I found medications helped as long as I was taking them because they were numbing me out but in reality that was not helping me because once I was off the medication the problems were still there so I went crashing down again.

But this time I did something different. I took the medication while learning how to handle my problems and learned new coping skills. Then I went off the medication not because I stopped them but because my physician said I could try a three month trial period to see if I have gained enough new coping skills and learned what I needed to by taking depression management classes and working in therapy on the topic of depression and my problems so that I knew how to take care of my depression without having to be numbed out with medication.

I have now been nedication free for just over 2 years. Im not saying I will never have to take medications agaain but I don't see me needing them any time soon and neither does my therapist and my physician.

Check with your therapist. He/she will know of a depression management group and class in your area.

Also I found doing workbooks like The Depression Workbook, The Anxiety Workbook, Mind over Mood and The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook very helpful.