how long does depression last?

[Alice imagine]

I was curious how long depression last cause some days am at a really low. Point then for weeks I just feel alive then its like something real sets in and I go back to the. Depression. Is that normal? ?? Should I get help or just try figureing stuff out for myself

[Patch.]

Depression is different for everyone.

I would advise getting yourself some help, that way you can work through these things with a professional. Can you visit your doctor and have a chat with them?

[yoyogirl]

for me i just dont know one minute im really happy and the secondly the depression sets and i dont want to anything and in feel so low and tired.
but as for time i have no idea.

[Alice imagine]

What If I can't get help and haven'ttold anybody. Cause basically they'll think am kidding

[Patch.]

I doubt anyone will think you're kidding. Doctors are there to support you & to take you seriously. Your doc will be able to tell you whether you have depression or not, and will be able to refer you to other forms of support if needed.

[Alice imagine]

Okay doctors :l will I h
ave to be put in a hospital

[Patch.]

Can only echo what Thumbelina said :)
Hospital tends to be used only as a last resort. They won't put you in hospital unless you are a danger to yourself or others, and lack the capacity to make decisions about your care.

Good luck with the docs x

[Alice imagine]

Good I hate hospitals. And thank y'all :)

[random.swirls]

Definitely seek help!

my depressions used to last a month to the day almost it was kinda scarily odd! More recently they have lasted a lot longer which sucks but I also have longer periods of normality and so on. My diagnosis is bipolar.

I have been put in hospital for depression but by that point i wasnt functioning and whilst I hated it it did help. But shortly after an admission I can remember my care coordinator talking about how people thought they would have an assessment to see if they could benefit from the support of a mental health team and how scared they were of being admitted often - she finished it off by saying due to funding etc it's very rare for it to happen and highly unlikely at assessment.

[needle girl]

It differs person to person...many people go through cycles. Some people with help basically overcome depression and go on to live a normal life maybe with a few recurrent episodes...other people deal with it their entire life. We can't diagnose you of course but what you've described isn't normal and as others have said, you should get professional help; you are much more likely to make progress with professional help rather than without it. I know it isn't easy for most people though! It can help to remember that doctors have heard it all, you won't be the first to ask for help for this kind of problem.

[snowy_owl]

Oh, gosh, it really depends on the person and the circumstances I think.

Sometimes -- for me at least -- it only lasts a month or two. Other times it's as much as six to eight months. Sometimes I can go a year between episodes, sometimes there are two or three episodes a year. There doesn't seem to be any particular reason to it.

So I'm not sure what it's like for other people, exactly, but from my experience there really is no "average".

It's definitely normal to have those sort of cycles that you talked about. I know what you mean... sometimes it's like peeking your head up above the water and getting a great big breath, but you get tired and start to sink below the surface again after a while. That happens to me a few times an episode, it seems.

I would recommend getting help. Better to get help and not need much of it than need it and not have it, or try to wait it out but have it get even worse. Best of luck to you, it's hard but it's possible :)