We live in a toxic society filled with toxic people. Even the ones with the best hearts- including ourselves- have been raised in ignorance, with disinformation. Our examples of happiness are fake, sponsored, and used to sell products. Typical relationship standards normalize selfishness, control, and manipulation. It is no longer possible for most to survive without selling themselves, often in degrading or soul-crushing ways. Those who suffer from depression or mental illness usually aren't in fact abnormal; they are those who remain painfully aware of reality, unable or unwilling to hide from it through consumerism or drugs.
Today's "heroes" are manufactured, phony, and are just successful brands used to promote other brands. The examples we're encouraged to idolize are all wealthy individuals famous for superficial trend reasons, not for any inherent genuine value of character or contribution to the world. Our egos are cultivated, yet compassion is increasingly discouraged- sometimes even outlawed. The 'haves' only retain higher status and power by making sure they use every means at their disposal to limit and control the 'have nots'. For those who don't believe that; I'm very sorry, but continual, adamant denial of truth doesn't negate reality.
So in the end, it's about recognition and acceptance. We're just slaves with modern conveniences. Anyone who claims otherwise is ignoring the fact we cannot opt out unless accepting our imprisonment or death. Nowadays confidence and perceived strength are oft attained through killing all empathy, intelligence, or awareness. Those who resist surrendering their ethics- though it is the hardest thing in the world to do- are ironically viewed as "weak". Those refusing to surrender factual reason based on empirical evidence, science and justice are labeled the troublemakers, as enemies of supposed "progress" and "greatness".
That's life. You can focus on puppies and rainbows, but it's still a psychologically abusive fucked up mess. You can suspend reality and buy into religious brainwashing to convince yourself of a greater purpose, if that's your thing- or perhaps you were subjected to the abuse of childhood indoctrination, until incapable of critical thinking. On television, in politics, or through mythological books and beliefs, all the "answers" being offered are man-made contrived agendas being perpetrated to suit someone else's benefit. That is the real truth. Either you are a con artist, or the one being conned; happy psychopathy or sane suffering.
The real secret to surviving capitalist depression? Understand the system. Attack the cause. Channel all your outrage. Even if for no other reason than the knowledge that giving up helps greedy, callous cruelty to triumph. If we sell our souls to get ahead, stepping on others, we become part of the problem. We then become the reason someone else feels the way we do right now. This circle of hate either consumes itself to humanity and our world's eventual destruction- or we put the "civilized" back in civilization. Which side do you want to be on? A sense of purpose could be found making our lives our own, and worth living again.