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Look at Dysthymia

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Dysthymia is a persistent depressive disorder that affects many people and shares its symptoms with other forms of depression.

Those who suffer from it have a general feeling of being down and the dumps. But there are other symptoms to look out for as well.

Treatment is available for this depressive disorder so there’s no need to suffer if you think you may be afflicted by it.

Taking A Closer Look At Dysthymia: A Persistent Depressive Disorder

Feeling gloomy all the time isn’t something that most people experience. And if you feel that you’re constantly unable to get out of your bad mood or shake off the blues, it could all come down to dysthymia.

This persistent depressive disorder is quite common and can have this effect on people who suffer from it, with many not even realizing it’s happening to them.

We’re here to look deeper into dysthymia, what causes it, potential risk factors and complications, and how one can get help with some obvious symptoms that make it easy to diagnose.

If you’re suffering from this persistent depressive disorder there’s immediate help that you can get to ward off your symptoms and allow yourself to feel better.

What Is Dysthymia?

Dysthymia is a persistent depressive disorder, or a long-term and chronic form of depression.

Those who suffer from it will usually feel down in the dumps constantly or unable to pick up their mood often with others commenting on their negative attitude or their inability to feel happy about things.

People suffering from dysthymia will have experienced the symptoms of it for many years usually without a large break in between them.

Due to this being a chronic condition, people can find it hard to treat successfully without giving up as they find that their down mood may constantly return.

Mild Depression

There are some obvious symptoms of dysthymia as well as things you can do to lessen the severity of it. But the first step is being diagnosed.

Although not considered as severe as major depression the individual will feel mild depression most of the time and this can elevate to severe at certain times.

In the US, persistent depressive disorders are thought to affect 0.5 percent of the population. Like other forms of major depression, women are twice as likely to be affected by it than men.

When compared to rare bouts of feeling down, these depressive moods can last for years and will possibly worsen without the correct treatment.

Here’s a Video on What is Dysthymia – Persistent Depressive Disorder – Mental Health with Kati Morton

The Symptoms of Dysthymia

Dysthymia is like other forms of depression in that it can come and go at random times and the severity in which you feel it will also be different.

Although there can be periods where you don’t feel depressed, these usually won’t last for more than two months before returning.

Here are some symptoms you might feel if you’re suffering from dysthymia:

  • Feeling like you no longer care about daily activities like work, hygiene, family, friends, cooking, or keeping your house tidy.
  • Lack of self-esteem, feelings of low confidence, and a feeling of low self-worth.
  • Avoiding social activities and preferring not to communicate with anyone.
  • Constant feelings of worry or guilt over things that have happened in the past.
  • A lack of energy or constant tiredness and feeling as though you can never get enough sleep or having problems with sleep.
  • Overeating or a poor appetite.
  • Trouble making decisions on even simple things and unable to concentrate on what you usually do each day.

Varies in Everyone

Of course, these symptoms vary in everyone and they’ll not be present just to qualify for the depressive disorder.

For children, they’ll appear irritable or have a depressed mood so it can be harder to diagnose.

Because this is a chronic and long-term depression, people assume that the way they’re feeling is normal as it’s been like this for so long.

However, if you notice that these symptoms seem to have been part of your life for more than 12 months without having much of a break in between them there’s a good chance you’ll suffer from a persistent depressive disorder.

Here’s a Video on How to Identify Depression Symptoms: Dysthymia Depression Advice

Causes of Dysthymia

Research consistently shows that depressive disorders like these are actual disorders of the brain and a scan of your brain can show that these areas look different to others.

These are the parts of the brain that regulate mood, appetite, sleep, behavior, and thoughts. So it’s no wonder that differences in these areas could result in something serious like dysthymia.

As with any other type of depressive disorder, it’s difficult to know the exact cause of these conditions.

However, it does appear to have a number of causes including environmental, genetic, biochemical, and psychological factors.

Other occurrences in life like stress and trauma are also thought to be leading causes where stress becomes an issue for your mental state which makes it difficult to regulate mood and prevent sadness from occurring.

Added factors like isolation and no support from others can further add to the development of the condition.

Traumatic life events like the loss of a loved one, issues during childhood, troubled relationships or high-stress situations can all also impact on the likelihood of developing the disorder.

For older patients who suffer from PDD, it’s more likely to be caused by cognitive decline, bereavement, and medical illnesses.

Here’s a Video on What causes dysthymia depression?

Complications and Risk Factors of A Persistent Depressive Disorder

Persistent depressive disorders usually begin in early childhood or teenage years with people not realizing the symptoms until they reach adulthood.

Risk Factors

There are some things can be considered risk factors for the condition, including:

  • An immediate relative with a depressive disorder;
  • Major traumatic events including childhood abuse, the loss of a loved one, or financial issues;
  • Other mental health disorders;
  • Personality traits that are common with PDD include negativity, pessimism, or self-criticism.

For those who suffer for a long period with PDD, there are complications that may arise from the condition.

Besides feeling down all of the time, these are some of the things that can happen as a result of this disorder.

Complications

  • Suicidal thoughts and actions;
  • Reduced quality of life;
  • General medical illnesses and chronic pain;
  • Major depression and other mood disorders;
  • Substance abuse;
  • Strained or broken relationships with friends, family, and coworkers.

Seeking Help For This Persistent Depressive Disorder

For people who suffer from persistent depressive disorders and other mental conditions seeking help can be a hard first step to take.

However, in order to combat the illness or at least alleviate the symptoms somewhat, it’s an essential step that you must commit to.

  • Find a qualified mental health professional or speak to your regular doctor about the symptoms you are experiencing.
  • Have a discussion with someone you trust like a teacher, family member, friend, or another member of the community.

In terms of prevention, it’s hard to say if anything could truly prevent PDD. Here are some things you can try to lessen your chances of developing the disorder and leading a happier and healthier life mentally.

  • Take the steps needed to deal with stress in your life and don’t ignore the feelings.
  • When you first notice a problem, make an effort to seek out treatment or speak to a loved one about how you feel.
  • Look at long-term maintenance and treatment like medication and psychotherapy for dealing with your emotional and mental issues.

Treatment Options for Dysthymia

There are two main treatment choices for those with dysthymia and the same goes for many other depressive disorders.

After speaking to a professional, you’ll likely be given two options for treatment and often times a combination of both.

  • Medication

There are a few different medications that work best for depressive disorders and can help to create a balance. Drug treatments like serotonin reuptake inhibitors and dual action antidepressants are all common.

  • Psychotherapy

Ongoing work with a qualified psychotherapist should be done in conjunction with medication. This helps you work through your feelings and even search for a root cause to where your dysthymia began.

Here’s a Video on TREATMENT FOR DYSTHYMIA

A Disorder That Can Take Over Your Life

Dealing with a persistent depressive disorder is not something that anyone wishes to go through. But sadly it affects so many of us each year.

Removing the stigma from seeking treatment and asking for help is a huge step forward for those suffering from depression. It’s something that needs to be done in order to move on with your life.

If you feel that you’ve been experiencing these constant feelings of being down in the dumps, there’s no need to suffer in silence anymore.

Treatment is available to alleviate the symptoms. This will help you to live without the ongoing bad mood and sadness that you might be carrying around with you.