Why does it feel like my depression will never go away?

This article will discuss why, at times, it might feel like your depression will never go away. The article will discuss what it might feel like, what could be causing it, and what are ways to deal with this situation.

Why does it feel like my depression will never go away?

Sometimes it might seem like your depression will never go away. This might be happening because you are going through a relapse or your condition has worsened. When you go through that, a sense of hopelessness can take over and it can feel like depression will be with you forever.

When that is happening, it is important to remind yourself that depression is a long-term illness. It doesn’t go away overnight, and it also has its ups and downs. And even though you felt a little better, you should always be aware of how its symptoms can return. 

Don’t blame yourself and think you did something. Instead, get in touch with your physician, tell them how you feel, and maybe you can figure out what is happening that caused you to feel worse.

What are things that might be influencing my condition?

If you have been dealing with depression for a while, it might be that you felt a little better after you started treatment. But if after a while you realized your symptoms got worse, you might feel like depression will never go away. Here are some things that might be going on.

Treatment can take a while to work 

Understand that depression is not a condition that gets better from one day to the other. If you are on medication, know that it might take some time for it to kick in, and it can also take some time to adjust the dosage of it.

This can make you feel hopeless as if the treatment wouldn’t work with you. But know that this is what almost everyone goes through, and it is at this point that people often abandon treatment. If you keep in mind that with time you will feel better, that can be a great start.

You might need to change your line of treatment 

As said before, not everyone adjusts to the first line of treatment in which they start. Medications can be changed, and people might decide to change lines of therapy if they don’t identify with the one they started in.

The important thing here is to keep trying to find the right treatment, even though you can feel frustrated at times. And don’t surrender to that voice in your head saying that your depression will never go away.

You might have treatment-resistant depression 

If you go through many lines of treatment, your doctor might diagnose you with treatment-resistant depression. When that happens, your doctor might suggest other lines of treatment that are not common, such as the use of ketamine, injected mental health drugs, or even electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). 

Maybe you should get a physical 

When you have that treatment-resistant depression, it might mean that your depression may be related to other underlying matters. It can be that you have another mental health condition, or it could be related to some physical problem. 

You might want to get a check-up and check your B12 levels, check your thyroid, Vitamin D, and hormone levels. Alterations in one of these can cause you to feel symptoms similar to depression, such as fatigue.

Prevent relapse

It could be that you were feeling better for a long period, but after a while, you might go back to feeling depressed. It could be that you had a relapse. Depression is not a condition that has a cure, it is always possible that it will come back. 

What you can do is avoid relapse. To do that you might want to stick to your treatment until your doctor releases you. It is common for people to just stop the medication as soon as they feel a little better. And this can be a big mistake.

Another thing that can help you relapse is by giving up all the lifestyle changes you made because of depression. Let’s say you started meditating and working out, and therapy to cope with your depression. 

If you leave it all behind as soon as you feel better, it could be that you relapse in a moment when you deal with a stressful situation.

What can I do when I feel like this?

It is hard to keep hope when you feel like your depression will never go away. But keep in mind that depression is something you have, and it doesn’t define who you are. 

These are some ways you can cope with feeling as if depression will never leave you.

Change your mindset 

Although it might be hard, hopelessness seems to be the word that is guiding your life. Try to keep in mind that your depression will go away at some point. This will give you the notion that there is something worth fighting for.

Having that in mind is not always easy, but it is what will keep you motivated to stick to your treatment.

Keep your routine 

When you are depressed, especially if you have major depression, it can be hard to keep active. Sometimes even the smallest things like getting out of bad can seem difficult. Instead of overwhelming yourself with a huge schedule, try to create a simple routine for yourself.

Try to take one step at a time. Leave time for you to do things calmly, and don’t beat yourself up if, for one day, you are not able to do things as you planned. If you blame yourself it might become even harder to commit to it.

Focus on what gives you hope 

Although right now it might seem like depression will never leave you, and hope can be a distant notion, try to focus on things that can rekindle hope in you. 

You can write down what things could bring you hope. It can be meeting some friends, graduating from college, or completing a workout. Having those in writing can be a good way to keep your hope alive, along with that, it is a great way to commit to your ideas.

Be close to loved ones

Depression can cause you to isolate yourself. But it is during this time that it is extremely important having your loved ones close. It could be helpful to share your thoughts and feelings and be supported by them. It is also a space in which you can feel connected and loved.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Why does it feel like my depression will never go away?

What is the point of treating depression?

Although sometimes you might want to just give up treating your depression, you should know that it is extremely important to treat it.  If you don’t, there is no way it will get better. You can even have a few good days, but the condition won’t improve.

By treating your depression, even though depression doesn’t have a cure, you will be able to feel your symptoms decreasing. And with that, little by little, it might be possible for you to regain some control over your emotions and your life.

What is severe and persistent depression?

Severe depression, also known as major depression, is a type of depression in which the person experiences its symptoms intensely and frequently. When a person has severe depression they can also experience other symptoms that are not present in other forms of depression, such as hallucination, psychotic episodes, and delusion.

In severe depression, even the smallest activities, such as getting out of bed, can be hard to do. As for persistent depression, it is a long-term form of depression that can go on for around 2 years. 

During this time the person can go through periods of severe depression, and in between those, the depression symptoms can be mild. 

Persistent depression can often cause people to think their depression will never go away, since they experience, frequently, some improvements followed by the worsening of their condition.

What are the main symptoms of depression?

Depression is a mental illness that can cause intense suffering to a person. It brings a negative view to the world and themselves. Making them feel sad, empty, and without hope. Along with that, depression can make the person lose energy and their ability to focus.

It causes people to cry more often, feel more irritable, isolated, and tired. It changes your sleeping and eating patterns, makes you feel more pain, and can make you think about self-harm, and even about suicidal thoughts.

What should I do if I am considering suicide?

When you are thinking of suicide it might be extremely important to get in touch with the mental health professional that is responsible for your treatment. It might be important to notice when those thoughts are coming, if they are coming when you feel lonely, or when you feel hopeless, that depression will never leave your life.

You might also have to tell your doctor if those thoughts have been coming fleetingly, meaning that it is just a thought that comes to you, but passes quickly. Or if it is a thought that is stuck in your mind to a point that you might be starting to plan it.

If you are dealing with the second option, it might be important to not only get in touch with your doctor but share this with your support network. This will allow them to help you. To take care of things in the house that you might use to hurt yourself with.

Do I always need to take medication to treat depression?

No, medications are not always necessary when treating depression. What will determine if you will need it or not is the doctor’s evaluation, and how they analyze your condition. The medication might be important to help control your symptoms.

It can make your mood more stable. Give you a better sense of energy, and might make it easier for you to focus. Not only that, the medications can help you sleep better, and adjust your eating pattern.

Conclusion

The article showed how people that say their depression will never go away might feel. It explained why this might be happening, and what are things they can take a look at to guarantee their best treatment. Along with that, the article showed how they can cope with feeling as if their depression would never go away.

If you have any questions or comments about this article, feel free to write it in the section below.

References

https://www.elevatecounseling.com/blog/feeling-hopeless-what-to-do-when-depression-wont-go-away

https://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/therese-borchard-sanity-break/things-consider-when-your-depression-not-getting-better/

https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/depression/what-if-my-depression-never-goes-away