is there a cure for major depression?

Question

I have suffered from major depression since age 10. I have been hospitalized twice in my life for it. I have taken meds for a few years. recently I have been off meds I have done well for a bout a year. The summers are hardest on me since I am a college student and have little going on during the summers. I am just tired of the cycles I fear I cant handle another major crash as I am having now if anyone knows of a cure for major depression please tell me.

Answer 1

I think you need to establish a strong relationship with a good psychiatrist who will help you find the right meds AND will help you find a good psychotherapist. You probably will need to stay on the meds indefinitely, and have regular appointments with a good therapist for a long time. Even having a year long "remission" from the depression does not necessarily mean you should stop either the drug or talk treatment. The meds probably made it possible for you to have the remission, but you have to keep taking them even when you feel better if you want to avoid a major crash.

Answer 2

You sound like you should stay on meds all the time and not go off. My doctor told me that if there is a biochemical imbalance that sometimes it is best to stay on them long term, like lifetime. I have experienced that same thing during summers since I was going to school and then after graduating I got a job with the school district and that meant summers without work. It can be depressing and I felt so unuseful but I tried to exercise more and spend more time with pets. I had depression cycles for about 20 years before starting meds last December. I tried my hardest to bring myself up whenever I would fall into it for 1 to 3 days, not even really understanding how bad it was because my brain chemicals just weren't functioning as they should. What a waste of energy and loss of happiness that caused me. Hopefully you are back in school now or soon so things will get better for you and again, find a med to stay on all the time. I wish the best for you.

Answer 3

You are "curing" the depressions with activity during the school year. You need to find an interest that will keep you active all year long. Meds seem to offer only so much help and seem to alter our personalities and how others view us.
Coping mechanisms, like staying active, forcing yourself to go to public areas, staying in contact with people even if they do not seem to return the favor, can keep you going longer than any meds on the market.
I have never found a cure, but have found thousands of causes ... isolation, alcohol abuse, the wrong meds, endicrine malfunction, dietary insufficiencies, allowing sel-pity, being around negative people, believing others when they say you cannot do stuff. All of the previous can help bring on a major depression. Avoid your triggers; your stressors, when possible.

If you have made it this far, you are doing fantastic. Make some type of plans for your next major depression, like I am going to read this book the next time I feel like there 's no reason to life. Make it a very long, enthralling book. Set it up so you can read it outside in a great place and have someone who will check on you. Place your most favorite pictures in the book, so you have proof you have enjoyed life in the past. Like writing a will, type up the plan and send it to your favorite support personnel.
Then LIVE. Stay active, get sunshine, watch your diet and have your blood levels check for any deficiencies. Life is a struggle for everyone, but if you have a plan of action and use every coping mechanism, you can have years of enjoyment to look back upon. No one can do better than that.
By the way, support personnel need hugs and encouragement too. Actively keep them happy while you are feeling fine, for your own sake. Family, friends, and even internet buddies make great support personnel. You can never have too many supporters.

The sun doesn't shine when it rains, but there's usually a light switch about. Use it!

Answer 4

you have to be doing meds with therapy, meds only help the therapy along. if that stuff doesnt work and i mean its completely exhausted which it doesnt sound like it is, then there is ECT which apparently works better at getting rid of depression than killing yourself. if you have been depressed that long though, you will probably be depressed most your life so find a good medication with a good doctor, and get a lot of therapy. group therapy works really well too- especially behavioral therapy.

Answer 5

sometimes meds can help. try getting involved in something, in the summers, if possible. talk to friends. seek professional help. are these cures? hard to say. good luck.

Answer 6

Other than meds no. If you would like to talk we can.