Does everyone take the same time to become completely depression-free?

The obvious answer is, “No”.

However, does it take longer than it should for some people?

The answer is “Yes, it does”.

We are all different. As written earlier, there are people who do claim a miraculous recovery from depression. They are rare.

But just letting depression go on without a plan to get better, and yes, maybe even a date, is not helpful. Why can’t you decide that, let’s say in six months from now, you are going to be better. And then like any goal, create a plan to achieve that goal.

There are those who refuse to get better. They don’t say they refuse but that is what they’re doing. They are comfortable with their depression. It has become normal to them. It has become a habit.

Some people refuse to do the things that will help them. They refuse medication. They refuse counseling. They refuse to exercise. They refuse to eat right. They refuse to get enough sleep. They refuse to change their thinking and their behaviors.

They take just enough steps to relieve their symptoms but not enough to get completely better. They take that first tiny step and it helps so they take a few more. They take just enough tiny steps to feel better and then they stop.

Those first steps are different for different people. Some start with their thinking. Some start with exercise. Some start with counseling. Some start with medication and quite commonly those that start here first, will completely forget about all the rest as soon as they start feeling better.

And I guess if all one is interested in is a short-term fix, then so be it. But for me, I never wanted my mental well-being to depend on a pill.

All really good mental health professional always suggests life style changes for permanent relief from depression.

It’s not different than those who take antibiotics. They take them for a few days, they start to feel better and so they don’t take the rest of them.

In both cases, the underlying issues are never examined or successfully treated. And it doesn’t take intensive therapy to look at those issues.

We all have reasons for behaving the way we do and most of us know where those behaviors originated. In depth analysis is probably only needed in a few cases.

The past is not the problem; it’s the present. Your depression is in the present. You are experiencing it in the present. So doesn’t it make sense to handle it in the present.

Seeing a counselor for a short period of time can be very helpful in terms of helping you make a plan and holding you accountable, but so can talking to a good friend. (A good friend being someone who will not affirm everything you say but will be willing to be honest with you.)

If your progress has stalled but you’re able to get back on track, that’s OK. We all run into times like that. But if your progress completely stalls, there is more you need to do.

Sometimes, it’s as simple as giving yourself a break and just lean in to your depression a little instead of fighting it so hard. Sometimes attacking depression is counterproductive. Only you know when you need to do one or the other.

Depression can be tricky to reign in. But I really believe you can do it.

I pray for all of you who read these posts. I know they can just seem like hollow words sometimes but remember, I’ve been there and more than once. I am no one special. If I can do it, you can do.

God bless and have a good day.

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