Does depression ever actually leave you?

i was diagnosed with depression a little over two years ago and the doctor said it was circumstantial, because my parents had just split and my best friend moved away, but i'm still depressed now, two years later. I no longer care that my parents arent together and i've found new friends, but i am still depressed even after counselling, will this ever go away?

it comes and goes as long as it is not clinical depression.

i am assuming that you're a teenager- this happens to heaps of teenagers because of all the hormonal changes and stuff. chances are that gradually over time you will feel better.
the stuff that happened in your life 2 years ago probably triggered the depression but unfortunately the depression hangs around for longer than the other problems.
i had friends who attempted suicide as teenagers and are now happy, well adjusted adults.
just remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel even if you can't see it right now- keep getting counselling and treat yourself well- you should be fine.

I think you have asked a brilliant question. I was diagnosed as bipolar when I was 15. That was 12 years ago. I was heavily medicated for some time, then I decided to take matters into my own hands. I don't take meds for my condition. I find ways to make myself stable and happy. I am stable, in general, yet from time to time I find myself acting irrationally. My moods are generally stable, but the smallest thing can send me into a rampage. I think a lot of it has to do with how satisfied we are with our surroundings. If you are not happy with your life, that is a clear sign that you need to change it. Drugs and meds will not change it for you. That is something you need to do all on your own. I don't think the depression will ever truly leave you, I think bits and pieces will always remain with the memories of your painful past. It's important that you learn to grow and change with the changes. It's more than convincing yourself that you are okay with your past pains and regrets. Its about learning to understand WHY they happened and admitting that you had no control. My parents divorced too, and my best friend and I have been separated for half my life. Yet, I can admire both of my parents for finding a love that makes them happy. I still have contact with my best friend, who is miles away. The point is tragic things happen to good people every day. You need to learn how to put them behind you in a HEALTHY way. Not just masking them. The depression will probably NEVER leave you, but there is a way to control and manage it. It starts with a positive attitude and an open mind. Good luck.

it does - but you have to focus on something else and take your mind away from what's making you depressed. You have to want it to leave before it will. It's not like you'll wake up one morning and it'll be gone. As I said, YOU have to want it to leave. Really want it to, not say it and not mean, want it to go with every single ounce of strength you have. Don't succumb to it.

I don't want to discourage you but depression never goes away. There's always potential for relapse. It's a chemical imbalance, maybe it's not just environmental (circumstantial). You shouldn't stop taking your meds, get the dosage upped if you feel they're not helping as much.

Good luck

I believe it does, being a past victim myself. It just means that you need to get yourself out of that situation that makes you depressed. Free yourself, get away and do something for you and something challenging. That is how i overcame it. Being in the same group of people, same daily routines, even same place is just a constant reminder. Cheer up! :-)

Get a grip of your self don't dwell on anything you feel is a downer think positive its all in your mind, mind over matter so if you are for real and want to feel good and happy and not depressed then move on to better things you can do it get of your **** and go for it.

It is possible that you're depressed due to a chemical unbalance. There are also several other disorders that cause depression. I would suggest you further investigate what's going on with you and seek help.

it depends on the person i know people that was in similar situations to you and they are no longer are depressed they moved on and are happy

its an illness, so it will take longer than just poofing it away




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Yes - eventually - but it takes a while.

If you are not on medication - it might be time to start. Just a low dose and never go beyond that.

I dont think it ever really goes away.
but the feeling does get better.
maybe you just learn to cope with it better, but the feeling will get better.

In around half of cases, depression recurs. Dysthymia can last for years: it is generally milder than depression, which averages 6 months in duration. My standard post on depression follows; it applies equally to dysthymia:

Ask yourself: "Why do I feel depressed, and when did I first start to feel this way: can I associate this with any recent change in my life?" (if so, it is probably situational depression: counselling, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is indicated). Or, was it a more gradual thing, with no apparent cause? (nutritional deficiencies, hypothyroidism, environmental toxicity, or reactions to some medications, etc., becomes more likely as the cause).

Depression: I KNOW, from experience, how difficult it is, but once you drag yourself out of bed, throw on a dressing gown, and have a little time in the morning light, preferably doing easy stretching exercises, then have a shower, a cuppa, and either fish, or scrambled eggs, and possibly bacon for breakfast.

These provide a lasting energy boost: no carbohydrates for 2 hrs, or extremely little; a teaspoon of sugar is OK, but Xylitol is preferable, (health food stores) or fruit sugar (fructose, such as "Fruisana", from supermarket sugar aisles) or even a LITTLE honey. Splash cold water on your face, to revive you, as needed. No daytime sleeping; only 8 - 9 hrs at night. Overall though, low to moderate levels of protein suit most people best, with considerably more of the complex carbohydrates, preferably from wholefoods, and a smaller amount of fat, or oil.

Antidepressants work quicker than the following; 2 - 6 weeks, but you may have to adjust dosage, or types, whereas St. John's wort is effective for most people, tolerance doesn't develop, and the few side effects don't occur often, and even then are normally not severe.

It doesn't cause sleeping problems, or weight change, but usually takes at least 2, and generally 4 - 6 weeks to become effective. A recent, independent German double blind study showed it to be as effective as Sertraline (marketed in the USA as Zoloft: a commonly prescribed antidepressant) in cases of major depression, with far fewer side effects, and those were generally better tolerated, with a lower rate of discontinuation. Unlike antidepressants, where sexual dysfunction is a common side effect, it happens much more rarely with St. John's wort (I have noticed no effect in this area).

Remember back to a time when life was full of promise, or a day when you felt particularly good, or possibly excited from a good result. Emotional states are associated with memories, and if it isn't major depression, this method can help.

A multidimensional approach to treating depression without medication follows. All except for no. (7.) are safe to use with medication, but not St. John's wort, because of interactions, and it's sensible to check out anything else first with your doctor.

(1.) Take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily: (certified free of mercury) it is best if consumed with an antioxidant, such as an orange, or grapefruit, or their FRESHLY SQUEEZED juice. If vitamin E is added, it should be certified as being 100% from natural sources, or it may be synthetic: avoid it. Also take a vitamin B complex which is certified as being 100% of natural origin; a deficiency in vitamin B9 (folic acid, or folate) is known to cause depression. Around 30% - 40% of depressed people have low vitamin B12 levels. Depressed females using the contraceptive pill may benefit from vitamin B6 supplements.

(2.) Work up slowly to at least 20 minutes minutes of exercise, daily, or 30 - 60 mns, 5 times weekly. Too much exercise can cause stress, which isn't wanted when dealing with depression.

(3.) Occupational therapy (keeping busy allows little time for unproductive introspection, and keeps mental activity out of less desirable areas of the brain).

(4.) Use daily, one of the relaxation methods in sections 2, 2.c, 2.i, or 11, and/or yoga, Tai Chi, and/or the EFT, in sections 2.q, 2.o, and section 53, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris whichever works best for you.

(5.) Initially, at least, some form of counselling, preferably either Cognitive Behavio(u)ral Therapy, or Rational Emotive Behavio(u)ral Therapy.

(6.) Maintain a mood chart, and daily activities schedule, as per page R, in section 2, at ezy build.

(7.) As options, if desired, either a known, effective herbal remedy, such as St. John's wort, (the strength varies, but the supplier should be using a standardised hypericin content, so follow the directions) or supplements, such as SAMe, or Inositol (from vitamin and health food stores, some supermarkets, or mail order: view section 55).

If 5HTP is used to boost serotonin levels, (which are low in depressed people) it is best taken with a high carbohydrate, minimal protein meal, like pasta with tomato & basil, and avoid protein for 90 minutes, before, and after, to maximise the amount crossing the blood/brain barrier.

Also, 80% of people in the Western world have low magnesium levels, and these are known to cause depression & anxiety. Try the magnesium supplement types shown in http://www.real-depression-help.com/ Some of these will be available in pharmacies, or supermarkets. Low levels of calcium, and potassium can also cause depression. Have your blood tested, and correct any deficiencies, preferably through improved nutrition.

An improvement can be noticed in as little as a week, if a deficiency is the cause. Also, iodised salt is much preferable to regular salt (one of the treatments in books on depression is iodine drops).

Try to imagine, as vividly as possible, a time in the not too distant future, when you have overcome this temporary setback, and things are much better.

Most depressive episodes last for around 6 months, which is why treatments should be maintained for at least that long, and preferably 1 - 2 years. Then wean off medication, or herbal remedies, over at least 2 weeks, with medical advice, and see how things go, but I would maintain the other treatments, with the possible exception of therapy. Even then, realise that depression recurs in about 50% of cases: know your early warning signs, and be quick to act at the first hint of it returning.

This is a shortened version of the much more comprehensive post, which may be seen on page R, in section 2 of ezy build, above, but to gain full appreciation, it's really best to view the whole of section 2.

~~~ If you are already taking antidepressants, and want to use the wort, I suggest that you taper off the antidepressant, over at least 2 weeks, with medical advice as to how long to take, before beginning the wort, which is believed to act by increasing the availability of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, moderately, rather than selectively giving the serotonin levels of the brain a large boost.