Hi SophiaG,

I think it kind of depends on the situation. If someone has a depressive episode that is an isolated incident, it's possible that they could try some medication, it would help them, and that would be the end of it. For more chronic depression, I doubt a complete and miraculous recovery is possible.

My personal experience has been more of the chronic variety of depression. I've been dealing with mild/moderate depressive symptoms for over 10 years, and had a major depressive episode last year which was fairly severe, which is what finally caused me to seek professional help.

For me, depression is something that can't really be "recovered" from as one might recover from the flu. I've realized that it will probably always be a part of my life, that I will always be at risk of having another severe episode. So, rather than hoping for complete recovery, my goals are more along the lines of:
(1) monitor myself and remain aware of symptoms, so that if I start sinking into another severe episode, I can get help ASAP; and
(2) reduce the milder depressive symptoms I deal with on a daily basis, so that I can enjoy life, have better relationships, function better at work, etc.

I recently saw a sign on a local elementary school that said "work for improvement, not perfection". That is kind of my motto now. For me, I will never have the "perfection" of being completely depression-free, but I can always keep trying for improvement.