Hi Banksy and AOK, a very interesting thread.
I'm 58yo and retired last year due to my mental struggles. This dysthymia Banksy you described rather well indeed. "The sky creeping" although not my description, is one way to think of it.
Many times when single, or maybe had an argument with my then partner, I'd seek a rock on the top of a hill and stare at the view, tears dropping like a waterfall. My depth of thinking at this point is very very deep. I'd question my existence, my reason for being, imagine great things like seeking out the nearest animal to pat it, caress it, love it and of course write my poetry. The deeper I be the better the poetry.
My mates never understood of course. Once my long time school friend's father died. I'd never seen him cry. He cried at the cemetery. The next day I asked him how he felt at the grave site. "shocking" he said. I then told him I felt like that regularly...he then realise the depth of the problem. It was my only way to paint the picture.
My cycle used to be 8 weeks then 10 days of deep sadness. I never realised a cycle existed for many years until my then partner recognised one and kept a diary. Now its every 4 weeks with a deep sadness session of about 3-4 hours. This is rough but you get the idea. I dont know if age has had any bearing on this too.
Banksy, you mention symptoms that for me has been great imagination. I often wonder if the great artists or writers of the world have had dysthymia? I was nicknamed "the worrier" at 12yo by a teacher. I was also told I "was bright". I had trouble focussing too. These tags and others led to my miss diagnosis of ADHD. ADHD was thought to develop in some people as a protective mechanism in cavemen days - to be alert enough not to have your stew stolen or your safety from predators compromised. So ADHD is natural, just not ideal in the "normal world".
So dysthymia, perhaps is the creative person, with great imagination, a worrier maybe, deep feelings, compassionate. I wonder if these 'possible' traits of the one with dysthymia is accurate and if we can add to that list or tune it up.?
Then there is the other thought. If we have had dysthymia as part of our lives, our make up most of our lives, could we do without it? It's part of me now. The times it does not exist and I feel 'normal' I feel like I've lost a big part of my soul.
