Depression is like a virus. It never dies, and always returns.

I guess, the ultimate problem is in finding the basic cause and working on that.
However, it seems to me like it's often something that one can't change, so the only possible "solution" lies in varying the perspective and trying to see something positive in it. But who am I fooling..

Personally, all I really achieved over the years, is becoming partly numb to it. I'd like to say, it just became part of my (cynic) personality and shows sometimes more, sometimes less.

Looks like I can agree with your virus metaphor. Once reached terminal state, the blood seems to remain poisoned and can only get colder.

Ok that didn't work. Nope - not at all. Admittedly I haven't felt exactly depressed since then... But I did wrong things and was bitter and dangerous to myself and others.
Now I can feel compassion again albeit from a distance. I don't have hatred dragging me down.

Yeah, I don't really think anyone gets over their depression for good. It's a constant struggle not to regress back to the low state you were previously. Then hopefully, if your luck would have it, you'll actually find real happiness and forget you are ever depressed.

I haven't gotten there yet though.

There must be some people who get over their depression for good, but it doesn't feel that way for me either. There have been times when I thought that I had truly moved passed depression, and for the most part I have, but there are things that continually remind me of how I was and I could be again if I allowed it to happen. I find myself monitoring my thoughts so as to not fall into self-destructive patterns. It must be some kind of protection I've developed somewhere down the line.

Again, I've been depression free for a few months now, mostly. Since I was put on Abilify. I tend to stay depressed most of the time without medication.

Congrats! I'm glad you're finding something that works for you again.