Dysthymia

Dysthymia is a mild but chronic form of depression. It is a less serious form of Depression that is enduring, the patient can still fairly normally but is in continuous sadness. Dysthymia symptoms usually last for at least two years, and often much longer than that, especially when the condition starts in childhood.

Dysthymia can actually affect your life more seriously because it lasts so long. With Dysthymia, you may lose interest in normal daily activities, feel hopeless, lack productivity and have a low self-esteem. In general, Dysthymia prevents you from living life to its fullest, and your overall quality of life may be low. Sufferers of Dysthymia often eat too little or too much. But the dominating feature of Dysthymia is feeling blue, or depressed. Dysthymia is also known as Dysthymia disorder and sometimes as chronic depression and minor depression.

Dysthymia is a serious disorder. It is not “minor” depression, and it is not a condition intermediate between severe clinical depression and depression in the casual colloquial sense. In some cases it is more disabling than major depression. Dysthymia is about as common as major depression. About 6% of the population of the United States has had an episode of Dysthymia at some time, 3% in the last year. As many as a third of patients in psychotherapy may be suffering from Dysthymia.

Symptoms:

» decreased or increased appetite and sleep (insomnia or hypersomnia)
» Fatigue or low energy
» Reduced self-esteem
» Decreased concentration or problems making decisions
» Feels hopeless or pessimistic
» Irritability
» Poor concentration
» Trouble making decisions
» Excessive anger

Causes:

» The rate of depression in the families of people with Dysthymia is as high as 50% for the early-onset form of the disorder.
» At least three-quarters of patients with Dysthymia also have a chronic physical illness or another psychiatric disorder such as one of the anxiety disorders, drug addiction, or alcoholism.
» For a person who is vulnerable to depression, every problem seems more difficult to solve and every misfortune causes more suffering. The experience of chronic depression may sensitize the brain to stress, heightening its vulnerability to further depression.
» The naturally occurring brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which are linked to mood, also may play a role in causing Dysthymia.
» Dysthymia has roots in genetic susceptibility, neurochemical imbalances, childhood and adult stress and trauma, social circumstances and so on which can be considered as causes.

Treatment:

Those who suffer from this disorder should seek treatment, as there are therapies that can treat and cure this disorder. If you suffer from symptoms of Dysthymia, it is important to educate yourself about the treatment choices available, and find one that suits you. There are a number of available, including traditional treatment and alternative remedies. Like other depression disorders, Dysthymia can also be treated with psychotherapy and medications - usually the same medications and the same kinds of psychotherapy.

» The most common drug treatments are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft), or one of the dual action antidepressants such as venlafaxine (Effexor).
» Tricyclic antidepressants like imipramine (Tofranil).
» Talk therapies, such as cognitive/behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy plays a contributory role in tackling with such disorder.
» Some evidence suggests that combining medication and psychotherapy may lead to the most improvement.

Recovery from Dysthymia often takes a long time, and the symptoms often return. For both the public and professionals, what is most important may be recognizing that Dysthymia is a treatable disorder, identifying it, and following through. Talk to your doctor or therapist about improving your coping skills, and consider these tips to cope with Dysthymia. Thus, it all rest upon you if you want your life to be joyful and cheering!