How Long Does Depression Last?

It’s normal to feel sad or depressed after acute life events such as moving to a new city, experiencing a breakup, the death of a loved one, or facing issues at work. But what happens if those feelings never seem to go away? How long does depression last?

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How Long Does Depression Last For?

There are several forms of depression, and some of them might only last a few months or years, while others can remain throughout your lifetime if you don’t get help, coming and going at several intervals. 

Major Depression

Major depression can be diagnosed after symptoms begin to interfere with daily life and last for two weeks. But how long does depression last? Major depressive disorders can continue to manifest indefinitely without finding treatment.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

Persistent depressive disorder has symptoms that last for two years or more.

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression usually occurs during pregnancy or after delivery. Postpartum depression can persist without treatment.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder is a milder form of depression that comes and goes with changing seasons. 

How long does depression last if you have seasonal affective disorder? Without getting treatment, it can last your entire life or as long as you remain living in the area with the seasons that contribute to your symptoms.

For most people, seasonal affective disorder begins at the end of fall or the start of winter and goes away at the beginning of spring. There are easy ways to manage symptoms at home, but you can also participate in more comprehensive therapy.

What If My Symptoms Go Away?

Depression affects everyone in a different way which means symptoms might be persistent for some individuals, remaining present for several months or years at a time. For others, symptoms ebb and flow, so they might go away for a few years and then come back. 

Some research indicates that clinical depression symptoms can last ten months at a time before they diminish, so long as clients have no other mental health conditions. However, even after that ten-month period, some clients experience a return of their symptoms a few years later.

Given that there are several forms of depression, someone who has an existing mental health disorder like major depressive disorder might experience an increase in their symptoms during times of stress when they are pregnant or when there is an acute depressive episode brought about by things like:

• Moving to a new city
• A death in the family
• Divorce or a breakup
• Financial strain
• Job problems/job loss
• Getting into a car accident
• Witnessing or experiencing trauma

This means someone who experiences a few months or years of depressive symptoms that eventually go away might experience those same symptoms a few months or years down the line. This cycle can continue without professional intervention.

Without help, individuals who already experience things like major depressive disorders are more likely to experience compounding mental health issues like seasonal affective disorder, postpartum depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. 

How Long Does Depression Last if You Get Help?

If you reach out to Centric Group for help, you can take critical steps toward overcoming and managing the symptoms of depression. 

Different levels of depression might require medication management for acute or chronic symptoms.

 For other clients, treatment for depression might include holistic care such as meditation, yoga, nutritional wellness, and mindfulness. 

Many clients benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy and group therapy.

Just as their depression manifests with different symptoms in each person, treatment needs to be individualized as well. 

Centric Group can help you get answers to questions like “How long does depression last” and “Can I get depression treatment.” We connect clients to programs that focus on depression treatment, administered by highly-trained, experienced professionals. 

When you reach out to our team, we will help you through an initial assessment to determine the level of care you need. We promise that each client will gain access to evidence-based approaches at any of our locations. 

With multiple locations, we have the freedom to find a facility that provides the treatment you need most. How long does depression last? It can last indefinitely if you don’t reach out and get help. So let Centric Group guide you on your next steps in living a healthy, happy life. 

Call our team at (844) 233-8205 today to learn more.