Does depression go away on its own?

Depression affects everyone differently. For some people, it comes and goes. For others, it can feel almost constant. You might experience one episode of depression, or it might be a lifelong struggle.

It’s hard to predict what your experience with depression will be. But the more severely depressed you are, the less likely it will go away on its own—and the more likely it will come back.

What should I do if my depression comes back?

Fortunately, there’s no need to sit around and wait for depression to go away on its own. Like other mental illnesses, depression is treatable. You can seek professional help from a doctor or therapist, or you can work on your mental health on your own.

Start by learning more about depression and how it’s treated. Then, pick a treatment you feel comfortable with—it can be something simple, like writing in a journal. Stick with it for a few weeks and see if you feel better. If not, try something else. Here are some tips you may want to try:

  1. What are some things you've tried to help make depression better?

    0 / 1000

What others answered:

  1. What negative thought are you struggling with?

    0 / 1000

What Others Answered:

  1. What negative thought are you struggling with?

    0 / 1000

  2. Where does this negative thought come from?

    Negative thoughts usually come from our past experiences. What happened in your life that makes you believe this thought?

    0 / 1000

  3. If your friend was dealing with the same negative thought, what would you say to help them feel more hopeful?

    Then, imagine your friend telling you this more hopeful thought.

    0 / 1000

  4. What do you need to say or do so you can truly believe the more hopeful thought?

    What do you need to let go of so you can feel better? What do you need to say to convince yourself or focus on the positive?

    0 / 1000

What Others Answered:

Working actively to improve your mental health feels better than waiting around for things to change on their own. And many of the treatments for depression are just good, healthy habits to have anyway. It may take you a while to find a combination of treatments that works best for you, and that’s okay. Finding ways to improve your mental health is a rewarding experience, with benefits that go far beyond just keeping your depression under control.

"*" indicates required fields

Was this helpful?*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Did this article help you feel more hopeful about your mental health?(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Did this article help you feel more confident in managing your mental health?(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Did this article help increase your knowledge and understanding of mental health?(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

"*" indicates required fields

Did this article help you feel more hopeful about your mental health and/or addiction?*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

"*" indicates required fields

Did this article help you feel more confident in managing your mental health and/or addiction?*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

"*" indicates required fields

Did this article help increase your knowledge and understanding of mental health and/or addiction?*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Related Topics

Click on each topic to see more articles:

  1. Depression

Take a Depression Test

For people experiencing overwhelming sadness or despair, low energy, or negative self-image. For the Spanish version, see "Test de Depresión".

Take a Depression Test