Will untreated depression get worse or go away??!
Question: i've had untreated depression for 3 (going on 4) years. i don't cut myself or take drugs. i'm not suicidal; i've never attempted it, but i have had suicidal thoughts and images of me doing away with myself...
so yeah, basically my question is the one stated above. i've got a feeling that it'll get worse as my life goes on, but i'd like to hear what sane, reasonable people think. i havent reached out to anybody about it (neither friends, nor family members); im not taking any medications or doctors orders for it; hell, i've never even told my parents i've had it...(i dont think they can do anything about it...)
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Answers: i've had untreated depression for 3 (going on 4) years. i don't cut myself or take drugs. i'm not suicidal; i've never attempted it, but i have had suicidal thoughts and images of me doing away with myself...
so yeah, basically my question is the one stated above. i've got a feeling that it'll get worse as my life goes on, but i'd like to hear what sane, reasonable people think. i havent reached out to anybody about it (neither friends, nor family members); im not taking any medications or doctors orders for it; hell, i've never even told my parents i've had it...(i dont think they can do anything about it...)
D=
Honey, it won't go away....
I have dealt with depression my entire life. It's hard to focus on the good sometimes, so depending on what is causing the depression - a chemical inbalance or just worrying about something, there are ways to get help.
Talk to your doctor about it, you may need medication since it has been hanging on for a few years now. Also, excercise really does help. Try working out, run, or go for a brisk walk.
I hope this helps and you start feeling better! Keep your head up, remember life is too short to be unhappy so find the bright spots. Smile a lot. Remember you are an important person!
I know it won't get better untill you do something about it
I'd go to the doc. It's quite common nowadays and if you only have mild depression you'll find it's easily helped with simple things like medication or changing your diet etc..
i have had my depression for about 4 years now. depression usually gets worse if you don't do anything about it. i hate to tell you to go get doped up on medication but that is what i did and i am a lot happier. but yeah yours will most likely just get worse. sorry.
good luck
I think you might benefit from counselling, rather than drugs. I have suffered from long-term depression myself. I have been in counselling for nearly 3 years now and I can't tell you how much it has helped me. I'm also a counsellor now myself. It gives you a safe place to talk about anything at all, and it's completely confidential. Don't be put off by thinking your counsellor is "analysing" you, this is a common misconception. Most counsellors will give a reduction in cost if you are on a low income. Best of luck x
From experience I will tell you it only gets worse. When I went to a therapist it helped me so much, I got on med's and was doing alot better. I stopped taking them and going to the therapist thinking I could handle it but I couldn't on my own.I suggest get help, if you have been suffering with it for that long you obviously can not overcome unless you get treated for it. Its hard to open up at first but you will feel so much better once you get the help you need!
xo
Juno, I've had severe depression since I was 13, that's nearly 40 years ago now. I've tried a lot of therapies and they were all worth it in one way or another, growth experiences you could say, but they didn't make it go away. I've also tried all sorts of drug therapies, none worked in any way for me.
There's a chance you might get relief from therapy or anti-depressant drugs, and there's an equal chance you may not. You could also get some really bad side-effects (google "akethesia" for example) that can precipitate suicide. Be informed before taking medication.
There's a significant chance that no therapy or treatment will ever give relief. The good news is that depression itself is a heightened state of being (heightened in the sense that it indicates you are very aware of your inner life). Because of this, it tends to eventually get better as you grow in your self-knowledge and wisdom. This can be a very painful road when you see others living seemingly happy and carefree lives. You may like to google "existential depression" for more on this.
Finally, I say it's worth trying to learn to become peaceful with the empty, sad feeling. It seems to be the key to a lot of the world's great creativity and art. It also seems to often indicate a deeper, more sensitive soul. There is a saying that "A life unexamined is a life not lived". Good luck in the future.
I've mainly ignored my depression for most of my life. I've been trawling through life, getting by. It was only the other day, during a bad hangover that I realised how deeply depressed I am and that I'm not functioning anywhere near 100%
The scary part is how used to it I've become. I thought it was normal to not fully trust another living soul, to be able to end ANY relationship without remorse, to not have any ambition, to feel empty and numb all the time. But it can't be normal can it?
It's too late for me, I've left it so long I can't be bothered to do anything about it anymore..
Get help before it's too late.
If your depression is the result of a chemical imbalance, then it won't go away. You should consider seeing a psychiatrist, as there might be medication that can help you.
I know someone whose depression is totally medical in origin. As long as she takes her pills for it, she's fine. If she misses a day, she gets depressed and lethargic, and if she accidentally double-doses, she gets hyper and manic. This tells me that medication is the right answer for her, as her mood is obviously related to the balance of chemicals in her brain (and likely nothing else). You may be in the same situation as her.
If you think that might be the case, then by all means go see a doctor. Taking medication for chemical depression is no different from taking medication for high blood pressure. Sometimes our bodies just don't work the way they're supposed to, and there are pills that can help.
I tried to ignore it and it got worse.
I absolutely hated those suicidal thoughts. I never attempted suicide but my shotgun was really starting to look good to me.
My physician prescribed Lexapro for me and once it started working those thoughts stopped.
I don't like taking a daily pill (Pexeva now instead of Lexapro) but if that's what I need in able to work on changing my life and attitude I'll do it.
Just remember that you are never alone in this.
get worse
Usually depressive episodes last 12-16 weeks. You say you've been depressed for nearly 4 years- obviously this is something different to a "normal" depressive episode.
If you seek treatment, your chance of getting better is very high. Without treatment, it seems likely you will remain depressed for at least a while longer, and you may find it gets harder to recover from.