Depression- suseptability for reocurrence?

[boyblunder]

Hey, I hardly write in here so im going to take the time to waffle. If you get to the end thank you and if you reply thank you very much.

Im feeling great at the moment, ive finaly had results back from the interviews ive been having all year. Turns out i have mild Aspergers* and adhd. Now while this wouldnt be considered brilliant news to some, at least now i know why i feel different to other people and why i've had such a hard time in university.
*side note, can you believe its taken teachers, tutors, education psychologists, clinical psychologists and psychiatrists until im 21 to diagnose this?

I was depressed for a long time, fortunately i dropped out of university beginning of the year and the lack of socialising, studying and organising elements that are part of university life really took a lot of pressure off me. First my anxiety went, and over a period (comparably short with the length of suffering) my depression has gone.

I like to think of it as coming out of a swimming pool and drying by sunshine. finaly im dry and warm =-)

Now to focus more and waffle less.
Although i feel great at the moment, im concerned about a reocurrence of depression.
Can you ever be free from depression, or only hold it at bay for the rest of your life?
Does the fact that i've had depression mean i am more suseptable to another bout of it if for example a family member dies?

Im asking RYL because you guys understand. Also due to the strain on mental health services, once i was ok they sent me packing and i am to report back to them every 6 months. I would ask my GP but i feel awkward talking to a guy, about mental health issues, that i see in church and around town.

Thanks for reading!

[startingagain]

Once you've had depression I think that you are able to recognise the symptoms quicker the next time and so can put in place strategies to deal with it. (Teachers can't make a medical diagnosis)

[ThinkingofRecovery]

You might want to post this on the mh board as it really isn't a question suitable for the serious board.

[Revolving Door]

Once you have an episode of depression there is a higher rate that you will get another episode compared to people who have never had depression. (I've studied psychology at uni so am not saying this just from personal experience, the stats do show what I am saying!) But as said above, you will know the warning signs now and can do something about it before it becomes a full blown 'episode'.

Does that make any sense?

[Kitkat :)]

I agree with the comments that have already been posted.

For me it was harder to deal with it the first time round, because I didn't really know what was happening, didn't get help and it ended pretty badly for me. Then it seemed to go away for a while, and then it came back and I got help, was discharged and am now trying to hold it off. But yes, it is easier to recognise if you feel the depression slowly creeping back. Think of it as like a cloud over your head, sometimes it can be clear and sometimes it can get heavy and start to rain.

[BridgesAndBalloons]

It must be frustrating to only have been given a diagnosis recently, after 21 years. I guess sometimes it takes people longer to diagnose somethings.

I have reoccuring depressive episodes. I've sort of come to my conclusion that it may well be something I have to deal with off and on for a long time. The only reason I say that is that some of my family memebers have the same thing and have have had to deal with it all throughout their lives.

That said, each time you deal with an episode and come through the other side it makes you stronger I believe. Like other people have said it's easier to spot the warning signs before it declines into a bad episode.

I liked your analogy about drying out in the sun, I feel it's very apt. I'd also say sometimes if you can feel an episode coming on it's like spotting black clouds in the distance. By the time you have spotted them you can prepare yourself before they get to you and rain on you making you wet again.

[Stellata]

On paper, I am diagnosed with Recurrent Depressive Disorder. This was also in retrospect for some of my episodes. Although what I experience is more like the 'longstanding treatment resistant depression' the psychiatrist referred to my illness as verbally. I wasn't psychiatrically assessed and diagnosed until I was 35, and had started psychotherapeutic work several years before then. However my depression started showing itself in my mid teens, having shown up as attachment problems and anxiety before then.
However what I experience, as mentioned above, is more a chronic form of depression, where I suffer from low mood much of the time, and the severity of my symptoms escalate and peak from time to time, according to stressors in my life.

[xxhappydaysxx]

I think so. My depression has reoccured several times since aged 12 and Im 20 now. But like said earlier, I did recognise the signs much quicker and so was aware and i slipping so sort help earlier than I would have... I think.