can depression come and go?

Question

i have had depression for the last 6 months, but have been feeling sucidal, and have been self harming for the last 3 weeks. after a weekend relaxing (cinema and country walks) i feel a lot better today.
i'm on anti depressents, and have been for the last 2 months.
i have often felt the depression coming in cycles - down, then up for a few days, that right back down, and further down each time.
is this normal? when i feel ok, i cant believe they way i am and feel when i crash.

Answer 1

I am so sorry that you have to suffer through this. It's not fair, is it? The depression cycle is one that is usually unpredictable, and fluctuates frequently, especially when starting medicines. Suicidal ideation is, unfortunately, part and parcel with the depression. Do not allow yourself to be alone when you are feeling suicidal. Surround yourself with people who love you. In this way you will be less likely to act on the suicidal ideation. It will get better.

What concerns me here, though, is your self-harming behavior. That goes beyond general depression and approaches psychotic behavior. Have you discussed these behaviors with your doctor? If not, you need to immediately. If you have, and he/she has not responded in a way that you feel addresses the problem, you need to talk to him/her again, and not couch your terms in political correctness. You need to tell your doctor exactly what it is that you are doing, how often, how often the urge is there, and what seems to trigger it. Doctors are not perfect. They cannot help you unless you tell them everything. I urge you to call your doctor right now. Don't wait until tomorrow, don't wait until you feel the urge to hurt yourself again. It could be that the meds you are on are: 1) not at a therapeutic level in your bloodstream, 2) not fully effective yet, due to the amount of time you need to be on them, 3) not the correct medicine for you (different kinds of antidepressants are reactive on different neurotransmitters. You may be taking a med that blocks the re-uptake of norepinephren, when you need something that blocks the re-uptake of serotonin), or 4)that your depression is a symptom of a different problem, so antidepressants are only one piece of the puzzle. These are just some band aid answers. Your absolute best bet is to work with a licensed, professional psychiatrist who can "tweak" your doses, order blood tests, and who, quite frankly, are trained to know what to do. The people on Yahoo answers, though well intentioned, and very caring, are not always the best to ask about problems that could, potentially become life-threatening.

Know that you are not alone, however much you feel like you are. Feel free to email me if you would like, but I'll probably tell you the same advice again. I cannot stress enough how important it is for you to be completely up front with your doctor. However you are feeling is how you feel, and your doctor needs to know what you are going through. Take care of yourself, and don't let the depression win. Be strong.

Answer 2

Gosh I felt really sad for u when i read your question. Depression is a horrible thing and nobody can understand it unless they've experienced it for themselves. Anti depressants can take a couple of months to kick in so it may be that your not getting the full benefit of them yet. If you don't feel any better within another couple of weeks i would go back to your GP and tell him/her. Depression does come in cycles,good days,bad days and really really crap days. Try to do lots of things you enjoy doing, whether it be walking,talking going to the cinema, anything that you enjoy on your good days do on the bad days even if you don't feel like it. It's a battle I'm afraid but with help and good friends & family you will get through it slowly but surely. Good luck X

Answer 3

Yes depression can come and go. I suffer from recurrent severe depression where I'm ok for a while and then I crash and really suicidal. I take anti-depressants and anti-psychotics and it does help. I also have a CPN I see every week and can contact if I need to. Talk to your doctor again and see if he can put you in touch with your local CMHT (Community Mental Health Team).

In the mean time, if you want to talk things through, feel free to e-mail me.

Answer 4

Hi there, antidepressents, especially SSRIs can cause people who actually have Bipolar to cycle up and down more quickly than if they did not have SSRIs. Since most Bipolar people go to the doc on the sad cycle it is easy to get diagnosed as just normal Depressive. Definately go to a PSYCH doc and get a full eval--be open to any diagnosis and ask lots of questions, have lots of questions be asked.

Answer 5

i have personal experience with this one. yes i think it can come and go. when i got off of my medication, i was fine at first, but then all it took was one bad experience to put me right back where i was. which lled to substance problems. (that are now under control), but u just have to be careful and make sure u have people in your life who can help u when u need it (when u're ready to inflict injuries on yourself or even before you get the urge to do something like that). but when u hit those low days u have to do whatever u have to do so that u can make yourself feel better and be safe at the same time.

Answer 6

yes it can come the way you have described it. ive had depression on and off since the age of 15 and im now 33! i have plenty of days feeling that i cant go no lower then out of the blue im on top of the world, then i can come crashing down again just like that! i selfharm to and its a way of escaping.

Answer 7

After a few days of relaxing your mind has forgotten the stressful activity that has encouraged your depression.

If you can keep those relaxed feelings, very shortly you may not need the medications. Check with your doctor.

You are learning to cope with the symptoms.

That has been my experience.

read my articles at
http://themeaningisyou.com

Answer 8

Yes, i'm afraid so- mood swings, highs and lows are all part and parcel of depression. You have to remember though that when you are at the lowes point the only real way left is up!

Answer 9

I feel exactly the same, you could have a condition called bi-bolar depression where you cycle from manic to depressive states or maybe you just feel good after doing nice htings and then when they disappear you feel depressed again, thats my problem.

Answer 10

Hi

You aren't the only one, I suffer from periodic depression every few years I have a bad spell.

Try hypnosis and reflectlogy this really helped me and I stopped taking the antidepressiants they made me worse.

Reduce as much stress in your life