7. How Long Does Depression Last? Measuring its Severity Using a Muffinometer
I have recently surfaced from what was my most significant brush with depression since first being diagnosed in 2008, and since coming off all medication in March 2011, I have been lucky enough to have a stable two year run, free from anything more serious than occasionally feeling a bit fed up. Like everyone I've had my off days and days when I've felt pretty down in the dumps, "manageable doldrums" as Wiiliam Styron describes them, which pass within a day or two. But this time was different and I knew it. It lasted about 7 weeks. It's a funny thing depression, you really don't know that it's happening to you the first time, but this time I saw it coming and was able to do something about it. The difficult bit was knowing how long to carry on trying to manage it myself, without risking sliding to the point where it is possible to lose sight of how ill you are or simply don't care anymore . I couldn't really tell how far from that point I was