Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSigns of Recovery From DepressionHow to Track Your ProgressDepression Symptoms to Look For
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Table of Contents
Signs of Recovery From Depression
How to Track Your Progress
Depression Symptoms to Look For
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As you begintreatment for depression, it may take a bit of time for you to feel like you’re back to your normal self. If your progress is slow, it’s natural to question whether you’re really improving. Your doctor can help you set some goals to use as benchmarks and assess your progress.
Press Play for Advice On Coping With DepressionThis episode ofThe Verywell Mind Podcast, featuring NFL host Jay Glazer, shares how to cope with depression. Click below to listen now.
Press Play for Advice On Coping With Depression
This episode ofThe Verywell Mind Podcast, featuring NFL host Jay Glazer, shares how to cope with depression. Click below to listen now.
You can watch for a few things to better understand whether you are on the road to recovery.
Improving Symptoms
Do you notice that you don’t feel sad as often or that you have fewer bouts of anger? Maybe you’re thinking more clearly, your appetite has returned, or you don’t feel as tired. If yoursymptoms of depressionare improving, this is a positive sign.
If you have trouble recognizing changes in your symptoms, ask your doctor, counselor, or therapist. They may notice that you seem lessirritableor have more energy during your visits. Sometimes, it’s hard to see these things ourselves.
Improved Daily Function
If you’re having an easier time functioning in your daily activities, this is another good indicator that you’re progressing. This may include noticing that you find it less difficult to:
You may find it helpful to set small daily goals, such as missing fewer days at work or taking a shower every day.
Limited Relapses
Another important goal of depression treatment is to reduce your chances of having future episodes of depression. If your symptoms remain under control over time, this is an important indicator that you’re getting better.
One way to help achieve this goal is with healthy changes to your lifestyle. Although depression is an illness with abiological basis, the way you live your life can potentially increase your stress and trigger a relapse in your condition.
Living ahealthy lifestyle, minimizing stress, and improving how you relate to others can help keep your depression from reoccurring.
In addition to working closely with your doctor, there are a few actions you can take to keep an eye on your progress.
Keep a Journal
Journalingis an easy and effective way to track your symptoms over time, explore your emotions, and manage your feelings.Try using a journal to record your symptoms, your experience with medication, and self-help strategies.
For example, you can use your journal to record what type of activity you tried, such asexercise,meditation, or listening to your favorite music. Also, write down how you felt before and after, noting what you liked or didn’t like.
You may want to consider sharing your journal entries with your mental health care professional. They may be able to help you identify whether your medication should be adjusted or if you should try a different treatment approach.
Take Symptom Questionnaires
Another way to track your progress is to periodically take a test like the Wakefield Questionnaire. This questionnaire asks a series of questions about your depression symptoms and then provides you with a numerical score.The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) andBeck’s Depression Inventory(BDI) are similar options.
By comparing your scores over time, you can objectively see whether your symptoms are improving. Maybe they are appearing less often or feeling less intense. These can both be signs that your treatment is working and your depression is getting better.
Monitor Changes in Medication
How long you need to take antidepressants depends on how well they work and whether you’re at risk of a relapse.As you begin to feel better, your doctor may decide to reduce your medication dosage or take you off it completely. This is a positive sign that you’re making progress.
Another medication-related sign to look for is if you’re having fewerside effectswith your antidepressant or less severe side effects. Or maybe you’ve found a way to work them into your life so the effects aren’t so bothersome, such as taking them atmorning versus nightor vice versa. All of these changes are steps in the right direction.
If your antidepressant is making you feel worse or causing side effects that are impacting your quality of life, speak to your doctor. Sometimes, a change in medication is all you need to start feeling better.
It may take time, but with the right combination of treatment, support, and lifestyle habits, you can feel like your old self again.
Depression Discussion GuideGet our printable guide to help you ask the right questions at your next doctor’s appointment.Download PDFSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
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If you have feelings of depression that don’t seem to be getting better or are getting worse, talk to your doctor. Your treatment plan may need to be changed. Here are a few common symptoms of depression to watch for:
Undiagnosed and untreated depression can get worse and stop you from living a fulfilling life. So, if you have these symptoms for two weeks or more, or if you are being treated for depression and these symptoms are not getting any better, be sure to consult a mental health professional for help.
How to Get Out of a Depressive Episode
Final Thoughts
Depression can impact every area of your life, so it’s helpful to know whether the treatment you are using is working for your type of depression and itslevel of severity. If you ever feel like your depression is not getting better, talk to your doctor. Many potential remedies exist. It’s just a matter of finding the right one for you.
If you or a loved one are struggling with depression, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for 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 struggling with depression, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
The Best Online Therapy Services for Depression We Tried and Tested
6 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.Oluboka OJ, Katzman MA, Habert J, et al.Functional recovery in major depressive disorder: Providing early optimal treatment for the individual patient.Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2018;21(2):128-144. doi:10.1093/ijnp/pyx081Sarris J, O’Neil A, Coulson CE, et al.Lifestyle medicine for depression.BMC Psychiatry2014;14(107). doi:10.1186/1471-244X-14-107Krpan KM, Kross E, Berman MG, Deldin PJ, Askren MK, Jonides J.An everyday activity as a treatment for depression: The benefits of expressive writing for people diagnosed with major depressive disorder.J Affect Disord. 2013;150(3):1148-1151. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2013.05.065Snaith RP, Ahmed SN, Mehta S, Hamilton M.Assessment of the severity of primary depressive illness: Wakefield self-assessment depression inventory.Psychological Medicine. 1971;1(2)143-149. doi:10.1017/S0033291700000064National Center for Biotechnology Information.Depression: How effective are antidepressants?American Psychiatric Association.What is depression?
6 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.Oluboka OJ, Katzman MA, Habert J, et al.Functional recovery in major depressive disorder: Providing early optimal treatment for the individual patient.Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2018;21(2):128-144. doi:10.1093/ijnp/pyx081Sarris J, O’Neil A, Coulson CE, et al.Lifestyle medicine for depression.BMC Psychiatry2014;14(107). doi:10.1186/1471-244X-14-107Krpan KM, Kross E, Berman MG, Deldin PJ, Askren MK, Jonides J.An everyday activity as a treatment for depression: The benefits of expressive writing for people diagnosed with major depressive disorder.J Affect Disord. 2013;150(3):1148-1151. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2013.05.065Snaith RP, Ahmed SN, Mehta S, Hamilton M.Assessment of the severity of primary depressive illness: Wakefield self-assessment depression inventory.Psychological Medicine. 1971;1(2)143-149. doi:10.1017/S0033291700000064National Center for Biotechnology Information.Depression: How effective are antidepressants?American Psychiatric Association.What is depression?
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.
Oluboka OJ, Katzman MA, Habert J, et al.Functional recovery in major depressive disorder: Providing early optimal treatment for the individual patient.Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2018;21(2):128-144. doi:10.1093/ijnp/pyx081Sarris J, O’Neil A, Coulson CE, et al.Lifestyle medicine for depression.BMC Psychiatry2014;14(107). doi:10.1186/1471-244X-14-107Krpan KM, Kross E, Berman MG, Deldin PJ, Askren MK, Jonides J.An everyday activity as a treatment for depression: The benefits of expressive writing for people diagnosed with major depressive disorder.J Affect Disord. 2013;150(3):1148-1151. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2013.05.065Snaith RP, Ahmed SN, Mehta S, Hamilton M.Assessment of the severity of primary depressive illness: Wakefield self-assessment depression inventory.Psychological Medicine. 1971;1(2)143-149. doi:10.1017/S0033291700000064National Center for Biotechnology Information.Depression: How effective are antidepressants?American Psychiatric Association.What is depression?
Oluboka OJ, Katzman MA, Habert J, et al.Functional recovery in major depressive disorder: Providing early optimal treatment for the individual patient.Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2018;21(2):128-144. doi:10.1093/ijnp/pyx081
Sarris J, O’Neil A, Coulson CE, et al.Lifestyle medicine for depression.BMC Psychiatry2014;14(107). doi:10.1186/1471-244X-14-107
Krpan KM, Kross E, Berman MG, Deldin PJ, Askren MK, Jonides J.An everyday activity as a treatment for depression: The benefits of expressive writing for people diagnosed with major depressive disorder.J Affect Disord. 2013;150(3):1148-1151. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2013.05.065
Snaith RP, Ahmed SN, Mehta S, Hamilton M.Assessment of the severity of primary depressive illness: Wakefield self-assessment depression inventory.Psychological Medicine. 1971;1(2)143-149. doi:10.1017/S0033291700000064
National Center for Biotechnology Information.Depression: How effective are antidepressants?
American Psychiatric Association.What is depression?
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