
like a pillow or a bunny rabbit.
(^_^) goodluck!

The longer you've had depression the harder it is to treat it, habitual thinking patterns along with chemical imbalances are high on the lists of reasons why but also just your life situation can keep the depression cycles going.
Is it possible to be completely cured? I have my doubts on that but you can do many things to make life better.
First of if it's bad enough to need meds use them and keep going until you find the right one that will let you be more balanced without a ton of side effects.
Second if part of your depression stems from life situations then get couselling and again keep going until you find one you can be honest wiht and who you feel is giving you results.
Three, change your diet to a healthy one that feeds your brain. Most of our modern diets and fast food are slow acting poision and do more harm then good especialy for those of us with depression and other emotional/mental problems.
Besides working on your diet work on your body, often going out for a brisk walk or doing something active when your feeling down will help stop the slide. I know that is when you really don't want to do anything but maybe sleep but fighting that urge can become habitual given time.
Next, take a good hard look at your life and who is in it in the form of friends and family. Are these people supportive and really want to help you get well and improve your life or are they contributing to your depression/dysfunction? WAlking away from those who are toxic and distructive in our lives is never easy, espeicaly if they are parents, siblings, spouses etc. but if you really want to improve your life often that must be done, few of us have the strength to heal while living and dealing with toxic situations, we need all the help we can get.
Finaly don't try to take on to much at one time, to make to many changes to fast and to expect to much from yourself when you have not built up your mind and body to take on the challenge. Be gentle and loving with yourself as you move toward healing.

I have been fighting with depression for 20+ years, and I totally relate to where you are coming from. The most important thing is to have HOPE. Depression is not like an infection, where you take antibiotics and it goes away.

I have been really sick at least 5 times - and I held on because I chose to do it for my family. If you have family - work on your depression for them, if you don't feel like you can do it for yourself anymore. Post inspirational things around your house. Read about great people who have battled depression - Abraham Lincoln, or Winston Churchill. Regardless of what you might think of thier politics, they still did not let the disease get the best of them. If they can - you can too!!

Make a plan, see a doc. Commit to not giving up, and be hopeful.

There's some good replies here,especially concerning a good diet and exercise,I've suffered from pretty severe depression/anxiety since i was about eighteen but the past five years have really hit home to me how much i suffer.
Over the last year or so I've taken up swimming (and actually gotten really good at it),sometimes i really don't want to go but i force myself to and always feel better after I've been.I'm no guru on the subject but i think if you make a really good effort to look after your body it also helps your mind,as they are intimately connected.
Another point worth considering(as posted by geogiaW)is looking at who is in your life and whether some relationships are in fact toxic(to you),this ones a biggy .I don't have a big circle of friends,mostly acquaintances ,but the few close ones i do have tend to use drugs and alcohol to unwind and socialise and I often find myself having to deal with big hangovers on top of the depression which is never good mixture,in fact it often feels catastrophic.
Sorry to go off on a whim there but its worth thinking about!

GeorgiaW...that was such an awsome reply.
I hope you find a good way to deal richie...I know it's not easy but never stop searching to find what works.

Ill never give in, Ive tried loads of things and im proud of myself, just want to be in control of my brain!

First you have to have money to invest in a good diet. Second you have to have strength and energy to go buy and prepare and clean up after preparing food for a good diet. I'm left handed and poor. So I can't afford healthy food and i've slowly thrown away most everything in my kitchen because I'm unable to clean it. so I only eat things I can prepare in the microwave or toaster oven usually or fast food. It hurts my shoulder to cut or chop or wash dishes. I don't have a dish washer. I'm 37 and I thought by now my life would be settled. That I'd have a dishwasher, washer/dryer. I'd have a home and a decent car. I've worked my whole life eventhough i've suffered with depression and over the past 3 years of it I've had severe pain on top of that. My husband has Crohn's and PAN and can't work and he keeps getting denied for dissability, so now I'm poorer than I've ever been because he's joined my life and I don't regret that because I'd rather have him than money. But I feel like I'm being punished. I work everyday and I'm in pain physically and mentally. My shoulder hurts so bad that it hurts to type and my doctor doesn't care. I'm a neusance to her and I don't know where else to go. And I can't drink because alcohol makes me sick to my stomach. So I just sleep and hope I don't wake up. Oh, the question to life long depression, yes. I remember being depressed in elementary school. My teachers wrote letters to my parents. Why doesn't Stacy play with the other kids? Why does Stacy just stand against the wall and not talk to anyone? I had hope most of my life, I don't anymore.

sorry i havent got anything to say to you about it, depression will always be part of your life. you just have to learn to live with it. just how you treat it that makes the difference. get some help with councellors. they do work.

Shiny hope you get some help with your shoulder, must be hard to live with, hope your doctor sees sense otherwise see somebody else, never give up hope!