I'd like to share something of which I try to remind myself in my darker hours. When I say it to myself, it can at times be either frustrating or ameliorating, but I think hearing it from an external source is only good. 

You are heroic. 

If you contend this with this terrible affliction day after day and continue to persevere, you are heroic. You demonstrate a will, a tenacity, and an energy equal to any of the celebrated in our society. When I consider the effort and courage you are putting forth, I am in awe to think what you would be were you not burdened with this as your task. If there was some external manifestation of your struggle, some sort of tangible result, I am confident you would be heralded and praised for your accomplishment.

Unfortunately, it is not the kind of heroics rewarded with status and fame; it is an unsung heroism. But society's inability to recognize and remunerate you fairly should not be read as a valuation of your person. As hard as it is to feel such a thing through the numbing and obscuring emotional pain, you should try to take to extraordinary pride in your accomplishment. In a just world, you would be elevated and lauded, a survivor and participant of a trial which distinguishes you from others. But the fact that the world is not just does not detract from the greatness of what you have done and continue to do. 

So, please be proud of yourself and, because depression makes it so very hard to internalize that pride, let's be proud of each other for each other and celebrate the quiet and incredible accomplishment that is confronting each new day. We share a secret wisdom about the internal struggle happening in so many of the lives around us, an understanding of the deeper truths beneath the surface of appearances. Though it does not balance against the terribleness of depression, that knowledge can be a wonderful gift if you appreciate it. 

Recognize each other's struggle as heroic and, in doing so, recognize yourself.