How can you not be depressed?

It always baffles me that there are people out there who aren't depressed nearly 24/7. Or people who don't even know what it's like to be very depressed at all. How does that work? Please to tell me what it's like to be able to get out of bed and then have the energy and motivation to do things. I can't remember a time when I wasn't depressed. I mean literally. I've been dealing with it since I was about 13 and don't remember much before that.
It's just ugh. I can barely function and honestly most times I don't want to. I basically switch around between anxious, tired, and suicidal.

Yes, I'm the same as well. I see how different I am to...well, nearly everyone. But, hey, half of those so called 'normal' people are quite awful to be around. Not all of them, though. Keep fighting the good fight, please.

For me, motivation only has come in the last few years as I've seen my life improving. I still need a relatively decent mood to be able to do things and I do still visit that dark place at times. Sometimes it just comes out of nowhere and I can't stop a downward spiral, which is very defeating in itself to not have control even when in a good mood prior and with things to be happy about.

Sorry to hear you're suffering so badly...

for me depression comes from not knowing what will not make me depressed.

I mean look at it like this:

if you're ultimate goal in life is to be happy and content, and you don't know what it is that will make you feel that way, it's defeating the main object of life anyway

I'm screwed, because I can't answer that question

I should add that it probably doesn't help having so many issues

you get one thing under control and then it's something else

Ain't that the truth.

It baffles me, too. My friend has told me he never felt depressed. Other people have told me that, too. I don't get it. The world and people are so messed up, how can they not be depressed? On the other hand I get depression even when things are alright. I don't feel depression 24/7, but I
feel it lots of times.

What I hate is: "snap out of it!"

I'm no philosopher but I don't think it's a "what" that will make you feel happy and content. It must be a state of mind (from what I hear others say) You aren't necessarily screwed, but try to be more open to states of mind (meditation or "mindfulness") and maybe you will find more peace.

I’m different to nearly everyone as well.. and I agree with you that half of those so called “normal” people really are quite awful to be around... it’s taken me a long time to work this out .. (it isn’t always me... )

Ah yeah well being a little depressed when things aren't ideal is a pretty natural human reaction. What separates having depression from that is, depression as a mental illness is more sever, lasts much longer, and is harder to get out of. If someone tells me they've been depressed lately because of trouble at work or something I'll believe that. But I won't believe they understand what it's like to feel so bad, so much, and so hopeless that you don't want to live. And depression as a mental illness is kind of what i'm talking about here.
OK days happen, days when I've got more energy and motivation to get things done. I'm not suicidal every minute of every day. But I can't imagine living fine with only bad days here and there.
It kind of helps to think about it as weather and climate. Some places have cold climates where the overall temperature is usually low, it gets warmer some parts of the year and colder sometimes, but it's never going to get really hot and will usually be cooler most of the time compared to other places. Depression is that climate and moods that change day to day are the weather.