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Many Americans suffer from depression. In fact you may be surprised by this, but one in five Americans suffer from depression or are unhappy. In 2008 alone, drug companies grossed an estimated 241 million dollars from anti-depression medications. Obviously, for a great many of us, happiness seems to be out of our reach.

How do you know whether you are depressed or not? Here are some symptoms of depression that may help you identify whether or not you are depressed.

1. Excessive weight loss without dieting.
2. Insomnia or Hypersomnia.
3. An extreme feeling of restlessness or of being sluggish.
4. Fatigue.
5. Feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
6. Diminished ability to think or concentrate.
7. Recurrent thoughts of suicide.

There are many other factors to consider when attempting to find out whether you are depressed or not. Depression is a serious medical condition that is very difficult to live with. If you are experiencing these symptoms or others, you should seek the advice of a medical doctor that specializes in depression.

I really hate telling you this, but there is NO secret to becoming a happy person. Actually, a lot of the deciding factors, for whether you are happy or not, are in fact up to you, according to many studies.

According to an article on Web MD, regarding happiness, by Salynn Boyles, 50% of happiness is due to situational factors, while the remaining 50% is due to genes. Mr. Boyles goes on to say, "that the right mix of inherited traits lead to a reserve of happiness that can be called upon during times of stress".

Like so many other things in life, such as looks, talent and intelligence, 50% is up to you and the other 50% you inherited. So, if you are struggling with being a happy person, you are probably asking yourself, 'What can I do to become happy?'

That is right! You can learn to become a happy person. As I stated earlier, being happy is not a secret. It is just, that for a great many of us, becoming happy requires effort.

First of all, there are a great many anti-depression medications on the market. Many of these prescriptions are very successful at releasing individuals from the burden of depression. However, there are many side affects to consider, when contemplating taking these prescriptions. In my opinion taking a drug in order to be happy, just is not a good enough answer. However, it does work for a large portion of the population.

There are also many natural herbs on the market that help with depression. Here are a few, if this interest you.

1. Licorice
2. St. John's Wort
3. Ginkgo
4. Siberian Ginseng

But medication is only one answer. There are several things that one must implement in their lives, in order to become truly happy.

1. A positive attitude, in my opinion, is the most important trait one must learn to have in order to be happy. If you struggle with negativity in your life, chances are, you are not happy. How could you be? To become a positive person, you need to spend time with positive people. Take a long, hard look at your friends and family. Ask yourself, 'Are they a positive influence or a negative one?' Identify the negative friends or family you have in your life and then limit your association with them. After all, you are already struggling with being positive. Do you really need them bringing you down further? Also, I highly recommend that you read the, Power of Being Positive by Joyce Meyer.
2. Try to be flexible. Life rarely goes the way we plan it. In fact, for me that is what makes life interesting. Life always has a surprise for us. When things do not go your way, you can choose to be upset or you can adapt. Those who adapt are the ones that become successful. Learn to adapt to life's surprises.
3. Exercise moderately. According to an article written by Richard Merritt, MCNO; Duke University, exercise may be as effective in relieving major depression as taking our standard anti-depression medications.
4. Busy yourself. No matter how depressed you are, do not just sit around idle. Idle time will allow your mind to focus on the negative feelings you are experiencing. Get up and do something. Find yourself a hobby. It does not matter what you do as long as your are not idle. This is important.
5. Look for happy people. According to many experts, Happiness is contagious. So find happy people and hang out with them.

Remember, as I stated earlier, many of us have to work at being happy. Know that becoming a happy person will require a lot of effort and patience, at first. But, there is a lot of help out there available to you. You can be happy!

In closing, I would like to remind each and every person reading this article, That you absolutely have the right to be happy. Each one of us are unique and special. Therefore, what makes you happy may not necessarily be what makes me happy. My happiness comes from my family. Providing for them and being with them is what makes me happy.

As I have stated many times, in my opinion there is not a secret to being happy. I empathize with those who struggle with depression. It is my sincere hope that my article is of some help to any person struggling with the depression. God Bless!