Diagnosing the depression?

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It wasn't testing or anything like that; I guess you would call it 'family talk'. My other and father both struggled with it and many other family members have had depression and it has killed some. Getting family history like this can be hard if you aren't connected to your family though, especially if they don't have official diagnosis.

I've been on medication since middle school for it. Currently I take Prozac as well as a couple supplements. B12 and fish/krill oil - they are known to help with depression somewhat. I've also had a therapist off and on nearly my entire life So with my therapists and on my own I've spent time trying to understand myself and build who I am as a person to combat the self loathing I've had. Having something that you enjoy taking part of that you are good at helps with that too.

I'm an animal lover so they have played a part in my feeling better, or in comforting me. I've largely dedicated myself and heart to my horse; as I'm not sure if I would have pulled through some of my depressive bouts without her. I don't know if animals are your thing but I think the underlying piece to it is having connection to someone - be it person or animal. Also since she is an animal, she involves quite a bit of work so I get regular outdoor exercise that I'm sure helps me regulate.

The root cause in my case would simply be listed as a Chemical imbalance. This is sort of the key idea of what depression is. There doesn't have to be something that made you feel bad, there doesn't have to be an event that created it - it's just there as an illness. The idea for treating it is about making it better, not necessarily 'curing it, as it may not be realistic to aim for that in some cases. There's still reaserch going into it of course, because there are some possible links that are just being thought about - like having various hormones pumped into the food we eat O_O Or the fast paced and increasingly stressful world we are suppose to function in.

Depression is a common co-morbid with Aspergers/ASD also. Our brains function a it differently so in the regard its not so far off to think that various balances might be altered.

It is entirely true that can be a lifelong battle. Always uphill? for some. Never enjoying any part of life? Maybe a few. The worst part of my depression was from 12 to 16ish. I still have trouble with it, but it's not as bad as that and I certainly have had happy times. Depression can manifest a bit differently for each person too. For me I sometimes am unsure if its depression causing a problem or if it's the Aspergers...or maybe my anxiety. Or maybe its a component of the Aspergers that is making me depressed (such as the isolation) When you have multiple issues it can make it even hard to pinpoint cause.

Engaging in any kind of therapy can be of benefit. Its absolutely far worse to let it sit without any attention to it, regardless of the reason for it. Many of my family members that has or had depression, particularly the ones that had died were pretty much entirely untreated. Sadly some people aren't willing or open enough to try to be treated.