As I listen to the media about the different medications that can be prescribed for depression and listen to the side effects of them I can't help but think to myself - "Heck I'd rather deal with the depression.  Supposedly the side effects are like 1 in a million, 1 in a thousand, maybe 1 in a hundred but I'm not sure I like the thought of being that 1 in whatever.

While there are cases of where medication may be necessary to allow the person in question to be able to lead a normal productive life, I don't think that medication is always necessarily the answer.  In some cases (especially with minor depression) the side effects (or possible side effects) are more problematic than dealing with the actual depression itself.

That leads me to another thought in regards to depression....  I have personally run into situations where well meaning people try to get me to cheer up saying things like "ohh it can't be all that bad or "don't let it get to you" or "just cheer up" - so on and so forth.... I find that I do best if I deal with the bouts of depression in my own way and I generally find that the episode of depression goes away soon.  However, If I am pushed to cheer up the episode seems to last longer.  Of course I can only speak for myself personally in this regard and what I personally feel - whether or not other people who struggle with depression have this same feeling I can't say.