That helps and really changes the question quite a bit really.

One of the dreadful parts of being clinically depressed is the utter hopelessness one feels. The ability to find hope within oneself becomes completely impossible. That ability is completely lost. What does help sometimes it to find that hope through other people, including perhaps a therapist, when you can't see it for yourself. Sometimes you can cling to the hope others have for you, sort of a life raft so you don't go completely under, until you can finally find the strength to swim to the edge of the pool on your own.