Do you have a happy life or happy moments?

I have happy moments and contented days if that makes sense. Happy is an elevated feeling that I don't think is possible to maintain, and probably shouldn't be honestly because if we are always happy we lose those moments of varying stages of euphoria. Does that make sense?

I know I am dealing with depression when I don't care about anything.. including I don't care that I don't care... I'm not interested in how well I do my job at work, in developing relationships with people (co-workers or family) I'm not interested in pursuing my previous hobbies... 

But when I'm content I have an interest in one or more of my hobbies, look forward to interaction with  family, friends, coworkers. 

Both...in general, I am a happy person. I have a quick temper but I generally don't hold grudges and am usually quick to forgive, and that helps me to let go of negativity I think.

I also use exercise as a way of dealing with anxiety. Helps a lot.

I remember long ago reading about Ma telling Laura to always look for the silver lining, and that was something that stuck with me. I've had some very dark days in the past that I couldn't have gotten through without my friends and, don't laugh, that jerk cat of mine. IRL I use humor to work through hard things, as well. Sometimes it's easier for me to laugh than cry.

With so many who struggle with anxiety and depression, I hesitate to even say this-but I think I have a happy life. I tend to be a glass half full and a refrigerator close by to fill it up if I want to kind of girl. I have moments were I have flashes of anxiety about certain situations, but over all, I am happy and find silver linings (to be cliche) in most things.

There are times where I am more happy than others (you would probably call them the happy moments) but over all, as a rule, I am happy with a happy life.

My mom says that I have been that way all my life even as a baby. She said I would wake up in the morning smiling and not stop all day. I still am like that most days. My son says I wake up with the 'happyhappy joyjoy' and then dance my way through the day.  

I suffer from depression and anxiety too. I'd been on a low dose antidepressant before I got pregnant and was off of it my entire pregnancy and have been doing great.

I agree that happiness is not a constant emotion that's able to be maintained. I have highs and lows every day..but I'd say I maintain a sense of "contentment" most of the time. Like I'm okay. I'm good. Not super high, not super low, even though I know a low or high can be right around the corner. When contentment goes down, I know I have an issue and need to get bac on meds. I've a tendency to go off meds for several months and do fine, then it starts creeping back in and I know it's time to start taking it.

happy moments is how I'd describe it for me, too... my life overall is pretty good, compared to some, I'm sure it would be great. But for me, it's just 'there' a lot of the time, unless something extraordinary happens or I take the time to notice the small things- a pretty sunset, the dog licking my face when I'm sad, etc.

(although I'm not sure I will skew your sample or not, because I also have chronic depression that I take medication for, and have for about 10 yrs, now. I've gone off of it a few times- not a good idea! I've found that for me, it will only take a few days without my medication for me to start skewing toward the 'everything in my life is horrible' side of things where I'm constantly on edge and everyone and everything in my life seems to exist solely to irritate me. I don't mean to go off of it, I'll just feel good, forget a day or two, and then bam.)

I don't believe that anyone can be happy all the time, though-- to me, that's just not possible- people can be content with their life, but I think anyone who says they're happy all the time is either lying or fooling themselves.

I'm grateful for every moment I live, but I am suffering from a deep dark depression. Happy moments would be nice, a happy life great. Depression, anxiety, fear, PTSD are all the largest part of my life.

I worry about my teen daughter as I see the same fear, anxiety, depression in her.

Not knowing if death is knocking every single second is taking it's toll on our entire family.

Good luck. It's great she talked to you about it.

I meant to add, I agree that it's a good thing your daughter is seeing a counselor, right away, too-- I think I suffered from chronic depression for a lot of years before I finally sought treatment in my early / mid 30s... talking to someone earlier would have helped me to learn coping mechanisms and how to recognize the 'down' thoughts and criticisms as not 'real' and coming from my depression. I think that might have changed a lot of things about my life, had I realized that sooner.

Well I think you can either be feeling anxious and down about something or feeling anxious and down about nothing. Your daughter sounds like she falls into the latter category, which is often a chemical thing. Medication helps a lot, for most people who try it. It changed my life from the chronic anxiety I'd felt since childhood to leading a happy life. 

I suffered from really bad depression from 2010 up until about a year or so ago. I thought everything was awful, no happiness whatsoever. About a year ago (give or take some), the fog started to lift and I've been getting better everyday. I was talking with my girls the other night about being happy and I realized how truly happy I am with my life. Sure I have moments where things aren't that great, but for the most part, we live a good life. We own our home, own our cars, have very little debt, get to take yearly vacations (sometimes even twice a year!)... I have a good husband that loves me, two healthy and beautiful girls, enough food to eat, and enough money to do a lot of fun things that we often take for granted. When I was depressed, I didn't see all of that. The depression clouded my judgement over a lot of things. I'm glad I'm finally seeing "the light" and how good we really do have it.

I think some people are hard wired to be happy and others have to work at it. I'm one that has to work at it. I have happy moments, but for the most part, like Volt, I'm just content. I think I have a form of depression. A counselor once gave a name for it and I don't remember the name, but he likened it to being like Eeyore. I still enjoy my hobbies, friends and family I'm just not generally "happy."

Moments; but I prefer the word content to happy. There are some aspects of my life that will never change. Trying to obtain a happy life is too exhausting.

I don't believe that happiness is a single moment. Happiness can be an existence. For me, part of it has been learning to be content, to be grateful, and to know what brings me joy so that I can pursue it. Happiness is letting go of other people's expectations.

I have had terrible things in my life but I have learnt and am still learning to separate my own sense of worth and well-being from the things that happen to me. Talking to a therapist has helped with this.

I have had counselling, and take anti-depressants. I do think some people are more prone to feeling like this, and drugs can help and there is no shame in taking them.

19 is a really tough age anyway, apart from those feelings. I was very similar - always worrying, feeling the pressure, and I felt very responsible for other people as well. It has taken me a long time to let go of these things. I'm glad your DD can talk to you, and is seeking help.

I keep a gratitude journal - actually these days I use a calendar with a line for every day. And I write something every day that I am grateful for, or has made me happy, or is a 'good' thing in my life. It has become a matter of habit now but it is very rewarding to see such a list building up. Even on the days when I feel dreadful, there is always something - even if it's just a hot cup of tea

I'm happy by nature, but can be affected by bad situations *OR* staying home alone too long.

I took an antidepressant a couple of months the year I had 1. cancer, 2. divorce and 3. my brother's suicide. It was just too much!

My latest crying jag has been cured by walking in the evenings. Either that, or the hormone surge that made me cry has ebbed coincidentally the same time I started my evening walks.

I really feel for y'all suffering with depression and tragedy. It makes me feel guilty for ever posting a flip or sarcastic response on this message board. People really do have some bad shit to deal with.

I don't know who wrote it (maybe the Bloggess??) but I read a wonderful blog post about how depression lies. It really does. People can go along, saying things that are NOT about me in the slightest, but when I'm in the midst of a depressive episode, it seems like everything is about me (all of it negative, of course), and I take everything ultra-personally.

so, sharlag, don't feel guilty for being flip or sarcastic! most people who suffer with depression have good and bad times, and know that it's truly 'not all about us' and things aren't meant personally.