What are your tips for overcoming depression and becoming happier?

Coping with depression can be challenging. Depression makes it hard to engage in the behavior and activities that may help you feel better. Talk to your doctor or therapist about improving your coping skills, and consider these tips to cope with depression:
Simplify your life. Cut back on obligations when possible, and set reasonable schedules for goals.
Consider writing in a journal to express pain, anger, fear or other emotions.
Read reputable self-help books and consider talking about them to your doctor or therapist.
Don't become isolated. Try to participate in normal activities and get together with family or friends regularly.
Take care of yourself by eating a healthy diet and getting sufficient sleep.
Join a support group for people with depression so that you can connect to others facing similar challenges.
Stay focused on your goals. Recovery from depression is an ongoing process. Stay motivated by keeping your recovery goals in mind. Remind yourself that you're responsible for managing your illness and working toward your goals.
Learn relaxation and stress management. Try such stress reduction techniques as meditation, yoga or tai chi.
Structure your time. Plan your day and activities. Try to stay organized. You may find it helpful to make a list of daily tasks.
Don't make important decisions when you're in the depths of depression, since you may not be thinking clearly.

You should know the different types of depression. Manic depression and or Bipolar Illness, is dramatic and extreme mood swings, and can be reckless at times.
Severe depression is one that interferes with the ability or sleep, eat, work, and get along with others or enjoy simple things. You can be at risk for suicide.
If you are mildly depressed, you have a dissatisfaction for your daily life, and feel sad. You can overcome depression by exercising regularly, eating right, try to get enough sleep each night. You should also surround yourself with good people. Laugh a lot, and try to relax. Psychotherapy/and counselling may help and medication. Try to focus on what is making you so unhappy and try to change the environment, even if it is your job, or marriage, or whatever the problem. You can have counselling for your marriage or children. You family is usually not qualified to really help you, they might say you will get over what ever it that is bothering. They mean well, but the help they give is usually not suitable. Try to join other groups and do things that will bring about a change in your life. Sometimes going to church will help, because you are around a lot of positive people. You have to look for a change and know that you can be happy. Some people move to another city, or part of the country with a better climate. That may help. You have to make sure that you do not bring the same problems with you. Whether is it a job, or some other situation. Unlearning how to live differently is a challenge.

For a short time medication and counseling to deal with what is causing your depression. My brother went through it and he took medicaitons for 6 months and counseling and it helpe him out big time. He's been great now for the past 7 years, no more counseling and no more medication.
Now he's living life to the fullest and enjoying it! He goes out with his friends and him and his wife was able to save their marriage too. It was a plus plus situation!

completely immerse yourself in the Word of God. find out what is making you unhappy and battle it the way you would an addiction. change the music you listen to, the books you read, and the people you hang out with if you need to. make sure everything around you is as happy and positive as possible. don't let your friends involve you in negative conversations. they can be the most toxic of all

find a good friend. one that's trustworthy
do NOT stay in your room for a long time, be out. movies, friends, keep yourself moving. listen to positive music, stay away from sad country. when u think about something sad, automatically change your mind. exercise. it'll make you feel better. have talks with parents, and such. laugh a lot. look up jokes. read spiritual passages (whatever your religion may be) find a guy, and just flirt. dont get serious. its not a how its just someone to take your time. go to the mall and get dressed up. feel good about yourself. i hope all this helps ; ]

Distract yourself from whatever is causing your depression. See your friends and go for a night on the town. Find a hobby that suits you and spend your time w/ something that makes you happy. Being around people really takes your mind off of your own problems.