I suffer from depression as well. It's not a happy place for sure. Every day I must choose to fight it. There are days I just want to give up. I think about the fact that it seems like its a "life sentence with no hope of parole." Some days no matter what I do I am still depressed. I was on meds then got tired of the side affects and stopped taking them. I am reasonably certain to be back on them shortly as I am tired of fighting this depression on my own. I will just have to find the right med and let that help me.

Your friends are truly your friends when you become vulnerable to them and they love you anyway. I think that true friends will hear you when you share your fight with depression with them and they will understand when you are apathetic.
TRUE! I wouldnt want to hang out with me either! But you gotta give people a chance and learn to let some things just "be". Some days they will be just fine with you...others they may look at you funny...but as long as they keep coming back...well they are your friends and that is what friends do.
My ascent from the darkness always involves music.
I don't listen to "dark" music that feeds the depression, or angry music...but I am not necessarily listening to feel good music either. I like ambient, space music, cosmic...stuff like that.
Your ascent could begin anywhere...pottery, painting, favorite TV show, video game, gardening. Be open to the possibilities...could be knitting or opera....who knows? But when you find it you will know it cause your insides will go "ahhhhhh"