This is what i have come to conclude. You can come up with coping techniques and they can help. The depressive state though will run its course for me unless i am on meds. With meds the ride and depression subsides. With out meds i would sink to the lowest lows and is something i dread going through. Coping techniques then will just allow me to barely keep my job.
The belittling thoughts, apathy and low self motivation remain until i cycle. Which can be as little as weeks or more lengthy.

Ideally, for me, with good techniques and medication I can make it through a depressive state with minimal problems. It is just how long it takes me to actually realize that my life is being affected by a down turn in my mood to get myself to Pdoc quickly.