[NeverBeenSane]

Hello, I will make a longer post soon, But I was just wondering if it ever actually gets better? Like, do all the feelings ever truly go away or decrease? Or do the trust issues, and self esteem problems go away? I just need something to hope for =/ xxx

[Rohag]

Hello, NeverBeenSane!

Originally Posted by NeverBeenSane

...I was just wondering if it ever actually gets better?

I think the official line goes something like this: "Depression is treatable, and many of those treated for depression recover."

I am suspicious of the official line, especially since I'm chronically depressed. Nevertheless, the statistics do seem to be on your side, particularly as you are in treatment. That is, chances are you will get better or even recover in time.

You've been around PsychCentral before, and a fair number of posters have suffered from depression and/or other mental illnesses for years. We may not be representative of the larger community of sufferers.

As for self-esteem, I personally view it as a fruit. You don't increase the size of the fruit by physically trying to stretch it; you grow it by fertilizing and watering its bearer. (There's a Self-Esteem Forum around here somewhere.)

All the best to you, NeverBeenSane! Please keep posting -- looking forward to your longer post in preparation.

[brokenspirit45]

Originally Posted by NeverBeenSane

Hello, I will make a longer post soon, But I was just wondering if it ever actually gets better? Like, do all the feelings ever truly go away or decrease? Or do the trust issues, and self esteem problems go away? I just need something to hope for =/ xxx

I was wondering the same thing.

[Leed]

Hi ~ I can say that I feel "almost" 100% better. I was in therapy almost all my adult life - I suffered from severe depression, plus I'd been emotionally and psychologically abused by my husband. I got on an antidepressant that worked and found a good psychologist and she got me working on myself. It took awhile but it was worth it!! I feel better than I have in years - and as long as I keep taking the medication, I think I'll be ok. But I have to try to stay out of my "head" cause that's a bad neighborhood - I shouldn't go there alone.

It CAN and DOES get better with work, therapy and medication. I wish you the very best. God bless & take care. Hugs, Lee

[justfloating]

YES. It does get better! It's not necessarily an easy road, and it's not something that will happen over night, but with treatment and perseverance depression can be lifted. In my case, the depression hasn't gone away for good, but I have learned to manage it over the years. I think it's important to try to live your life DESPITE depression, rather than waiting to live once it's gone. It takes some of the pressure off to be "cured".

One of the worst things about depression is its ability to convince us that NOTHING is going to change, that NO ONE can help us, and that we are ultimately hopeless and helpless. The best thing you can do for yourself is to remember that depression lies, and there IS hope and there ARE people out there who can help! Sometimes it takes a few false starts, but once you find the right combination of medication and/or therapy and/or lifestyle anything is possible.

Originally Posted by Rohag

I think the official line goes something like this: "Depression is treatable, and many of those treated for depression recover."

I am suspicious of the official line, especially since I'm chronically depressed. Nevertheless, the statistics do seem to be on your side, particularly as you are in treatment. That is, chances are you will get better or even recover in time.

You've been around PsychCentral before, and a fair number of posters have suffered from depression and/or other mental illnesses for years. We may not be representative of the larger community of sufferers.

Yes the vast majority of people find their depression very treatable though it can come back. It's best tackled with a combination of meds and therapy, but many people find therapy alone helpful for milder depression.

And as Rohag pointed out, the posts at PC are probably skewed towards the more severe and chronic end of the spectrum just by the very nature of being a support forum. For example, I was depressed a yr before I came to PC so I think many people with short-lived depressive episodes probably don't end up looking for support and posting on PC.

All the best,

*Willow*

[online user]

For some of us, our depressions are based on faulty genetics. We are likely the "recurrent, severe" depressive-types. But even for us, it DOES get better with time, sometimes on its own. With treatments and improved life circumstances, it can be reduced significantly. We function fairly normally--but we still take our meds, but maybe in smaller doses. And we may stop therapy after a while, just go to the psychiatrist periodically for a med review and prescription refill. But don't lose heart. The meds and therapy can take a bit to work. And, as someone else pointed out, it will seem as though you will never get better--but that's your depression telling you stories. You'll gradually feel you ARE getting better, and it will be true! Do feel free to post here whenever you like--there are people all over the world and insomniacs on here, so you can almost always find someone to talk with here or to answer a question you have.