A very difficult question for me to answer personally, I've been on Sertraline on and off for 25 years and it keeps the severest form of depression away, I'm up and down like we all are. I do smile and laugh these days I have more a feeling more of contentment rather than happiness. I do feel good about myself these days (in the past I used to have a very low opinion of myself and low self worth). This is just how things have affected me but we are all different.