Is Your Depression Coming Back?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSigns of a RelapseCausesTreatmentCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Signs of a Relapse

Causes

Treatment

Coping

Depressionis a widespread mental health concern that affects an individual’s ability to function on a daily basis. If you’ve experienced depression in the past, you may be worried about the potential for relapse. In relation to depression, a relapse is a recurrence of symptoms after remission has been achieved (a period of return to original functioning, generally 16 to 20 weeks long).

Whiletreatment for depression, such as therapy or medication, has been shown effective, research has also shown that about one-third of individuals who discontinue treatment will experience relapsing depression within one year.

Signs of a Depression Relapse

For this reason, it is important to consider the various potential signs or symptoms of a depression relapse. Below is a complete list of the potential signs to watch for, and the sections that follow include detailed descriptions of thesesigns and symptomsto help you determine if they are impacting you.

Low Mood

Feeling down, sad, or having a low mood for no reason is one of the hallmark signs of a depression relapse. This includes feeling tearful,hopeless, gloomy, empty, or miserable.

These feelings are normal responses to obvious causes such as losing a job, losing a loved one, or going through a breakup or divorce. However, if your feelings of low mood have no apparent cause, last for a period of longer than two weeks, and are present nearly every day, then you may be experiencing relapsing depression.

This is especially true if your low mood or sadness interferes with your daily life. For example, perhaps you struggle to go to work because of crying spells, or you feel hopeless that things will never get better for you. These are signs that low mood may indicate a depression relapse.

Tips to Help You Stop the Tears From Flowing

Irritability

Do you find yourself getting annoyed more easily than before? Are you snapping at people or finding that you quickly fly off the handle or get angry? If so, you may be experiencingirritabilityas a symptom of a depression relapse.

If irritability is a problem for you, you likely have alow tolerancefor stressful situations. This means you tend to react with annoyance or anger when faced with minor inconveniences. In other words, anything can set you off and cause you to argue with others.

If you feel angry and frustrated a lot of the time, and little things make you very upset, then irritability may be a problem for you and could be a sign of a depression relapse.

Loss of Interest or Pleasure

Another hallmark sign of a depression relapse is theloss of interestin things that you used to find enjoyable. This might include attraction to your partner, sex with your partner, hobbies, seeing friends, or anything that you used to enjoy.

If you are noticing that things you once enjoyed have started to feel like a burden, then you may be experiencing a loss of interest or pleasure related to a depression relapse. If your favorite activities feel like too much effort and not worth it, this could be a sign that you are relapsing.

If You’ve Been Feeling ‘Meh’ Lately, You Could Be Experiencing Anhedonia

Brain Fog

Most people with depression experience something known asbrain fog. Brain fog refers to theslowing down of cognitive processes(i.e., thinking). This means that you may have trouble thinking and feel as though your thoughts are slowed down.

Brain fog can also mean problems with concentration, decision-making, problem-solving, and memory. It can interfere with life in many different ways, such as making it harder to do your job or to hold a conversation in a social situation.

Learn More About Emotional and Mental Reasons for Memory Loss

Sleep Changes

How is your sleep? Sleep is another aspect of your health that can be easily impacted during a depression relapse. If you notice changes in your sleep, such as trouble falling asleep, waking through the night, not feeling rested, or sleeping too much, then you could be experiencing a depressive relapse.

Some people with depression find that as soon as their head hits the pillow, they start toruminate(think obsessively) about their day and the things that went wrong or that are causing them stress. This, in turn, can make it harder to fall asleep and lead toinsomnia.

It may also worsenfatigueand make it harder to get out of bed in the morning. If you are experiencing any of these issues, this could be an indication of relapsing depression.

Coping With Sleep Disturbances During Depression

Have you been able to keep up with your social obligations? Some people who have a depression relapse may experience social withdrawal as one of the main signs of relapse. If you have been avoiding social situations or feelisolatedor alone when you do attend, then you may be having a depression relapse.

Social withdrawalcan have a negative effect on your relationships, which in turn may worsen your depression. If making conversation feels like too much effort, leaving the house feels like an impossible feat, or you simply hang out in your room much more than would be considered acceptable behavior, then you may be having social issues.

This sign can be related to loss of pleasure since you don’t experience any joy from being around other people. In combination, these issues may point to a depression relapse.

Feeling Worthless

How have you been feeling about yourself? Feelingworthless or unworthyis another sign of a depression relapse.If you feel as though you havelow self-esteem, that you’re not deserving or worthy of better things in life, or that you generally are overly critical of yourself, then feelings of worthlessness may indicate a depression relapse.

This issue can also be related tofeelings of guilt, a focus on your flaws or failures instead of positive achievements, and overly stronginternal critic. If you are constantly blaming yourself for something bad that happened, it could be that your inner critic and self-loathing are a sign of a bigger problem, including a depression relapse.

‘I Hate Myself’: 8 Ways to Combat Self-Hatred

Weight Gain or Loss

People who struggle with weight gain or loss due to depression relapse may also engage inbinge eatingor otherdisordered eating patterns.If you notice that your eating habits or weight have changed, this could be a sign that your depression is coming back.

Foods to Help Fight Depression

Fatigue

Are you tired just thinking about getting out of bed, doing the dishes, or paying the bills? Fatigue can make everything seem much harder to accomplish.

For example, a chore like folding the laundry can become an insurmountable task that you just can’t seem to check off your to-do list. If you find yourself dragging through the day, fatigue may be a sign that your depression is coming back.

Why Am I Always Tired?—Common Causes of Fatigue and What to Do

Aches and Pains

Depression is not only experienced in the mind. Some people also notice that they have more aches and pains when experiencing signs of depression.These aches and pains can take various forms and move around the body. Below are some of the types of pains that you may experience if you are experiencing a depression relapse:

When Feelings are Expressed Through Your Physical Body

Suicidal Thoughts

Finally, havingsuicidal thoughtsis a strong sign that you may have severe depression. If this is the case, it means that your depression has returned. In the case of severe depression, you likely have also lost interest in things you used to enjoy. You may also feel hopeless about your position in the world. All of these are indications of relapsing depression.

If you or a loved one are struggling with 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.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

RecapIf you’ve had depression in the past, watch for signs of relapsing depression, such as low mood, irritability, loss of interest, brain fog, fatigue, social withdrawal, and changes in sleep and weight.

Recap

If you’ve had depression in the past, watch for signs of relapsing depression, such as low mood, irritability, loss of interest, brain fog, fatigue, social withdrawal, and changes in sleep and weight.

Causes of Depression Relapse

If you are experiencing a depression relapse, you might be wondering why your depression has returned. Depression can indeed return at any time,even if you are taking medicationor receiving therapy. It can also return without any obvious outside trigger or stressor.

However, sometimes,depression relapse follows an external event. Below are some potential triggers or causes of a depression relapse.

Treatment for Relapsing Depression

If you are concerned that you may be experiencing a depression relapse, it’s important to know that all of the treatment strategies that help for depression will also help for a relapse. Below are some of the options that you may want to consider in consultation with your doctor.

If you took medication before or are currently taking medication, your doctor may suggest changing medications or changing the dose of your medication.

The Best Online Therapy ProgramsWe’ve tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.

Coping With Relapsing Depression

Beyond seeking help from a professional, there are several coping strategies that you can use on your own to manage your symptoms of relapsing depression. These may also help to prevent you from experiencing another depression relapse in the future or at least make it easier for you to manage symptoms until you can receive professional help.

Reach Out to Family or Friends

If you feel that you are slipping back into a state of depression, reach out to a family member or friend to let them know how you are feeling. Depression can make you want to narrow your social connections, which can make the symptoms of depression worse.Therefore, finding someone you can confide in and who will check up on you can make a difference.

Practice Self Care

Self-care is the act of taking care of your physical and mental health. There are several different things you can do to take care of yourself that will help to improve your physical and mental state if you are experiencing a depression relapse.

Adhere to Therapy Recommendations

If you were already in therapy for depression, you likely received some homework and/or recommendations on how to move forward after the last session. Reflect on your time in treatment and what you learned.

Are there strategies you could start using again? Are there workbooks or tracking logs that your therapist gave to you? Anything helpful to you in the past will likely be beneficial to you again as you face a depression relapse.

Adhere to Medication Plan

If you were prescribed antidepressant medication as part of your treatment plan, it is very important that you adhere to the medication schedule that you were prescribed. Do not abruptly stop taking medication if you do not like how it is making you feel.

Track Your Mood

A mood tracker is generally a one-page worksheet that spans a month and allows you to shade boxes that correspond to how you are feeling each day. Some mood trackers also allow you to rate your mood from 1 to 10 or add details about what happened each day. There are also mood trackers that span an entire year.

Since a diagnosis of depression requires a feeling of low mood nearly every day for at least two weeks, this is one thing to look for when tracking your mood.

Best Mood Tracker Apps

Develop a Journaling Habit

If you are facing a depression relapse, one way to help manage your symptoms is to develop ajournaling habit or expressive writing habit.

Journaling or expressive writing can be helpful for managing mental health because it allows for the expression of and exploration of emotions, similar to what you would do in a therapy session. The difference is that you will be doing self-exploration rather than exploration with the aid of a therapist.

If you are interested in starting a journaling habit to cope with relapsing depression, the best way to start is with atime blockset aside for free-writing in your journal. Choose a time of day when you will be relaxed and not likely to be interrupted.

Use a blank journal, and begin writing about whatever comes to mind, good or bad. Be curious about your writing and try to “get to the bottom” of your feelings. If you are feeling sad or down, ask yourself what’s going on in your life or what might have caused you to feel that way.

Journaling can also be a way to catch negative thought patterns andreframethem in a more realistic tone. For example, if you write in your journal, “Everythingis terrible, and I willalwaysfeel awful,” you could examine that thought for negative distortions.

Cognitive DistortionsBlack-and-white thinking is a type ofthought distortionoften found in people with depression symptoms, and it is present in this thought. You could practice rewriting the thought in a more realistic way, such as “Things are bad sometimes, but I know that I won’t feel awful forever.”

Cognitive Distortions

Black-and-white thinking is a type ofthought distortionoften found in people with depression symptoms, and it is present in this thought. You could practice rewriting the thought in a more realistic way, such as “Things are bad sometimes, but I know that I won’t feel awful forever.”

Want to Relieve Stress ASAP? Write in a Gratitude Journal

Find a Support Group

If you are genuinely struggling with a depression relapse and feel you need more support, consider looking for asupport group specifically aimed at those living with recurrent depression. While going to therapy, taking medication, and using self-help strategies can help to alleviate your depressive symptoms, having the social support of others who have gone through the same things as you can help you to feel less alone.

Final Thoughts

If you are struggling with symptoms of a depression relapse it can feel hard to know what steps to take. If you were previously in treatment or are still receiving treatment (therapy or medication), often the best first step is to reach out to your current treatment provider.

It may be necessary to restart medication, resume therapy, or make plans for a new treatment regime. Recurrent depression is completely normal, so there is no shame in reaching out for help a second time.

Once you have reached out to a professional for help, you’ll also want to make sure you are doing everything possible to ensure the success of your treatment plan. However, depression can make it hard to do the smallest of tasks.

For this reason, you may want to enlist the help of a family member, friend, or support group member to check in with you and help you stay on track. Knowing that someone is there to support you could mean the difference between effectively managing the return of depression and slipping further into your symptoms.

While depression can feel insurmountable when it happens, try to remind yourself that you made it through once before and you can do it again. The benefit of having been through a previous depressive episode is that you’ve seen the other side and know that it’s possible to feel good again.

An Overview of Treatment-Resistant Depression

10 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.Primary Care Online Resources and Education.Three phases of treatment of major depression. Columbia University.Lin EH, Katon WJ, VonKorff M, et al.Relapse of depression in primary care. Rate and clinical predictors.Arch Fam Med. 1998;7(5):443-449. doi:10.1001/archfami.7.5.443National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Harrison P, Lawrence AJ, Wang S, et al.The psychopathology of worthlessness in depression.Front Psychiatry. 2022;13. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.818542Sahle BW, Breslin M, Sanderson K, et al.Association between depression, anxiety and weight change in young adults.BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):398. doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2385-zPeterson RE, Latendresse SJ, Bartholome LT, Warren CS, Raymond NC.Binge eating disorder mediates links between symptoms of depression, anxiety, and caloric intake in overweight and obese women.J Obes. 2012;2012:407103. doi:10.1155/2012/407103Ghanean H, Ceniti AK, Kennedy SH.Fatigue in patients with major depressive disorder: Prevalence, burden and pharmacological approaches to management.CNS Drugs. 2018;32(1):65-74. doi:10.1007/s40263-018-0490-zIsHak WW, Wen RY, Naghdechi L, et al.Pain and depression: A systematic review.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2018;26(6):352-363. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000198Elmer T, Stadtfeld C.Depressive symptoms are associated with social isolation in face-to-face interaction networks.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):1444. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-58297-9Sohal M, Singh P, Dhillon BS, Gill HS.Efficacy of journaling in the management of mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Fam Med Community Health. 2022;10(1):e001154. doi:10.1136/fmch-2021-001154

10 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.Primary Care Online Resources and Education.Three phases of treatment of major depression. Columbia University.Lin EH, Katon WJ, VonKorff M, et al.Relapse of depression in primary care. Rate and clinical predictors.Arch Fam Med. 1998;7(5):443-449. doi:10.1001/archfami.7.5.443National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Harrison P, Lawrence AJ, Wang S, et al.The psychopathology of worthlessness in depression.Front Psychiatry. 2022;13. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.818542Sahle BW, Breslin M, Sanderson K, et al.Association between depression, anxiety and weight change in young adults.BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):398. doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2385-zPeterson RE, Latendresse SJ, Bartholome LT, Warren CS, Raymond NC.Binge eating disorder mediates links between symptoms of depression, anxiety, and caloric intake in overweight and obese women.J Obes. 2012;2012:407103. doi:10.1155/2012/407103Ghanean H, Ceniti AK, Kennedy SH.Fatigue in patients with major depressive disorder: Prevalence, burden and pharmacological approaches to management.CNS Drugs. 2018;32(1):65-74. doi:10.1007/s40263-018-0490-zIsHak WW, Wen RY, Naghdechi L, et al.Pain and depression: A systematic review.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2018;26(6):352-363. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000198Elmer T, Stadtfeld C.Depressive symptoms are associated with social isolation in face-to-face interaction networks.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):1444. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-58297-9Sohal M, Singh P, Dhillon BS, Gill HS.Efficacy of journaling in the management of mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Fam Med Community Health. 2022;10(1):e001154. doi:10.1136/fmch-2021-001154

Primary Care Online Resources and Education.Three phases of treatment of major depression. Columbia University.Lin EH, Katon WJ, VonKorff M, et al.Relapse of depression in primary care. Rate and clinical predictors.Arch Fam Med. 1998;7(5):443-449. doi:10.1001/archfami.7.5.443National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Harrison P, Lawrence AJ, Wang S, et al.The psychopathology of worthlessness in depression.Front Psychiatry. 2022;13. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.818542Sahle BW, Breslin M, Sanderson K, et al.Association between depression, anxiety and weight change in young adults.BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):398. doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2385-zPeterson RE, Latendresse SJ, Bartholome LT, Warren CS, Raymond NC.Binge eating disorder mediates links between symptoms of depression, anxiety, and caloric intake in overweight and obese women.J Obes. 2012;2012:407103. doi:10.1155/2012/407103Ghanean H, Ceniti AK, Kennedy SH.Fatigue in patients with major depressive disorder: Prevalence, burden and pharmacological approaches to management.CNS Drugs. 2018;32(1):65-74. doi:10.1007/s40263-018-0490-zIsHak WW, Wen RY, Naghdechi L, et al.Pain and depression: A systematic review.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2018;26(6):352-363. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000198Elmer T, Stadtfeld C.Depressive symptoms are associated with social isolation in face-to-face interaction networks.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):1444. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-58297-9Sohal M, Singh P, Dhillon BS, Gill HS.Efficacy of journaling in the management of mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Fam Med Community Health. 2022;10(1):e001154. doi:10.1136/fmch-2021-001154

Primary Care Online Resources and Education.Three phases of treatment of major depression. Columbia University.

Lin EH, Katon WJ, VonKorff M, et al.Relapse of depression in primary care. Rate and clinical predictors.Arch Fam Med. 1998;7(5):443-449. doi:10.1001/archfami.7.5.443

National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.

Harrison P, Lawrence AJ, Wang S, et al.The psychopathology of worthlessness in depression.Front Psychiatry. 2022;13. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.818542

Sahle BW, Breslin M, Sanderson K, et al.Association between depression, anxiety and weight change in young adults.BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):398. doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2385-z

Peterson RE, Latendresse SJ, Bartholome LT, Warren CS, Raymond NC.Binge eating disorder mediates links between symptoms of depression, anxiety, and caloric intake in overweight and obese women.J Obes. 2012;2012:407103. doi:10.1155/2012/407103

Ghanean H, Ceniti AK, Kennedy SH.Fatigue in patients with major depressive disorder: Prevalence, burden and pharmacological approaches to management.CNS Drugs. 2018;32(1):65-74. doi:10.1007/s40263-018-0490-z

IsHak WW, Wen RY, Naghdechi L, et al.Pain and depression: A systematic review.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2018;26(6):352-363. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000198

Elmer T, Stadtfeld C.Depressive symptoms are associated with social isolation in face-to-face interaction networks.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):1444. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-58297-9

Sohal M, Singh P, Dhillon BS, Gill HS.Efficacy of journaling in the management of mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Fam Med Community Health. 2022;10(1):e001154. doi:10.1136/fmch-2021-001154

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Signs of a Depression Relapse#

Low Mood#

Irritability#

Loss of Interest or Pleasure#

Brain Fog#

Sleep Changes#

Social Withdrawal#

Feeling Worthless#

Weight Gain or Loss#

Fatigue#

Aches and Pains#

Suicidal Thoughts#

Recap#

Causes of Depression Relapse#

Treatment for Relapsing Depression#

Coping With Relapsing Depression#

Reach Out to Family or Friends#

Practice Self Care#

Adhere to Therapy Recommendations#

Adhere to Medication Plan#

Track Your Mood#

Develop a Journaling Habit#

Cognitive Distortions#

Find a Support Group#

Final Thoughts#