But how does one know? According to some studies, spontaneous remission happens in about half the cases of depression in a given year.

It's happened to me plenty of times. That's why I refuse to medications. All I have to do is just wait it out.

I am not claiming no one gets any benefits, rather how can one be certain the benefits are actually not from something else? If the goal is to improve, then I suppose it does not truly matter. But I just like to understand things when I can.