After experiencing an episode of depression, I have been on medication for almost two years with significant progress. But right now I'm a bit frightened as for the past week I have had thoughts indicative of a fall back into depression. I know now how to identify the signs, and this is basically me doing something about it really, and hoping it's just a bad week and I'm a bit stressed from uni, etc. Still, I haven't had these kind of thoughts in a while. I never know whether I can say I 'had' depression, instead of I 'have'. Is the sudden reappearance of these feelings common? By dwelling on them am I helping myself, or just encouraging myself to go back to a place I've grown from? There seems to be a lot of information about combating depression for the first time, or short term recovery, but what about after that? I just want to know how other people have coped, how do you know whether what you're feeling is simply what you remember you felt, or what you are experiencing now? Does talking about it with your doctor set your progress back? Can you ever know when you're ready to get off the medication?
I actually feel a lot better after just writing this, but if anyone can offer advice from experience I'd love to hear it. Thanks.
