I seem to have battled through my severe depression, the last 5 or 6 years I've been medication free. I think I still suffer from low-level depression, always will, but I went through intensive therapy and picked up some coping skills that I was severely lacking ... and it's really helped. It also helps that I can now recognize when my depression is getting bad. I didn't used to be able to do that.
Suicide, obviously, isn't the answer. It doesn't solve the problems... besides, there really is too much to live for even if it doesn't seem that way now. The last time I attempted going that route, my best friend said something that stuck with me... she said, one of these times you're actually going to be successful and then what? You'll never know what is in store if you're dead.
I don't have any sure-fire advice on getting through, each person's depression is as unique as the individual but maybe meditation or yoga may help. Maybe setting aside a time during each day to do something special for yourself. I know that seems hokey but there was a lot of self-hatred tied into my depression and thinking I didn't deserve to enjoy life or have good things for myself. So I'd do something special for myself. At first it seemed really, kinda stupid but after a while, it made me look at myself in a more positive light. I also had a few friends I confided in and when I was down I'd tell them I needed a boost and they would get super, uber happy and silly and generally take my mind off things. That little bit of peace or silliness sometimes got me through another day.
As far as medications, maybe you need a different doctor. Can't say without specifics but it took me a long time to find a therapist I liked and it took me even longer to trust her to help me (one of the issues we worked on was trust--I've got truckloads of trust issues). When I first went on medication, that took a long time to get right too. I was a teen-ager the first time and that one dose knocked me on my ass for 72 hours--I had to literally crawl up the stairs from my bedroom and I lay on the couch until the meds worked their way out of my system. My mom had to help me to the bathroom or to sit up. It was bad and we immediately found a new doctor who prescribed a different med which worked better. I finally found one that worked for me but over time my docs had to reevaluate my dosage. After therapy, I did something really stupid, I stopped my meds (I also lost my health insurance so didn't have much choice but that is a pattern with most folks who suffer depression--we get to feeling better and think we don't need meds any more--some of us luck out, others don't), researched my diet and changed that and it seemed to help. But as I said earlier, depression is so unique to each individual what works for some may not work for others.
Mostly, just keep talking. Talking is way better than the alternative even if it doesn't seem like it right now. Good luck!
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