Hi MVTBI

I have lived with depression (formally, Major Depressive Disorder) for many years. Two things have helped me.

The first is anti-depressant medication. I think that medication is very often over-prescribed - for people who have been assessed in the mild-moderate range of depression medication is probably not needed but for people (like me) who have been assessed in the severe range medication is often needed.

The second is non-pharmaceutical approaches, notably Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and mindfulness/meditation approaches. I am grateful to my clinical psychologist for teaching me both of those.

That combination means that I think of myself as being in remission and have the skills (CBT and mindfulness/meditation) which I can use if necessary.