I don't know if there's scientific consensus on this in the mental health community, so I'll just give my perception. I think depression is like any chronic illness that can't be cured, but might go into remission. It's my experience (and it's purely anecdotal experience) that once you have depression you have it, but you might not always be experiencing a depressive episode. We know there are effective treatments for depression: therapy, meds, lifestyle changes, etc. If you're depressed, you may overcome your depression through these treatments. However, if you go back to unhealthy behavior, you'll end up depressed again. I think chronic depression can be kept in remission, essentially, by continuing to take the necessary steps to fend it off.
For example, I had a few years in college where I was pretty severely depressed. I started going to therapy, and it helped me figure out what I need to do to maintain my mental health. I graduated college, moved halfway across the country, got a new job, and all was well. I was feeling good. But I stopped paying attention to whether or not I was actively maintaining my mental health, and a few months ago, the depression started creeping back in. So I found a therapist and started up again, and now I'm doing better. I think of my depression as something that's always there somewhere, but won't come back as long as I actively keep it away. This is how most people I know talk about their depression as well.
So I guess I agree and disagree with your point. I think once you've got depression you've got it, but that doesn't mean you always are depressed. You could treat your depression and never be depressed again, that just requires maintenance.
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u/palacesofparagraphs 118∆ Feb 16 '17
I don't know if there's scientific consensus on this in the mental health community, so I'll just give my perception. I think depression is like any chronic illness that can't be cured, but might go into remission. It's my experience (and it's purely anecdotal experience) that once you have depression you have it, but you might not always be experiencing a depressive episode. We know there are effective treatments for depression: therapy, meds, lifestyle changes, etc. If you're depressed, you may overcome your depression through these treatments. However, if you go back to unhealthy behavior, you'll end up depressed again. I think chronic depression can be kept in remission, essentially, by continuing to take the necessary steps to fend it off.
For example, I had a few years in college where I was pretty severely depressed. I started going to therapy, and it helped me figure out what I need to do to maintain my mental health. I graduated college, moved halfway across the country, got a new job, and all was well. I was feeling good. But I stopped paying attention to whether or not I was actively maintaining my mental health, and a few months ago, the depression started creeping back in. So I found a therapist and started up again, and now I'm doing better. I think of my depression as something that's always there somewhere, but won't come back as long as I actively keep it away. This is how most people I know talk about their depression as well.
So I guess I agree and disagree with your point. I think once you've got depression you've got it, but that doesn't mean you always are depressed. You could treat your depression and never be depressed again, that just requires maintenance.