I don't think the caring and empathy is part of your depression. I think that is part of who you are. I think you as a person can feel when other people are suffering and want to help.

I also get what you are saying about the hopeless feelings and accepting that depression is something you will have to deal with.

I'm not saying it will go away or that there is a known method to make things better. I think a good goal is to try to raise your baseline from constant misery to coping and then hopefully to feeling okay.

It is easier to sometimes give up. I have been there. I remember a while back when everyday was bad for a couple months on end. I just went to work because I had to and then slept. I just gave up.

If you want my advice. Try to do small stuff. Take care of your personal needs. Hygine, eating good (I tend to not eat when I am down), proper amount of sleep (8 hours for most). Those may not make you happy, but when your not taking care if yourself it can make you feel worse.

Try to find some support and deal with things that bother you. Talking about your own needs and and issues bothering you. I tend to bottle everything up which brings me down.

I'm not saying you are wrong for accpeting it will last forever. I can't say that it will or will not. I'm just saying that there may not be evidence that it will and that feeling of hopelessness are part of depression. Try to take care of yourself and needs even when it seems pointless.

Your a good person who deserves to be happy. I'm sorry you have to deal with this and fight for what most people just get. You may not be sunshine and roses, but I think you can improve so that it isn't misery everyday.