Frequently, I’m asked if I’m still depressed. The answer is no. I am not currently living through a major depressive episode (MDE). The question of whether I still have depression is a tougher one.
I know that I am susceptible to MDEs and that it is likely I will experience another in my lifetime. At the same time, I am not actively experiencing the illness.
Depression and I coexist, but we are not currently inhabiting the same space. I remain aware of the stimuli that contribute to MDEs for me and continue to develop the tools I need to be prepared for the future.
This illness neither defines me nor predetermines my future. For that, I am grateful.