Depression impacts how you feel, think, and perform daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working.1 Frequency, longevity, and severity of depressive symptoms vary, but in the majority of cases, clinical depression won’t go away on its own. Mental health treatment can influence how long it lasts and how able the person can cope with its impact.
Depression Is Treatable with Therapy
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What Is Depression?
Depression involves a persistent low mood and feeling of sadness and hopelessness. These issues can also come with feelings of tiredness, focusing on the negative, and thoughts of self-harm.
Symptoms of Depression
There can be many different symptoms of depression. These symptoms can vary by individual, their circumstances, history, trauma, and other factors, but there are some common symptoms to be aware of.
Common characteristics of depression include:
- Hopelessness and feeling discouraged about the future
- Feeling low sense of worth
- Lacking motivation and drive due to negative beliefs
- Seeing themself as a burden
- Suicidal thoughts
Does Depression Go Away On its Own?
It’s difficult to say with certainty whether depression goes away on its own after a certain amount of time passes. Without professional mental health treatment, it can become harder for people to put a stop to their depression symptoms, and the more severe the symptoms are, the more debilitating they become.
The length of time someone experiences depression depends on several factors:
Type of Depression
The type of depression a person has directly impacts how long the depression lasts. For example, if depression is associated with the death of a loved one, it can improve as grief is processed. Another type of depression is seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Symptoms of SAD start in the fall and continue into winter, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. They improve with more sun and daylight.
A longer, more severe type of depression is persistent depressive disorder (PDD) or dysthymia. Fewer people have this diagnosis; however, those who do will experience more chronic and crippling depression that can last for years.
Cause of Depression
The cause of depression is another factor to determine its longevity. If the cause is associated with something short-term or situational like depression after a job loss, puppy blues, or premenstrual syndrome (PMS), symptoms may not last as long. Other causes could be related to chronic illnesses like arthritis or dementia.1
Severity of Depression
Milder depressions have a higher possibility of being resolved without treatment. Major depressive disorders tend to last six months to two years. The more severe depression (i.e., persistent depressive disorder) can last two years or longer, especially if left untreated. These kinds of depression are more difficult to overcome due to length and severity of symptoms. Mental health expertise will likely be needed to treat more serious types.
Genetics
Is depression genetic? Yes, it can have a genetic component. If there’s a family history of depression, there’s a greater chance you’ll experience it. People with a first-degree relative (e.g., parent or sibling) with depression appear to have a two to three times greater risk of developing the condition than the general public.5
In cases of genetic-related depression, if you were around a relative who was depressed, you may unknowingly copy depressive symptoms. Just because a close relative has depression does not ensure you will get it; rather, you may be more susceptible.
There is no definitive research regarding genetic depression and how it subsides. It isn’t certain if it can just go away or if treatment is necessary to alleviate symptoms.
Treatment-Resistant Depression
Treatment for depression can involve psychotherapy vs. medication. However, with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), standard treatments aren’t enough. They may not help much at all, the depression may keep getting worse or your symptoms may improve, only to keep coming back.6 If this is the case, it may be necessary to try a therapist who uses different therapeutic techniques and recovery services to provide symptom relief.
Help for Depression
BetterHelp – Get help from a licensed therapist. BetterHelp offers convenient and affordable online therapy starting at $65 per week and is FSA/HSA eligible by most providers. Free Assessment
Talkspace – Online Therapy With Or Without Insurance. Talkspace accepts many insurance plans including Optum, Cigna, and Aetna. Talkspace also accepts Medicare in some states. The average copay is $15, but many people pay $0. Get started
When to Seek Professional Help For Depression
If symptoms are mild and allow you to function normally at work, in relationships, and in regard to your health, you don’t need to seek outside help. If your symptoms interfere with your daily functioning or if unhappiness has been the norm for weeks, months, or years, then it’s time to try finding & choosing an online therapist.7 Start your search by asking for a referral from your primary care physician or by using an online therapist directory.
If you have thoughts of suicide and self-harm, or your symptoms become worse or more frequent, seek treatment immediately.
Depression Treatment Options
Depression often responds well to treatment. The two most common treatments for depression are psychotherapy and antidepressant medications, which are often used in tandem. There are also a series of alternative remedies used to treat depression.
Here is how therapy and antidepressants lessen symptoms of depression:
Therapy For Depression
Psychotherapy helps people learn to cope with and manage stressors. It also helps them identify specific behaviors or life events that might be causing the depression.
Here are types of therapy used to treat depression:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): the goal of CBT for depression is to recognize and change false and distressing beliefs. CBT is generally done on a short-term basis, and it ranges from 8 to 20 sessions.8
- Interpersonal therapy (IPT): interpersonal therapy focuses on communication and relationships. The American Psychological Association says patients learn to improve their relationships by better expressing their emotions.9
- Psychodynamic therapy: psychodynamic therapy examines past life events that may negatively influence current relationships, behaviors, and mood. It involves introspection and self reflection that helps identify those connections. New, more positive behaviors are created to replace current harmful behavioral patterns.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR for depression is useful to treat people experiencing depression and trauma. The EMDR International Association says its eight phases focus on changing the emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from the distressing issue and allowing the brain to resume its natural healing process.10
Medications For Depression
Depression affects parts of the brain that regulate mood. Antidepressants help increase neurotransmitters that are linked with depression, including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. The increase of these chemicals helps lessen depression.
Here are commonly prescribed medication for depression:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): these medications are most frequently used to treat depression. They increase your brain’s level of serotonin, which is associated with feeling happy and content.11 Examples of these medications include Citalopram (Celexa), Sertraline (Zoloft), Fluoxetine (Prozac) and Paroxetine (Paxil).
- Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs): SNRIs restore the balance of chemicals in your brain by boosting two neurotransmitters: serotonin and norepinephrine, which affects your energy level, focus, and attention.12 Examples of these medications are venlafaxine (Effexor), and Duloxetine (Cymbalta).
- Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs): TCA’s are used less often today because they tend to have more side effects, including dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, and increased heart rate. Examples of these medications are Amitriptyline, Amoxapine, and Desipramine (Norpramin).
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs): this class of medication was the first antidepressant. They’re used less often because they also have a higher number of side effects (e.g., dry mouth, dizziness, headaches, and nausea). Examples of these medications are isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), and selegiline (Emsam).
Alternative Remedies for Depression
There are a variety of at home strategies you can incorporate into your life to supplement formal depression treatment. Some of these alternative treatments for depression may come more naturally to you, but finding intentional ways to take care of yourself when you’re feeling depressed can help improve how you feel.
Some at-home depression remedies include:
- Journaling
- Yoga
- Mindfulness meditation
- Practicing gratitude
- Deep breathing exercises
- Mindful eating
- Setting a consistent sleep schedule
- Routine exercise
Final Thoughts: Does Depression Go Away On Its Own?
When depressive symptoms get worse or remain for more than a few weeks, the depression probably isn’t going to go away on its own. If depression is left untreated, it can become chronic (long-lasting).13 Consult a mental health professional or your doctor to determine the best course of action to take care of yourself and pursue recovery.
Additional Resources
To help our readers take the next step in their mental health journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy is compensated for marketing by the companies included below.
Online Therapy
BetterHelp – Get support and guidance from a licensed therapist. BetterHelp has over 30,000 therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy. BetterHelp starts at $65 per week and is FSA/HSA eligible by most providers. Take a free online assessment and get matched with the right therapist for you. Free Assessment
Therapy for Depression & Medication Management
Brightside Health – If you’re struggling with depression, finding the right medication can make a difference. Brightside Health treatment plans start at $95 per month. Following a free online evaluation and receiving a prescription, you can get FDA approved medications delivered to your door. Free Assessment
Best-In-Class Therapists for Depression
Jimini Health – Depression doesn’t have to continue to control your life. Get the support of a Jimini Health therapist. Join them for video sessions and a personalized continuous care plan, exclusively from Jimini. Combining the heart and experience of top therapists with the consistency of clinically-informed AI exercises has shown to be twice as effective as traditional counseling. Starting at $200 per session (insurance not yet available). Next-day appointments available. Visit Jimini Health
Ketamine Therapy for Depression
Better U – offers personalized ketamine therapy with 1-on-1 coaching, all from the comfort of your own home. Address the root cause of depression and live a more fulfilling life. Start Your Free Assessment
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Online Depression Test
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Best Online Therapy for Depression
Depression is a very common mental health concern. To find the best online therapy for depression, we spent hundreds of hours personally using and researching over 50 platforms. Our resulting list offers options with easy access to appointments, affordable pricing, coverage for major insurance plans, and some of the best therapist availability in the industry. Read on to see our top picks for the best online therapy for depression.
Best Online Psychiatry Services
Online psychiatry, sometimes called telepsychiatry, platforms offer medication management by phone, video, or secure messaging for a variety of mental health conditions. In some cases, online psychiatry may be more affordable than seeing an in-person provider. Mental health treatment has expanded to include many online psychiatry and therapy services. With so many choices, it can feel overwhelming to find the one that is right for you.