Last Updated on April 28, 2023

When depression symptoms.

“Relapse of depression is more common with more-serious depressive episodes,” says Gary Kennedy, MD, director of geriatric psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, Nyc. “If someone ‘s depression was acute enough to comprise serious thoughts of suicide, for example, a return of depression ought to be anticipated at some stage.”

It’s possible for you to lower your risk of a relapse by keeping a healthier lifestyle, working closely together with your physicians, and sticking to your treatment strategy.

Does Depression Return?

“Return of depression is generally triggered by an alteration in social rhythms,” says Dr. Kennedy. “This might be anything that causes a disruption in ordinary social routines, like an illness or the decline of a social support system.”

Changes that can trigger a depressive episode include:

• Life-altering events. Common triggers for a depressive episode might be the loss of work, the end of a valued relationship, or another new and stressful scenario. “A common example would be when a partner becomes sick and the person with a history of depression must eventually be a health professional,” notes Kennedy.
• Other health conditions. Being diagnosed with a grave medical condition may cause depression in many people. The start of a major illness may introduce symptoms and new drugs that could activate the return of melancholy. “Studies reveal that one fourth of people will suffer a depressive episode following a heart attack. A stroke or a fractured hip may reduce liberty and increase isolation, which also could cause a return of depression,” says Kennedy.
• The sickness itself. It’s not necessarily possible to pinpoint a cause to get a depressive episode. “Just like many other ailments, depression may get worse or come back even if you are doing everything right,” Kennedy says. “This is more common in elderly folks, who may undergo changes within their brain that make depression more likely.”
• Antidepressants will not be working. “We frequently say that depression is treatable, but we must add that it is not always easy to deal with,” says Kennedy. “About half of people with depression don’t improve on the first antidepressant medication.” Your medicines could become less effective over time. “The drug must then be altered, or another antidepressant must be added,” Kennedy says.

Avoiding the Return of Depression

With these steps for self-attention, it is possible to be more in charge of your melancholy:

• Recognize the symptoms of a depression relapse. Learn your depression triggers and symptoms to help you tell your doctor about them. “Studies show the very best predictor of a return of depression is an alteration in sleep patterns,” says Kennedy. “Each man should be familiar with their very own warning indications. Occasionally a relative could be the first individual to pick up on these symptoms.” Other symptoms to be on the lookout for include decline of interest in sex, loss of appetite, irritability, and negative thinking.
• Stick to your own treatment. The main thing you can do is follow your treatment strategy. That means taking your medications as prescribed and keeping all your physician appointments. “If antidepressants are part of your treatment plan, never stop taking them by yourself,” says Kennedy. “Antidepressants are not like pain medications. They take quite a while to work fully, and beginning to feel better does not mean that you will be well yet. Patients who’ve had two or more depressive episodes might have to stay on antidepressants indefinitely.”
• Preserve a healthier lifestyle. This includes learning how to deal with anxiety, developing a good support system, getting routine and decent sleep, and exercising. “Regular exercise affects the mind in the same fashion as medication does. The truth is, for mild depression, exercise generally works together with antidepressants,” says Kennedy. It’s also significant to consume a proper diet and limit alcohol consumption. “Studies show that two or more drinks of alcohol a day decrease the speed of recovery from depression by half,” warns Kennedy.

You need to know about the possibility of a relapse, although melancholy is a treatable disorder. “It’s important to treat all cases of depression harshly and to continue treatment long enough to allow for greatest healing,” says Kennedy.

It’s possible for you to help avoid a return of depression by working closely together with your caregivers and medical team, avoiding known triggers of melancholy, recognizing the early outward indications of relapse, and preserving a healthful, energetic lifestyle.