I've been depressed since elementary school, it runs in my family. So I'm talking out of some experience

Tell your doctor! Hopefully he/she will give you antidepressants. I take prozac daily and it is truely a miracle drug. Give it some time, the change is amazing and you will feel sooo much better.

Secondly, stop drinking. I became something of an alcoholic this year again partly due to the depression, not getting real drunk all the time but like 6 shots every night before bed. That, plus cat in the morning every now and then... Stopping is hard. Hopefully you have willpower to do that. If you don't, you might want to check out AA, I've only been to a few online meetings of theirs. Oh yeah, I was drinking like this up until early June but since only get wasted on the weekends at college parties.

My grandpa, who is also depressed, not only takes medications for it but during the fall, winter and spring stares at a light for extended periods of time.

But seriously, alcohol will only prolong the trouble and make it significantly worse. Stop now

If you want to talk with me at all about anything like just, feel free to send me a private message