Hi MsNiteOwl, welcome to PC

It happens to me too. I started out with one long episode of depression (a year, maybe a year and a half) and then since that lifted I get sudden onsets of depression that disappear just as suddenly, usually for no perceivable reason, like you describe.

I've tried figuring out what works and what doesn't until my head hurts, and sometimes things that have worked before don't work again, which is really frustrating, so I know where you're coming from. I just try to take care of myself regardless of whether I'm depressed or not -- eating well, getting fresh air and exercise, taking time to relax -- and I can't say whether it helps lift the low spells at all but I think in general it reduces their frequency. Also, the absolute BEST thing I can do when I have those low spells is remind myself that I've come out of that dark cloud before, and I will do it again. Depression warps my perception to the point that I start thinking I'll NEVER feel better and I NEVER have, and I've found it helps to remind myself that I do have good days and there will be more to come.

Maybe you could start a mood chart to help you keep track of how you're feeling and maybe pick out patterns over longer periods of time? Nothing dramatic, just a score of how you're feeling -- 1 being no depression and 10 being the worst you could possibly feel -- once a day. Maybe if you can track your depression over a few weeks or even months you might be able to relate your moods to something that goes on in your life around the same time.

It also really helps me, on my down days, to come here to PC to remind myself that I'm not alone in how I feel, and maybe just to vent a little. I'm glad you found the website and I hope you keep us posted on how you're doing.