They say that the longer and deeper you are in a particular episode the harder it is to get out. Its best to try to prevent it or really attack it when you are slipping. I know that's not really what you are asking though.

You can probably find my story around here but I will tell you my daughters story.....

She experienced depression pretty much through all her teens. It actually started when she was 12. The happiest girl on earth, loved school, great friends, softball, good family. Then all of a sudden she totally lost interest in school. She is very stubborn and she couldn't care less about it. Noticeable change in mood. Sleeping all the time. Dumped her friends. Started hanging with the bad girls and partying. She really had no interest in anything but her friends and sleeping and watching tv and her phone of course. Her mom and I were very understanding because of our own experience but we tried doing whatever we could. We tried online school. She took anti depressants when she was 16 for awhile but didn't want to so we didn't force her. We got her in therapy. She was trying very hard and I knew that. She did not graduate with her class.

Here is the thing. When she was 19 she totally snapped out of it like a switch went off. She decided she wanted to get her diploma and went to adult school and got it. She is 21 now and in college with a 3.5 and has a job. She is vise president of the environmental club and is making all new friends. She ditched the bad girls. She is full of energy and happy all the time. Eats good, exercises. The difference is absolutely amazing. She has some anxiety issues but has learned how to manage that pretty good.

Her teens weren't one long depression. She had some good times and ups and downs, but it was pretty bad. Even a half assed suicide attempt. But for over two years now, happy, joyous and free, and functional. So you never know. You can't imagine how happy her mom and I are for her.

Some might say that it was just normal teenage years stuff but that is not true. When I compared her to the set of friends she had earlier and the average girl her age she was way below the norm. When I say bad girls I don't mean that in a derogatory way. Just a saying I guess from that show. They had similar problems.

My genes are dominant in her and we are so much alike so I worry still. We are very very close because we are so much alike. So far so good.

Being that you are 19 if you start doing whatever you are capable of now to fight it and treat it your odds are much much better.

As lonely-and-sad said it is a very complex subject with many possible causes and we are all very unique in how it affects us and how we respond to treatment.

Don't lose hope and do whatever you can to fight the bastard.