Does anyone else have dysthymia ?

[Julieeb]

I had a double depression as I have now just realised I've suffered dysthymia for 6years. Always just feel flat for no reason and when good things happen I never get as excited or happy as I should or as others do. It turned into double depression three months ago when I had a big episode of depression.

I don't hear or see much about dysthymia and wanted to know if anyone else has it or has had it and have they felt anti depressants helped? I am on anti depressants currently trailing a higher dose and go back to my phyc next week to see if it needs increased. Because I have had dysthymia for so long does that mean it takes ages to go away? 

Any adivce would be appreciated. I have a place in my heart for everyone and anyone suffering depression - it is a real monster! 

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[white knight]

Hi Julieeb, welcome to beyond Blue forums

Plenty of reading there and those threads are good with information.

Yes, I have dysthymia. It appears, going by some posts about it that there are various degrees of it and it is an individual thing to.

I've had it since 12yo and I'm 58 now. I still have it but medication from 2009 has quelled it. I take a small amount of anti-depressant and a large amount of mood stabilisers. But I also have depressino and bipolar type 2 so this gets complex.

What I do know from my psychiatrist that diagnosed me in 2009 is that my dysthymia was triggered when I was 12yo following a traumatic incident. He kept asking me about any trauma that I experienced in my childhood. This line of questioning was due to my description of my sadness, my deep emotions and feelings of emptiness, my deep writing of poetry and sensitive feelings. After that traumatic experience (he told me dysthymia is often created from an incident in childhood) I didnt speak for 3 months (my brother nearly drowned in our back yard pool). 

There can also by positives with dysthymia. Creativity is one. Artistic is another. I told my wife perfection is amongst them but she doesnt believe me lol.

Try search  Other threads to read are:

DEPRESSION  - is there any positive.

Take care    Tony WK

[Julieeb]

Hi tony thanks for your reply I appreciate it. What do you need the mood stabilisers for is that for the dysteria or? I am quite new to all this.

I agree with you about creativity and artistic. Lol. I have always considere myself artistic and my mind is always thinking (not always good thing!!) 

Sorry to hear about your childhood issues also. I think my phyc assumed I have moderate depression but didn't realise it's actually dysteria. I am abit paranoid it could be a personality disorder but this might just be me being paranoid. Take care and thanks again. 🙂

[white knight]

Hi Julieb,

The mood stabilisers are for the bipolar 2. Sorry, might have confused you. The mild amount of AD's (only 10mgms) is for the dysthymia and depression.

I was suppose to take a much higher dose of Ad's but couldnt cope with it. Like any meds adjustment to suit is best.

"Your mind is always thinking". Yes, mine never stops. This is a good yardstick because that can be mistaken for mania yet could be dysthymia. I was misdiagnosed in 2003 with bipolar 1 and ADHD and went 6 years on meds for those two illnesses all the while it was incorrect diagnosis.  The hypo side of constant thinking being seen by my original psych as ADHD. So you can see the importance of correct diagnosis.

Personally I dont care about having a very active mind (quelled a little by the AD's which is good), as that's a big part of my personality.I dont want to lose my personality!!

We have to remember that ADHD and over alert or distracted behaviour isnt so abnormal. eg   Cave man stiring his brew of stew of brontasuarus rump and gets hit over the head by a thief.  Cave man with ADHD survives the same act by being ultra alert. I think also this world wouldnt have been discovered without pioneering sea captains with the drive and ambition ADHD or bipolar would have given them.  Google famous people with bipolar and you'll see an impressive list.

So Julieeb, you and I are among the worlds most incredible people.  :).

TonyWK

[JustTiffanyxo]

Hey Julie!

I have 'double depression' as well. Dysthymia as well as an acute episode of depression which made me fall apart in the beginning of july this year. I've had depression for a good chunk of my life, over half of it. I suppose I had a pretty traumatic childhood, with the worst trauma being losing my brother when I was 12 years old. My brother was 6.  

At the moment, the docs/psychs are playing around with my medication (antidepressants) and have had the dose increased since being on the new medication. As of right now, I don't think this particular medication is working for me, or the right 'mix' has not been found for me. 

In the past, I have been on anti depressants and mood stabilisers. And quite large doses of both and ended up feeling bombed out most of the time.

So long story short, I'm 27 and have had depression since at least 12 years of age. I was diagnosed with 'depression' at 14 years and that's when the anti depressants started. I have been on anti depressants ever since then. I don't think that I will ever stop taking them and I'm kind of okay with that. But right now, I feel I'm stuck, feel like there's something wrong with me for me to be this way. Sometimes I just don't understand why i feel the things I do and why do I think things the way I do. 

But anyway, this is turning into an essay. Sorry 😞

Tiffany

[white knight]

Hi JustTiffany

No need to feel sorry, loved your essay. It was right on the money with information relevant to this thread.

I found that taking AD's till I felt bombed out then backing it off a little till that bombed out feeling became manageable was just right for me. Everyone in this regard is different and doctors advice mandatory. Just saying.