My depression naturally fluctuates, so even before I took medication it would periodically clear up on its own. It seemed about the same as when it was improved by medication.

I tend to not really notice or feel a decrease in symptoms. (This applies to depression, other mental health problems, and physical health problems. Like if I have a headache and either I take a pain killer or the pain goes away on its own, I'll stop noticing the pain, and I might retroactively realize I stopped feeling pain at some point, but "lack of pain" doesn't really feel like anything itself.) It's just that the stuff depression felt like mostly stopped happening.

After my last long-term depressive episode, I have had trouble getting back into my previous level of functioning. However, that might have to do with my other life circumstances and/or my usual executive dysfunction.