Has anyone here actually fully recovered from serious long term depression?

Question

I've had depression for years and can't see any hope of a full recovery

Answer 1

Yes me.

I had depression for years until about 5 years ago, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, it's the worst thing I have ever suffered. I couldn't even cope with showering, shaving and brushing my teeth in one go at one point, I had to do things step by step.

I decided one day, nobody else will get me out of this other than myself. I took one day at a time and gradually over a period of 6 to 8 months build my confidence up and improved my general health. I did take anti-depressants (Cipramil) but gradually (over a 2 year period) weaned myself of those too.

I have never looked back, I think it may have something to do with my current job that's helping me, I see many under supported people who have had a much more difficult time than me. Makes me feel lucky to be honest.

Nobody can push you into feeling better, the worse thing anyone can say to you is "come on, cheer up" it used to infuriate me when people said that.

Take one day at a time, don't expect too much and if you have a relapse it's all part of recovery. I still get times when I feel I'm spiralling down again but I tackle it before it reaches a real low period.

I wish you all the very best of luck. Rick

Answer 2

Depends on what you mean by recovered. I was depressed for a really long time and then I realized it was silly and i didn't want to be sad any more.
The thing is that it's addictive. The lack of hope is the depression talking. You are going to resist the change because you feel like there is no other way to be. You have to ignore that voice and eventually it'll shut up. Just do what make you happy and look for the bright side in every situation, there is always something.
I still get a depressed occasionally but who doesn't.

I got rid of it with out any medication and you should try to be happy as much as possible because long term depression can leave permanent effects. I get paranoia attacks sometimes because of it.

Answer 3

I too have suffered depression for many years. For the most part I am better now. I've recently become very active with my church, and that is really the only change.. never took any meds or anything. So I have to attribute my rise in mood to that. However, I still have down days, as most people do.. I don't know if you can ever completely shake the symptoms or not, but try to remain positive. There is always hope, and there is always help.

I recently read an intriguing article about a specific diet to help combat depression, however I seem to have lost the link, or the file (don't recall if it was on a website or something I downloaded) but that might be an avenue to explore if you haven't yet.

Answer 4

My brush-up with depression was too unpleasant to make me comment with any confidence about it, but... I was down for more than a year. I think that the loss of hope is one of the symptoms of depression (I may be wrong; I was too upset to look for professional help at the time). I am fully recovered (and have even taken rather calmly the event the fear of which actually triggered the depression in the first place) now, and I think it is a feat that can, and is the worth the effort to, be accomplished.

The thought that pulled me through, although I don't know if it will work for everybody, went like that - I looked at my life five years earlier, and I though of the problems that had used to upset me, and I realized how ridiculous they seemed; so I though - in five years, these problems that I cannot get the best of, will seem ridiculous. I know that means that in five years I will have an entirely different set of problems, but it sort took the edge of the issues that kept me down. Eventually took the edge, that is.

I honestly beleive you can beat the depression - probably not alone; I am really happy I have friends whose support aided me to pull through. Also, at that point I was persuaded to help with a bit of teaching, which actually worked rather well - helping others, who may even have more serious problems than me, worked also as an anti-depressant.

Good luck!

P.S. Oh, btw, when I was threatened by a second round, I came accross the book Pollyanna (it's a children's book). Its outlook really helped. I heartily recommend it to anyone!

Answer 5

It's not a recovery from a sickness, but it's getting over the sadness that did it for me. When I was depressed, I believed anything from depression commercials to the lack of love that's around me. I actually loved to be sad. Suicide attempts, started smoking(last thing I need to overcome), dropped out of high school, used to cut myself, lost many friends, etc etc.

Drugs, psychiatrists, friends, new relationships, etc all actually had some help, and then I realized something, I needed to grow up. Many people go through depression; why? I have no idea. Your options to get over it are endless and within reach. Good luck and stop thinking so pessimistically.

Answer 6

I have been dealing with clinical depression most of my life. Like other chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, depression can be a lifelong condition. You can be in remission sometimes and have symptoms other times. This does not mean it has to be debilitating. Medical management and/or therapy can be effective treatments for depression. You can live a fulfilling and happy life if you take care of depression. The key is to understand it is not an attitude or character flaw. It is a brain disease and like any other condition, you can not "will" "it away. Please read the "depression Primer." This is the best explanation I have found on the web about depression.

Answer 7

i have depression, i just want it to go away so what i have done is stop the anti-depressants and hope for the best. Mine is not deep depression but yes i have tried to kill myself but after this made me think i can't leave i have a lovely young family i can't leave. You need to think about something/or someone and hold on to that. Depression will get better but take each day at a time somebody gave me this advice. "take one day at a time don't think about tomorrow" this is so true well it works for me. Hope you get better it takes time a lot of time. If this is still not working see your doctor and see if your medication can be changed. Good luck

Answer 8

I have a family member who is doing very well at the time, but she has had ups and downs over the years. It seems that once you truly have it, your are more susceptible to relapse.

I don't know if your are on medication, but if you are, or if you are considering it, I would recommend reading a book titled 'The Antidepressant Fact Book'. I can't recall the author, but the information, although debatable by some, offers a bit of insight to how some medications may actually make your problem worse.

Good luck, and don't ever lose hope....sometimes it's all we have.

Answer 9

hi well just to give you an honest answer. the short answer is yes.

why do i know, well i had depression for 10 years, and i have been free for over 5 years now and no longer consider myself depressed. i would say i made a full recovery. how did i do this, well i dealt with the causes that was causing the depression in the first place, i started to listen to others and work at it with the help of friends and medical team/councelling and i started getting things to do with my day instead of sitting in front of my pc alday, i went out and volunteered for different charities, and it was hard but it gave me a sense of purpose and i felt wanted and usefullonce again. so the outcome, is i now support others for a job and pass on my experience to others and i am happy in life now considering 10 years of my life i sat onpal talk all day and was highly suicidal. best advice i can give you is never ever give up deal with the issues and start to learn to like life and one day yu too will be free from this terrible problem.

good luck

[e-mail] if u need to chat

Answer 10

I've been on medication for depression for over 10 years i was recently diagnosed as bipolar and the relief was huge i finally had a real name for my condition. with medication i am far better than i was.
you should speak to someone about how you feel
cos i don't think you ever really do make a full recovery from recognised clinical depression you just learn to deal with it better and accept that just like the rest of your body it's part of you.