Not easy to answer. The stresses I cope with now are quite different from those in younger years. I am now 61 and have been on meds and had a therapist since I was 18. That is a lot of years and trials of almost every drug available. I took old type antidepressants like elavil, norpramin...all with bad side effects. The newer SSRIs are much easier to take but don't really work any better.

In my early years, my concerns were about job, finding a soul mate (never did), coping with aloneness, and stressed out over family discord. Now my concerns are health problems, paying medical bills, having money to support myself through the "goldless years". This year I had two trigger finger releases, heart cath and coronary arteriogram with stents. Last year I had cataracts removed. The year before I had a total knee replacement. I also had to have a D&C for postmenopausal bleeding. Coping with these problems undoubtedly are more difficult and I continue to suffer deep depression at times. But it seems to be easier than when I was young and had no friends.

If you are able to develop coping strategies in the early years of lifetime depression, you may actually find depression more tolerable in later years. Be sure to learn how to build and maintain a network of supportive friends. Because people move away, get divorces and lose jobs leaving you with less support. None of my friends 15 years ago are still in my life. All my current friendships were established within past 5 years. My best friend moved 1,000 miles away 3 months ago. We still text once a week but I have had to find a replacement as long distance friendships aren't very satisfying.