<p>If you become depressed once in your life it will affect you for the rest of your life and you will never be the same? Even if you completely “recover” from one episode?</p>
<p>Huh? Everyone has their low points but that doesn’t mean they are ruined forever. I spent most of last year kind of depressed but I’m pretty happy now.</p>
<p>If you are genetically predisposed to depression - meaning that you experience a depressive disorder for years, it runs in your family, you have no good reason to be depressed - then your chances for completely overcoming it will be small. You might have good months, even a good year, but completely beating it and never experiencing it again isn’t common.</p>
<p>This is very different from having a situation-based depressive episode, such as being depressed over a death in the family, or depressed that your friend moved away - which can also last for a year or two, especially when resulting from deaths or other extreme situations. These emotions are “easier” to overcome (meaning you’ll eventually get on with your life). </p>
<p>As far as it affecting you if you recover, that depends on what you do during your depressive episode. If you get depressed and drink a lot, sleep around, do drugs, etc., those might have long-term consequences.</p>
<p>I went through many periods of a sort of existential depression in my youth, but it hasn’t caused me much harm in the long run. Don’t worry about that sort of stuff. It comes and goes, and you’re much the better for it. If you’re just, in general, depressed, I’d see a doctor. They’re not perfect, but they can help.</p>
<p>I was depressed for a long time (about five years or so, and I was pretty young). Now I’m much, much better and am actually a very happy person, but I think it’s my knowledge about those darker times that make my life now seem so wonderful. I’m sure it’s something that affected my personality, but I think I’m stronger and a better person for that. I think it changes you like any significant life event, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.</p>
<p>Depends on the type of depression… Most people will be fine afterwards. The only way depression will change the rest of your life is the way you look at things.</p>
<p>Everyone is depressed at some point. Our bodies are not made for the pace and emotional stress of modern society. But you CAN break the cycle. Please do not feel you have failed if you relapse or continue to need medication.</p>
<p>NovaLynnx hit the nail on the head. It doesn’t mean you’ll always be depressed, rather that the spectre will always be hiding there, ready to grab you. You just have to learn how to manage it, either through therapy or medication or (ideally) a combo of both.</p>