I agree with justafriend, depression is managed and requires constant attention but with the right treatment (for you) can lead to a very good life.

My coping skills had become a part of my life and I stopped practicing them consciously but I think they were always in play. I did very well for about ten years with no therapy and no anti-depressants. My biggest thing was staying cognizant of symptoms and as a result I would have periods of mild depression occasionally (maybe every few months or a few times a year) that lasted for one or two days and I was able to pull myself out of them.

I was doing well until a strong relapse last December and I'm back in therapy and on an antidepressant again and in an IOP program. I am doing a different kind of therapy that I think is working well for me. There are different kinds of CBT so if you feel it is no longer working for you I would say there is hope (because CBT did work for you for a while) so look for either practicing your skills or looking for another form of CBT or another type of therapy.

I am currently doing DBT and it is working well for me. I would highly recommend it, but of course I can't say it will be effective for everyone. However if you are looking for something different you might want to consider DBT.

Good luck.