When I was younger I was depressed pretty much all of the time, I've tried to kill myself and been hospitalized many times. Now that I'm 32 I'm only depressed for usually a month or two out of a year. It still comes back and hits me from time to time but it's not like it used to be, so yes it does get better. Even if you don't do anything about it really. I think it's more dependent on your external situation than anything else. Once you acquire at least one reason to live it gets easier. Now most days I have anxiety about the fact that I am going to die one day and I don't want to. One big thing that really helped me was getting a dog. I also owe a lot to the stability of my current relationship, I've been with my husband for 8 years and things really started getting better for me after we got together too. It's not completely better, I have CPTSD and fibromyalgia, if I get triggered I can go back to wanting to die, I was even hospitalized last year, but it was the first time I had been hospitalized in 8 years. I don't think it will ever go away completely for me, but it definitely got better and it's at the point where 99% of the time I don't want to kill myself or cut myself either. I'll also say for the record, I haven't been to much therapy, I quit years ago because it felt pointless. I also don't exercise because I'm disabled and I don't eat right and it still got better for me. People without depression tell you all kinds of bullshit to offer you false hope. It' s not lifestyle changes that you need so much as just changing the way you think and getting yourself a reason to live ad wake up every day. Hope this helps you.