GREETINGS! I'm a wife and a mum of two daughters (14&11), each with
their own disorders, married to my husband for 22 years. I'm posting to
raise awareness of a shadow I've journeyed with in my husband, in the
hope that if you relate to my story, can...
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GREETINGS! I'm a wife and a mum of two daughters (14&11), each with
their own disorders, married to my husband for 22 years. I'm posting to
raise awareness of a shadow I've journeyed with in my husband, in the
hope that if you relate to my story, can gain understanding and be
encouraged along the path that you tread. Some of you may have seen the
shadow too, but it seems it is not yet widely known. As I look back to
pre-marriage times, these TRAITS have been consistent in my husband:
very highly strung emotionally, sleep problems, consistently presenting
fast mood swings over irrational reasons, always pessimistic, negative,
fearful, insecure and plagued with socially based issues. A personality
that is perpetually inconsistent, hard to understand and every 2-3
years, a complete emotional shut out would occur for 5 days (no more
than 7). I've always known with my husbands adolescent environment
there'd be a crash of some kind and that there was something not quite
right, but as it is so common, I only became aware when a major
depression episode MDD occurred. Within him there's been 5 yrs of MDD
and a personality&faith change (they're the big ones) and with me pain,
loneliness, being unloved, research and repetitive explanations have
been said. After a 6yr total, he's back to pre-MDD in way, but I am
still faced with "I'm normal, there's nothing wrong, I don't need help,
I don't need to change!" and a conscious ignorance, avoidance and
resistance towards issues that are obvious. I was constantly perplexed
as to why, until during my research I came across what I've dubbed as
the Black Dog's shadow! DYSTHYMIA (pronounced dis-THIE-me-uh), is a
chronic (long lasting), milder form of depression which now falls under
the umbrella of Persistent Depressive Disorder (DSM-5). I found that
Medical research state, that due to the chronic and subtle nature of PDD
symptoms, sufferers believe that the depression is part of their
character. PDD with MDD is difficult to treat, as sufferers accept the
heightened major symptoms as an extension to who they are, which is
beyond their control. When the episode has ended, however, they would
return to their previous state of chronic, low-level depression. This is
why myself, family, friends, co-workers/employers and circumstances
external to my husband, are perceived by him as the CAUSE (not trigger)
of his negative feelings. For him, there is no reason to change or seek
help and yes, I'm still waiting for the penny to drop.
How do I talk to my doctor?
