mo mo Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Is depression a lifelong illness? I've heard it called that before. Can someone go through depression for a period of time and never feel depressed ever again, or is it something the particular person is prone to and will continue to suffer from every now and then? Link to post Share on other sites
Datura Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 The duration can last weeks, or even throughout a person's entire life. I think it would depend on what is causing the depressed mood; is it a chemical imbalance, environmental stress, etc. Sometimes one is easier to treat than the other. Link to post Share on other sites
Author mo mo Posted February 28, 2011 Author Share Posted February 28, 2011 The duration can last weeks, or even throughout a person's entire life. I think it would depend on what is causing the depressed mood; is it a chemical imbalance, environmental stress, etc. Sometimes one is easier to treat than the other. I understand that, but what I am asking is let's say a person goes through a depressed episode, for say, 3 months. He never had an episode before. Is there a strong chance he will have more episodes in the future, or is there a chance that it was a one time deal? Link to post Share on other sites
Cee Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 There's no way to know if an episode will be a single one or will repeat. Time will tell. It varies from person to person. For me, my depression is lifelong, but is well under control with meds. I am one of the happiest people around, but if I go off my meds, trouble begins. I think it's best to never give up in battling depression. Even if it feels like it will last forever, it should eventually lift. The right combination of meds, therapy, exercise, stress management, etc is hard to find. But it is possible to go into remission, which may last a very long time. Link to post Share on other sites
Author mo mo Posted February 28, 2011 Author Share Posted February 28, 2011 There's no way to know if an episode will be a single one or will repeat. Time will tell. It varies from person to person. For me, my depression is lifelong, but is well under control with meds. I am one of the happiest people around, but if I go off my meds, trouble begins. I think it's best to never give up in battling depression. Even if it feels like it will last forever, it should eventually lift. The right combination of meds, therapy, exercise, stress management, etc is hard to find. But it is possible to go into remission, which may last a very long time. ah ha.. ok thanks. The reason I posted this thread is because I was recently involved with someone who told me she suffered from depression about a year ago, and when things didnt work out between us, it seemed the **** hit the fan all over again for her. Now, a few months later, I kinda miss her a bit and I would be open to the idea of getting in touch with her, but if there is a danger of her going back into a self-destructive phase again then I am not sure if I should really be entertaining that idea. Link to post Share on other sites
Feelin Frisky Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 "Depression" is an aging term for a condition which is prejudicial. "Depression" is more a symptom of something than a disease in itself. I have depression and it's called "dysthymia". If you look it up you'll probably see a stupid definition like "dysthymia is chronic low level depression". A better definition would be dysthymia is a chronic irregularity in a person's neurotransmitter system which results in "pattern thinking" which leads to "pattern feeling"--feeling which is often negative and is characterized as "depression". Real "depression" is always going to be a matter of chemistry being out of ideal and pattern thinking causing amplified pattern feelings. That's why medicine has switched from temporarily blanketing the symptoms with a "happy pill" to targeting the specific chemicals that make for an ideal "thinking/feeling" machine. By bumping up a neurotransmitter like seritonin, a person may for instance, cease seizing on an impulse to entertain a contempt he or she has for someone or something else and actually "learn" how to direct their feelings. Whether a person will be afflicted with "serious depression" all their life cannot yet be ascertained because there is no dip stick on the human neurotransmitter crank case (yet). Therefore it will be something someone has to learn about themselves and take action from time to time to treat. Or, if they are like me, just take your Prozac with your vitamins and let it do it's magic. Link to post Share on other sites
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