[EmilysZoo]

For the past two years----periods of slight sadness, tiredness, lack of interest in doing things, sleeping lots. On-line quizzes point to 'slight to moderate' depression. After reading this forum for the last 2-3 weeks, I feel quite guilty thinking that there is anything wrong with me because I definitely don't have the severe symptoms that people diagnosed with depression seem to have on this site. In other words, I should suck it up and get on with things!

I'm not sure what I'm looking for, but I'm interested to know what someone's daily life is like if diagnosed with dysthymia. Is it at all similar to mine? How did you deal with it?

During the last month, I've had my health checked to make sure all levels of testable enzymes/hormones are ok, and they are. I'm also trying to stay busy and exercise more, and I think it's helping.

Thanks for any input.

[Sam2]

Hi. I wouldn't rely on those online psych tests. There is no way that they can truly diagnose a disorder based on what you tell them. It takes psychologists/psychiatrists longer than that to diganose you.

Depession comes in all different levels of severity, can go along with other disorders and can be mild with periods of more severe depression or even suicidal symptoms.

i'm glad that you don't feel your depression is as severe as other people whose posts you have read. However, depression doesn't have to be completely debilitating to make a dent in your life. If you don't have something that is specifically bothering you ie a death or other loss that lead to the depression, it may be organic and treatable with anti-depressants. Its possible that just talking to a therapist would help you.

In any case, if it is causing you suffering and emotional pain, at least consult a psychologist. No one should have to live depressed, even mildly day after day for a long time.

Sam2

[Rohag]

Hello, EmilysZoo! Your depressive struggle is real no matter the label. Just for information, here's a recycled post on the new DSM-5 dropping "dysthymia" for "persistent depressive disorder."

[Bark]

I wasn't diagnosed with dysthymia, but I do think I suffered from it for a while. I would feel depressed, day in and day out. I had low self-esteem, felt tired, didn't do things I wish I had—pretty much how you're feeling. And I know exactly how you feel about sucking it up: I've been put on medication and hospitalized and I still feel like I'm not really depressed and I'm bothering people with my whining and that I'm actually fine. (I'll admit that I'm improving in that regard, though. :P)

As a PC friend of mine said:

Originally Posted by whimsygirl

There should be no such thing as a "rating" for any person's pain and suffering....it is all of equal importance and should be treated with utmost care and respect.

I couldn't put it better.

[avlady]

It's great to hear you feel a little better. I would also tell you to see a doc and T if possible, maybe you can also get on some better meds too.

[EmilysZoo]

That quote from whimsygirl is so perfect--thanks for sharing it!

Yes, I shouldn't be so caught up with labels. I suppose emotional pain has as many variations as physical pain. When I hurt my foot and they asked me to rate my pain on a scale of 1 to 10, I couldn't answer that. Is the pain supposed to be relative to other pain I've had? Is the 1 to 1-10 scale based on the general population's sense of pain? All I could say is my foot hurts and I want it to feel normal again.

I suppose I should apply the same logic to my mental health too!

Thanks all for the comments.

[bluemuse11]

I am currently diagnosed with Dysthymic Disorder as well as episodes of MDD - having been diagnosed w/that as well. Currently I am having a long episode of 'double depression' and can't seem to get around it. The truly unfortunate thing is... I work in the Mental Health field, so I deal w/these things daily and should know what to do for myself, yet feel completely helpless and exhausted to even try right now. My job is such a major trigger for me due to the overwhelming politics and pressure to meet "quotas", it's removed me from feeling as if I am actually being of benefit to anyone else any longer - which was my biggest source of "self-help therapy" - to be able to pay that "Hope" forward to others. Now, the light has just dimmed, then blown out at the end of the tunnel, making me dread each day... to even move some days is just a task. There is this constant melancholy that just lingers at my peripherals at all times that seems to never go away... and days just get darker & darker. Thanks for letting me share my "double D" experience I am currently having.

[mintage]

I hope its ok to add to this thread. I believe I have dysthymia, never knew it existed until I researched it. 3 weeks ago I went to my GP and now on Citalopram and will do CBT when Im ready.

I was feeling hopeless, empty, cried a lot, beat myself up if someone criticised me and something like that could make me in a bad mood for the rest of the day. I was irritable and snappy and wanted to be left alone yet felt incredibly lonely. Looking back I cant honestly say when Ive been truly happy and content, yes when my kids were born but as a constant state I cant honestly remember. I was able to function as in get up and get dressed, take my teenagers to school and work part time, but really had to drag myself to work and would go straight home and only leave the house when I had to. I was getting worse and knew I had too do something so went to my GP.

Been on Citalopram for 19 days and dont feel down but cant say I am happy and still no motivation. I have some social anxiety too, I feel I can look people in the eye better now but feel a bit emotionally numb. Hopefully it will kick in in a few weeks.