When you have gone through a severe depression, even when the factors that have caused it (either situational or biochemical) are in remission or even ended, you may still be having some moments of feeling down or anxious.
This can manifest with bad dreams, losing your confidence, or not being able to focus. And this is perfectly normal, but understand that you need to keep an eye on what’s going on, as you may be having symptoms of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Depending on how deep the emotional wound is, it will take you a little time to get used to not thinking that the world is crashing in on you in some way, shape, or form.
It’s real easy to get worried that you may be in this condition permanently, and that isn’t usually what happens. It is true that after you have been through a major depression, your likelihood of it happening again increases by 50%, but don’t let that run in your mind.
You are on the mend and have beaten this thing. It just takes a little time to know you are on the upswing.
I had a client who, after a long legal battle that had sent him into a deep depression, found that he was still having nightmares about what had happened even though he had won his case.
He told me that any news about legal stuff triggered him, so I suggested that he not watch the news or any legal dramas on TV for a month. That was all he needed, and he is doing just fine. He hasn’t forgotten what happened, but the memories don’t bring him down anymore.
Learn what your triggers are and avoid them. It takes a little practice - by the time you have the process down pat, you may not need it anymore - but it’s always handy to have in your emotional-healing first aid kit.
Depression hangover can also happen after you have lost a job or your business. After many months, perhaps even years, a door opens and a new job or opportunity presents itself. No matter when that door opens - and it can happen much more quickly - it is normal to feel anxious when you get a new gig.
If you are worried about making the grade, you are not falling back into a depression. In fact, if you don’t feel a little lost or even sad, you probably aren’t processing your old feelings. It’s a little weird, but to get those feelings out, you have to feel them again. This can be an uplifting mental challenge: simply accepting that you may possibly feel a little bit down or anxious will help heal your depression.
Depression cannot be surgically removed. You must go through your feelings while doing whatever you can to ameliorate the negative ones. It may feel like a Herculean task, but you will accomplish it.
Afterward, if you have emotional flashbacks, don’t let life throw you off-track. It can be scary, but depression can’t be flipped off like a light switch. It’s more like a dimmer that gets a little brighter with every new day.

- Dr Barton Goldsmith, a psychotherapist in Westlake Village, California, is the author of The Happy Couple: How to Make Happiness a Habit One Little Loving Thing at a Time. Follow his daily insights on Twitter at @BartonGoldsmith, or e-mail him at Barton@bartongoldsmith.com