Often, my depressions get more severe the more I try to ignore them and go on as if I'm not depressed. My T told me to think about everything I was trying to keep up with, and figure out what was essential and what wasn't. Then, allow myself to take the pressure off for all the things that weren't absolutely essential.

You know what? My depressed episodes still come, of course, but they're shorter in duration sometimes because I just let go of being stressed about the depression, if/when it will end, and trying to keep up with my normal life when I'm not feeling well. Before I tried this, every downward turn in mood would end in depression. I had episodes that lasted years. Now, I still get freaked out when I start to turn downwards, but I've had a number of episodes that lasted a few days or a week...I'd never experienced that before. I think a lot of it has to do with just letting myself ride that out without trying to push it away by pretending it's not there. The lows are still really low, and when I'm in them I can't remember what it's like when I'm not depressed - it seems like I've always been that way and I'll never not be that way. But they do end, and sooner than they used to. This is still a relatively new approach for me, so I'm not sure if it will last. But, for now, it's working better than other things I've tried.

Is there anything you're trying to make yourself do all the time that isn't necessary? Something you could let go of while you're not feeling well just to relieve the pressure of keeping up with so much?