do we ever fully recover?

I think that once you have suffered, you are never quite the same and even in recovery you tend to view things differently. I would never have considered that I suffered from depression until I crashed in my forties and realised that I had to change the way I approached life if I was to carry on surviving and that the tendency for it had in fact been there all my life, I just hadn't triggered it before. I just keep reminding myself that 1 in 4 of us experience this illness so some of us must be able to recover enough to get on with life.

Yes and No.
For me,I feel it depend on the way you classify your depression. For me it is like alcoholism, you are forever recovering.
I am now out of hospital just two years, having been afflicted and suffered from depression for 35 years. I attend recovery inc.( Dr Low's) weekly meeting and my therapist suggested mindfulness . I find both keep me "good", and the awareness that I now have has helped me beyond my expectations. I have vowed that I am never going back to where I was in my head for so many terrible years. It's not easy, but for me it it so worth it. Daily I struggle, and however small the ongoing improvement, I believe that the longest journey starts with a small step. I stumble so many times, but I console myself that I am stumbling forward. I don't want to make it sound like a total miserable battle, because now, unlike before, I treat myself with CGK, COMPASSION, GENTLENESS, and KINDNESS. I forgive and I try not to be too judgmental.
I know that my depression will never go totally away, but now that I am "aware" of it, I feel ( AND HOPE) that I can live a fulfilling life. Thanks BDT,(my first blog ever)

I think that once you have suffered, you are never quite the same and even in recovery you tend to view things differently. I would never have considered that I suffered from depression until I crashed in my forties and realised that I had to change the way I approached life if I was to carry on surviving and that the tendency for it had in fact been there all my life, I just hadn't triggered it before. I just keep reminding myself that 1 in 4 of us experience this illness so some of us must be able to recover enough to get on with life.

I think this is my currently biggest fear as I'm in depression and anxietal low recently, though I can never truly identify what triggers it I can feel it coming upon me. I seem to be in a cycle where the lowest times are currently some years apart but my confidence never seems to be that great in between and I always feel fragile.

My GP answered me that I would have good and bad times and he couldn't predict how that would pan out. I had not really asked those questions before and having tried and not got very far with CBT 4/5 and 8 years ago I'm trying the meditation/mindfulness path at the moment.

My hopes for everyone that they will find more peace then the opposite.

When I was first diagnosed with depression, (though looking back I now believe it wasn't the first bout) and got better I believed I was cured. Then it came back and I think it always will to some degree. I'm blessed that it comes and goes and that recently the black dog only visits for days instead of weeks and months. I'm blessed that I'm currently off medication and my mood, though low, is one of coping. I'm blessed that I've never been hospitalised.

I have frequent memory-loss, anxiety & sleep problems but, touch wood, aside from the odd nightmare/panic attack, functioning day to day is going well.

I do wish I had friends and family that really understood my invisible illness though. I tell white lies and make excuses to protect them from the fact that it's back again. Do we all do that?

Oh & hello from a new member

White lies come into it but I have been trying to be more open recently for my own sanity, which is scary in itself ....... Iv'e found it generally a positive feedback but some situations are of course more pressured and scary than others it seems.

In answer to the original question, No I don't think we ever completely recover. But on a positive note I think that we all have some coping strageties that work sometimes.
Gosh doesn't that sound pious.
Having suffering with depression with 15 years and maybe before I have been on a massive rollercoaster ride and I don't know how my family have put up with it.
But there is light (however small) at the end of the tunnel. I am finding that good days (classified as normal) are now beginning to out weigh the bad.
I have to admit that I have had (and still have)terrific support from my close family.
Don't get me wrong, life is still pretty ****** on some days.
Just being able to get in car, go to the shops without having an accident is now classed as a normal day.
For anyone thinking that there is no end to this, please keep at it you may get to where I am now.
For the "pull your self together brigade", just try to understand and pull yourself together.

Were we ever fully well?

I think everyone's journey with depression is different. The more episodes you have the less likely it is you'll recover. I have periods of feeling extremely strong and normal (about 9-12 months) in between episodes of moderate depression with strong cognitive suicidal tendencies. The thing is, now that I'm in a dark patch, I've realised that depressed people need hope to get through each moment. There is a no set answer for depression for each person - but there is always hope that things can get better and that you will one day find freedom.