Can Depression Go Away on Its Own?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDepression Can PersistUnderstanding DepressionWhy Treatment Is ImportantTreatment Options

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Depression Can Persist

Understanding Depression

Why Treatment Is Important

Treatment Options

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Many people withclinical depressionforego psychological help for a while, hoping it will go away on its own. However, research shows that proper diagnosis and treatment can help—particularly when treatment is started early and involves both psychotherapy and medication.Although mild or situational depression can resolve on its own in some cases, clinical depression often requires (and responds to) treatment.

Depression is a highly treatable illness. In fact, 80–90% of people who get treatment notice improvement.

Why Depression Sometimes Goes Away on Its Own—and Sometimes Doesn’t

Many say that “time heals all wounds,” but that’s not entirely true when it comes to depression. It depends on its type, length, and severity, among other factors.

Type of Depression

Certain types of depression tend to last longer than others. For example, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) generally occurs only during the winter months, easing in springtime. Conversely, persistent depressive disorder lasts for two or more years.

7 Common Types of Depression

Underlying Causes

Some health conditions can trigger or exacerbate depression. For example, some women experiencepremenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which is depression that recurs during the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle. Likewise, some new mothers develop postpartum depression. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine possible causes and best treatments for your depression.

What to Know About Postpartum Depression (PPD)

Severity

Mild depression sometimes resolves without formal treatment. Moderate orsevere depression, however, usually requires medical attention.

Treatment usually includes medication, therapy, or a combination of the two. Additionally, complementary approaches such as herbal remedies, acupuncture, exercise, meditation, and massage have all been found to help ease depression.

If your depression is interfering with your quality of life, consult your healthcare provider for anaccurate diagnosisand treatment recommendations.

Understanding Depression

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most common form of depression and can ebb and flow throughout a person’s lifetime.Symptoms typically associated with MDD include:

These symptoms must be present for at least two weeks before a diagnosis of MDD can be made. If depression persists for two years or more, persistent depressive disorder (PDD), also known asdysthymia, may be diagnosed.PDD affects roughly 3% of people in the United States, and females are diagnosed twice as often as males.

Depression Statistics Everyone Should Know

The National Institute of Mental Health shares that depression has a number of potential, and oftentimes complex, causes.Some may be genetic or biological and others may be environmental or psychological.

No matter the cause, untreated depression can be extremely debilitating and interfere with every part of life. Severe depression can lead tosuicidewithout immediate attention.

Depression has also been linked to a variety of physical health issues, including heart disease, obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and other chronic disorders.In the case of heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes, depression may accelerate the progression of the disease. Depression can make treating other medical illnesses difficult because of the lack of motivation and energy that typically comes with it.

Although an individual episode of depression may go away on its own withouttreatment, it can also get worse—so immediate treatment at the first signs of depression is important.

Current evidence suggests that someone who has had one episode of depression has a 50% risk of another. With each additional episode, this risk rises, increasing to 70% after a second episode and 90% after the third.

Appropriate treatment can shorten depression’s length and severity, and many options are available.

How Is Depression Treated?

Medications

Antidepressants can start to relieve the symptoms of depression in as little as two to four weeks. This not only helps you feel better but can also keep depression from getting worse.

Research indicates that the more severe your depression, the more antidepressants can help.Antidepressants can also help prevent relapses.

Some people fear taking antidepressants because they are concerned with how they will affect day-to-day life. However, side effects typically subside as your body gets used to the medication.Continuing to take them as prescribed is crucial.

Stopping your antidepressant without your doctor’s supervision can make you sick

Therapy

Several types of therapy can help relieve feelings of depression. Among them is cognitive behavioral therapy, which can provide positive results even when delivered via computer.Cognitive behavioral therapyteaches people how to change their thought patterns and coping mechanisms to foster a more positive outlook and outcomes.

Another therapy option isinterpersonal therapy, which focuses on social roles and interpersonal interactions. This is considered a time-limited treatment, which generally means 12 to 16 weeks, and it is commonly used in mood disorders like MDD.

Complementary Treatments

Several complementary treatment options consistently show benefits for depression. They include:

Including these alternative remedies in your treatment plan may help you begin to feel better.

Consult your healthcare provider before taking herbal remedies. They can interact with other drugs or produce undesirable results.

Self-Care

Sleeping well, eating a nutritious diet, and not misusing alcohol or drugs to cope can help you feel better.

Another form of self-care to consider is exercise. Just 20 to 40 minutes of physical activity—walking, running, or attending a fitness class—three times a week can help reduce depression symptoms, not only now but in the long term.

Many people with depression, however, understandably struggle with self-care. Your healthcare provider may offer other treatment options until you’re more able to take healthy steps on your own.

The Combination Approach

Combining two or more treatment options can maximize relief from your depression. For example, embracing aself-care routinethat includes exercise, massage, meditation, or other approaches while also taking medication is likely to produce more relief than any single treatment option.

If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of depression, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of depression, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

How to Get Out of a Depressive Episode

The Takeaway

Although a particular episode of depressionmightgo away on its own, it can also get worse without intervention. Depression is highly treatable with proven and continuously evolving medications and approaches, so there’s no reason to hold off getting help—and no shame or harm in asking a professional for treatment.

14 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (n.d.).Depression.American Psychiatric Association.What is depression?National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Cleveland Clinic.Alternative therapies for depression.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Depression.Patel R, Rose G.Persistent depressive disorder.StatPearls.National Institute of Mental Health.Depression basics.Dhar A, Barton D.Depression and the link with cardiovascular disease.Front Psychiatry. 2016;7:33. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00033Lye MS, Tey YY, Tor YS, et al.Predictors of recurrence of major depressive disorder.PLoS One. 2020;15(3):e0230363. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0230363Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Depression: How effective are antidepressants?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is depression?Wright J, Owen J, Richards, D, et al.Computer-assisted cognitive-behavior therapy for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Clin Psychiatry. 2019;80(2):18r12188. doi:10.4088/JCP.18r12188Cleveland Clinic.Psychotherapy for depression: Procedure details.Craft L, Perna F.The benefits of exercise for the clinically depressed.Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2004;6(3)104-111. doi:10.4088/pcc.v06n0301Additional ReadingKennedy, S.A review of antidepressant therapy in primary care: Current practices and future directions.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2013;15(2):PCC.12r01420. doi:10.4088/PCC.12r01420

14 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (n.d.).Depression.American Psychiatric Association.What is depression?National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Cleveland Clinic.Alternative therapies for depression.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Depression.Patel R, Rose G.Persistent depressive disorder.StatPearls.National Institute of Mental Health.Depression basics.Dhar A, Barton D.Depression and the link with cardiovascular disease.Front Psychiatry. 2016;7:33. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00033Lye MS, Tey YY, Tor YS, et al.Predictors of recurrence of major depressive disorder.PLoS One. 2020;15(3):e0230363. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0230363Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Depression: How effective are antidepressants?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is depression?Wright J, Owen J, Richards, D, et al.Computer-assisted cognitive-behavior therapy for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Clin Psychiatry. 2019;80(2):18r12188. doi:10.4088/JCP.18r12188Cleveland Clinic.Psychotherapy for depression: Procedure details.Craft L, Perna F.The benefits of exercise for the clinically depressed.Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2004;6(3)104-111. doi:10.4088/pcc.v06n0301Additional ReadingKennedy, S.A review of antidepressant therapy in primary care: Current practices and future directions.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2013;15(2):PCC.12r01420. doi:10.4088/PCC.12r01420

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (n.d.).Depression.American Psychiatric Association.What is depression?National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Cleveland Clinic.Alternative therapies for depression.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Depression.Patel R, Rose G.Persistent depressive disorder.StatPearls.National Institute of Mental Health.Depression basics.Dhar A, Barton D.Depression and the link with cardiovascular disease.Front Psychiatry. 2016;7:33. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00033Lye MS, Tey YY, Tor YS, et al.Predictors of recurrence of major depressive disorder.PLoS One. 2020;15(3):e0230363. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0230363Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Depression: How effective are antidepressants?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is depression?Wright J, Owen J, Richards, D, et al.Computer-assisted cognitive-behavior therapy for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Clin Psychiatry. 2019;80(2):18r12188. doi:10.4088/JCP.18r12188Cleveland Clinic.Psychotherapy for depression: Procedure details.Craft L, Perna F.The benefits of exercise for the clinically depressed.Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2004;6(3)104-111. doi:10.4088/pcc.v06n0301

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (n.d.).Depression.

American Psychiatric Association.What is depression?

National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.

Cleveland Clinic.Alternative therapies for depression.

Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Depression.

Patel R, Rose G.Persistent depressive disorder.StatPearls.

National Institute of Mental Health.Depression basics.

Dhar A, Barton D.Depression and the link with cardiovascular disease.Front Psychiatry. 2016;7:33. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00033

Lye MS, Tey YY, Tor YS, et al.Predictors of recurrence of major depressive disorder.PLoS One. 2020;15(3):e0230363. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0230363

Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Depression: How effective are antidepressants?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is depression?

Wright J, Owen J, Richards, D, et al.Computer-assisted cognitive-behavior therapy for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Clin Psychiatry. 2019;80(2):18r12188. doi:10.4088/JCP.18r12188

Cleveland Clinic.Psychotherapy for depression: Procedure details.

Craft L, Perna F.The benefits of exercise for the clinically depressed.Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2004;6(3)104-111. doi:10.4088/pcc.v06n0301

Kennedy, S.A review of antidepressant therapy in primary care: Current practices and future directions.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2013;15(2):PCC.12r01420. doi:10.4088/PCC.12r01420

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