Why do people feel like happiness has never happened to them when they're in depression?

Question

I mean whenever someone is sad they ussually think about all sort of sad stuff and just ignore all the good parts of their lives. Why is that so?

Answer 1

Depression of any degree is not an isolated event that is added to the over all "pool" of events in our daily lives. Depression is a state of mind that casts a dark shadow over our entire perception of reality. Euphoria is of course the exact opposite.
Depression is like walking without an umbrella on a rainy day. You get wet on the first step, all of the steps in between, and you get wet on the last step. Expecting depression to be otherwise is like saying, "Well, I'm already wet from the first step I took, so why do I have to get wet again?"
Practicing zen meditation helps one to overcome depression.

Answer 2

We dwell on the negative, ... because we're so fearful that that's all there is. Ironically, total focus on the negative often brings one to a point where you realize that all the sadness is logically absurd, and with that the cycle of sadness can break and a person can begin to move forward.

Answer 3

I suffer from clinical depression: my brain/mind is wired wrongly, or, indeed, has a chemical imbalance.

Due to my army service, et alia, I have been diagnosed with PTSD.

Like most musos, however, I lurve the blues... they make me feel happy, as does gospel music.

Paul

Answer 4

I don't know, but one good way to pull yourself out of depression is to try to make someone else happy. The more selfless you are generally the happier you should be.

Answer 5

I thought everyone just did that in general.