Length of depressive periods

Every resource ive looked at says that to be diagnosed with depression, your depressive periods have to last like 3 days or longer. Is this true? If you look at my mood tracker you can see that ill feel severely depressed for an hour or so then ill feel bad or okay after that.

[mammo]

Depression is on-going and it makes you feel unmotivated, moody, sad, you lose interests in things and friends you once enjoyed, and you may want to sleep a lot or just sit in the house.  You truly need to see a psychiatrist for an evaluation on this and go from there.  It sounds like therapy would greatly benefit you, and the sooner you seek help...the better.  We're always here for you...to talk or for you to just vent.  We understand and do care. Hope this helps!

[Nexy]

I can't bring myself to go get professional help unless I can get a diagnosis really quick...I've known people who've tried buttloads of different medication because the psych or the doctor couldn't figure out what was wrong. I don't want to be put on lots of different medication and none of them work. I wanna try and diagnose myself before seeking proper help...but I don't fit in any 'category'

[littlebit667]

Seems foolish to try to dx yourself when nothing about depression is clear.  It takes time to find the right dx.  I would not want a doctor to dx me in one or two visits.  

[Nexy]

Depression is depression though. You can't get diagnosed with depression without meeting the DSM-IV criteria...and I don't. I don't fit anything. Sorry I'm just frustrated

[littlebit667]

there are so many variables.  What part of the your concerns does not fit the dsm??

[Nexy]

Mainly the length of depressive episodes, which was why I posted this question. I've just read about Cyclothymic disorder (Cyclothymia) which I feel makes more sense...