Two of the most popular dietary supplements used for insomnia are: 1  Melatonin, a hormone produced by the brain. You can also buy it as a supplement. 2  Valerian, an herbal sleep remedy. Valerian appears to be safe, and it may improve sleep when taken for a week or two.
The average spell of clinical depression, if left entirely untreated, will last around 8 months. During a depression, the sufferer will normally be convinced that it will never go away, but this is a classic feature of the way depression makes us think.
The typical bout of major depression, if not treated, will last from six to fifteen months. After this prolonged period of suffering, about 75 percent of people will gradually come out of their depression (even without treatment); for the other 25 percent, it can hang on for months or years.