Will Depression Come Back
Some people have depression once in their life and it goes away and doesnt come back. One study found that 45% of people had depression once in their life, while 55% experienced depression multiple times. For people who experience depression multiple times , symptoms might get better at times and get worse at others, but it doesnt ever feel like depression is gone.
Your brain is a muscle so just like other muscles, getting better takes time, isnt a light switch, and how bad things were gives you information about how much effort and time it might take to recovery.
Here are some factors that can impact whether depression will come back .
1) If your first episode was really bad, it can be a sign of a chronic illness. How severe your symptoms are determines how much the depression has impacted your brains health and your quality of life. The more severe the depression is, the harder it is for your brain to recover. Severe depression isnt just feeling really sad for a while. Severe depression looks like feeling so sad you cant get out of bed, sleep is totally off, you miss school or work, and depression has gotten in the way of relationships.
2) If depression runs in your family, you might a genetic predisposition to clinical depression. If clinical depression runs in your family, it is an indicator that you may need medical intervention to feel relief. Its helpful to know what treatments did or didnt work for family members.
Related Topics
Why Am I Always Depressed How To Be Happy Again
Depression can be a tricky beast. It usually creeps in slowly, so by the time you’ve realized it’s upon you, you feel like it’s about to consume you. Anyone who has experienced depression in the past or who goes through bouts of depression currently will tell you how tough it is to navigate symptoms.
“Talking to a mental health professional offers you an opportunity to talk with someone who can guide you on ways to improve and manage your depression symptoms.”
Sometimes it can be difficult to determine why you are feeling depressed. The cause of depression is varied, as is the cure. If you’re wondering, “Why am I always depressed?” youre not alone. We’ve developed a list of possible depression causes, along with suggestions about strategies you may consider using to reclaim your life from deep depression and start feeling like yourself again.
Causes Of Depression
There is no single cause for depression and a depression diagnosis depends on a combination of dynamics such as a person’s environmental conditions, as well as their genetic make-up. That said, doctors consider several factors to determine a diagnosis of depression. A few examples of these factors include:
- History of depression in the family
- History of other mental health diagnoses
- Hormone changes
- History of experiencing a traumatic event
- The use of medications
- Substance use or abuse, past or present
What Does Depression Really Feel Like?
Overcoming Depression
Is It Depression Or Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, involves serious shifts in moods, energy, thinking, and behavior. Because it looks so similar to depression when in the low phase, it is often overlooked and misdiagnosed. This can be a serious problem as taking antidepressants for bipolar disorder can actually make the condition worse.
If youve ever gone through phases where you experienced excessive feelings of euphoria, a decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts, and impulsive behavior, consider getting evaluated for bipolar disorder.
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Medication Therapy Or Both
Not everyone improves with therapy alone.
Some therapists may wait to recommend talking to a psychiatrist about medication until you ask, so be sure to let them know if youd like to try a combined approach.
Whether youre considering therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, or all of the above, you have plenty of options.
Many therapists use cognitive behavioral therapy to treat depression, but thats not the only effective treatment.
Its absolutely normal to feel frustrated and powerless when depression intensifies and your usual coping methods no longer seem to make much difference.
This bleak outlook doesnt have to become your reality. These tips can help you get support.
You Spend More Time Alone
With depression, you might find it challenging to enjoy the company of others for a number of reasons.
You may not feel up to socializing simply because you have less energy. Emotional numbness can make the social interactions you usually enjoy seem pointless.
Feelings of guilt, irritability, or worthlessness can also complicate your mood and make avoidance seem like the safer option.
Theres nothing wrong with spending time alone when you enjoy it. An increasing sense of loneliness, on the other hand, can make your mood even worse. You might begin to feel as if no one understands or cares about your experience.
Recommended Reading: What Medication Can Help Depression
Where Do I Go From Here
In addition to your family doctor, check out the following resources for managing depression:
BC Partners for Mental Health and Substance Use Information
Visit www.heretohelp.bc.ca for info sheets on depression, self-care and recovery, such as Coping With Mental Health Crises and Emergencies and Finding Help for Mental Illnesses. You can also find personal stories from people who are working through recovery, our Wellness Modules, and self-tests.
Self-management workbooks
Visit www.sfu.ca/carmha.html for free self-management tools like the Antidepressant Skills Workbook, Antidepressants Skills at Work, and Dealing With Depression: Antidepressant Skills for Teens.
Bounce Back
Visit www.cmha.bc.ca to learn more about Bounce Back, a free program for adults and youth experiencing mild to moderate depression or anxiety. You’ll learn skills and strategies to help you manage symptoms and improve your mental health. Bounce Back is available online or over the phone with telephone coaches who speak English, French, Cantonese, or Punjabi. You need a referral to access the program, so talk to your doctor if you’re interested in participating. BC residents can take an online self-guided version for free and without a doctor’s referral at www.bouncebackonline.ca.
Living Life to the Full
WRAP: Wellness Recovery Action Plan
Learn more
Triggers Of A Depression Relapse
Knowing what symptoms to watch for is only one part of recognizing a depression relapse. Understanding your triggers, or those things, moments, and events in life that may cause a relapse, are also important.
Triggers can be different for everyone. For you, isolation may be a significant factor. Maybe youve noticed that youd rather lie on the couch than be as active as you once were. Or maybe you may have a new family crisis youre facing.
In some cases, there may not even be an obvious trigger. One day you may simply realize you dont feel like yourself.
Here are some common relapse triggers.
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Warning Signs Of Depression Relapse
Who Is At High Risk For Depression
Those most at risk for developing depression include women, the elderly, those with a personal or family history of depression, chronic stressors, those with other concurrent mental and physical health conditions, low socioeconomic status, and those taking medications that may cause depression, like birth control or some anxiety medications.
Read Also: How To Deal With A Depressed Person
Minimize Your Daily Choices
Have you ever walked into a theme park and been overwhelmed at what you want to do first? Researchers think that having too many choices can actually cause significant stress that can lead to depression.
Psychologist Barry Schwartz, author of the book The Paradox of Choice, describes research that shows that when faced with too many choices, those who aim to make the best possible choice maximizers face higher rates of depression.
For many of us, our lives are filled with choices. Which outfit do we wear, and should we buy yogurt or eggs or bagels or English muffins or sausage for breakfast? The pressure of making the right or wrong choice is thought to contribute to depression.
If making choices stresses you out, simplify things. You can:
- Learn to be decisive more quickly.
- Reduce the decisions youll have to make during the work week: Plan out your outfits, and have your meals prepped and ready to go.
How To Prevent A Depression Relapse
Commit to treatment If you have been prescribed antidepressants it is vital that you take the full course of your medication and follow your doctors advice. It can be tempting, when you start to feel better, to stop taking your meds but that increases your risk of relapse. If your treatment involves counselling and therapy sessions make sure you keep going to them until your psychologist advises that you are okay to stop.
Meditation Studies have shown that mindfulness meditation, practiced a few times each week, can reduce your chance of relapse by up to 50 percent within a year. You dont have to spend hours crossed-legged on the floor to achieve this. It is all about taking a moment to be completely present each day rather than allowing your mind to dwell in the past or future.
Accept help Friends and family can provide support when it comes to noticing the warning signs of depression. If you open yourself to their help, you can reduce your chances of falling back into depression.
Have a plan Always discuss with your therapist the best plan of action when it comes to acting on the warning signs of depression. Consider writing out a plan so that you feel empowered to deal with symptoms if they return.
Also Check: Alternative Therapies For Anxiety And Depression
When Does Low Mood Become Depression
We all have times when our mood is low, and we’re feeling sad or miserable about life. Usually these feelings pass in due course.
But if the feelings are interfering with your life and don’t go away after a couple of weeks, or if they come back over and over again for a few days at a time, it could be a sign that you’re experiencing depression. See our page on the symptoms of depression for more information.
So What Do We Do To Win Against Depression
Waking up one morning and realizing your depression has magically disappeared isnt likely to happen. I desperately want it to work like that, believe me. Ive laid in bed for hours, staring at my ceiling. Ive slept more than Ive been awake because sleeping is the only full escape I have.
My depression is never gone when I wake up.
Depression is a formidable foe, and like all adversaries, I cant avoid it. I have to find the strength to stand against it.
Read Also: What Is The Difference Between Loneliness And Depression
Seeing A Doctor About Depression
Big changes in your life, like bereavement, losing a job, or even having a baby, can cause symptoms of depression. You’re also more likely to experience depression if you have a family history of depression. However, it’s also possible to become depressed without there being an obvious reason.
You can learn more about depression causes here.
Feeling Depressed Or Suffering From Depression
We often get mixed up between low mood and unhappiness and depression. The two things are very different. Depression isnt about feeling unhappy, its feeling youll never be happy again, explains Colin Grange, Psychologist and Clinical Director of Lifeworks.
If youre feeling low, is it starting to interfere with your day to day life? Are you not doing things that you used to do? Are you losing motivation in and enjoyment of life? Are you starting to not enjoy your hobbies? Is everything becoming an effort?
People suffering from clinical depression often experience a range of symptoms both physical and emotional which can interfere with day to day life. Discovering whether you are suffering from one or more of these symptoms could be an important step towards getting the help you need.
Quiz: Am I depressed?
- 5min
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Your Mood Gets Worse At Certain Times Of Day
Changes in how you experience symptoms might also suggest worsening depression.
Your symptoms may have previously remained mostly stable throughout the day.
Now, you notice they intensify in the morning or evening. Or perhaps they feel much worse on some days instead of remaining fairly consistent from day to day.
Receive Treatment For Your Depression
If you believe you have depression, you are not alone. Since depression is a common condition, experts have developed multiple treatment options to help patients deal with a wide range of symptoms, life experiences, and barriers. The only way to know how to treat your depression is to speak with your doctor.
If you believe you have depression, schedule an appointment with a mental health professional as soon as possible. Your doctor can evaluate your condition, determine which treatment options are right for you, and develop a treatment plan to relieve your symptoms. Through this treatment, you can gain the skills and strategies you need to cope with difficult moments and restore your quality of life.
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You Isolate Yourself More Often Than Not
Many people with depression find that they dont feel like being around friends and family as much. In fact, socializing with anyone can seem almost painful. Thats because the patient feels as though they cannot connect with anyone anymore. However, isolating yourself will only make the depression worse. So try to go out with a small group of friends fairly regularly, and tell them how youre feeling.
Most of all, dont feel ashamed of being depressed. Indeed, many people go through it from time to time in their life. So even if you have chronic depression, you have options for treatment.
Being alone with your thoughts all the time will only perpetuate the illness, so try to socialize even if it feels uncomfortable. Humans are social creatures, and cannot survive without some sort of interaction, so dont deprive yourself of these experiences.
You should also consider joining a support group for depression, as talking about it can help you to discover new thinking patterns and ways of coping with the illness.
Tell People Close To You
A simple “Hey, I think I’m going to be going through a rough period. Mind if we schedule some tea?” is enough for most people, even if they don’t know that you’re actually depressive. If there are people in your life who do understand, and who help monitor your depression, make sure that you notify them of what’s about to happen, and they can help you make plans to deal with the fallout.
Recommended Reading: What Can Lead To Depression
What If I Am Not Happy With My Treatment
If you are not happy with your treatment you can:
- talk to your doctor to see if they can suggest changes,
- get an advocate to help you speak your doctor,
- ask for a second opinion if you feel it would help,
- contact Patient Advice and Liaison Service and see whether they can help, or
- make a complaint.
There is more information about these options below.
Advocacy
An advocate is independent from the NHS. They are free to use. They can be useful if you find it difficult to get your views heard.
There are different types of advocates available. Community advocates can support you to get a health professional to listen to your concerns. And help you to get the treatment that you would like. They arent available in all areas.
You can ask an advocate to help you make a complaint. Advocates that do this are called NHS complaints advocates. They are free to use and don t work for the NHS. They re available in all areas.
You can search online to search for a local advocacy service. If you cant find a service you can call our advice service 0808 801 0525 . You can email us too at . We will look for you.
Second opinion
Talk to your doctor about your treatment to see if you can resolve the problem with them first. If you dont agree with their decisions about diagnosis or treatment, you could ask for a second opinion. You are not legally entitled to a second opinion, but your doctor might agree to it if it would help with treatment options.
‘PALS’
Complaints
- Advocacy by clicking here.
Can You Prevent Depression From Happening
While theres no surefire way to prevent depression, one of the greatest protective factors for depression is social connection and social support, says Jessica Stern, Ph.D., clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health. Maintaining healthy friendships and relationships, she says, can potentially significantly decrease the likelihood or severity of depression. Whats more, the chance that an individual will receive care for symptoms of depression is often based on their social situation, Dr. Murrough says. Friends or family notice that someones not themselves, having trouble getting out of bed, and missing activities and appointments, and will help them seek care. Someone whos relatively isolated may be at risk for not getting treatment, and in turn, fall into deeper depression. The key? Nurture your relationships and encourage each other to talk openly about your feelings, without judgment. The more we can de-stigmatize emotions, the more we can help prevent or slow down the progression of negative emotions to depressive symptoms, says Dr. Stern.
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