I came across Dysthymia yesterday online and i think it fits

[EMH80]

I wondered if anyone has been diagnosed with Dysthmia and can tell me anything about it. 

I have been wondering for some time now if I have depression. When I read the information about the different types (bipolar, major etc) I think no I'm not that bad. I'm not suicidal and I do look forward to things and get enjoyment out of a lot of everyday activities. I came across Dysthymia yesterday online and i think it fits. I know i should talk to my gp about it but i havent plucked up the courage yet. I do realise that self diagnosis is not a good idea but i thought i would look for some info here first before i go any further. 

 I seem to suffer with a chronic low mood. I'm not in the depths of despair, i just cant be happy a lot of the time and there is no apparent reason. I feel really tired a lot even though i get a full nights sleep. I snap at my husband a lot and get angry at him for no good reason. I find it hard to motivate myself at times and feel hopeless and completely drained. I just want to disappear sometimes. There are times when i feel like i'm just passing through this life not really living it. For a while i thought it was all down to hormones and time of the month certainly seems to have an effect on my moods but it doesnt explain everything. This has been going on for so long now that it feels like part of my personality and maybe this is just who i am- a moody person.  Exercise helps lift my mood but only temporarily. The past year has been stressful and the one ahead is looking to be quite stressful too and i think this is contributing to my current low mood. I dont have major highs and lows, I feel like maybe its chronic depression. 

Does anyone out there suffer with chronic depression and have any words of wisdom? 

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[Neil_1]

Hi EMH80

And welcome to Beyond Blue ... and really awesome of you to be posting here and providing the information that you did in your first ever post.  That's a hard step to take and you've done it.  So congratulations to you.

Bingo ... I suffer from chronic depression;   diagnosed approximately 10 years or so ago, but worked out that I have had it for around 20 years and possibly even further back into my youth.  I also suffer from severe anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder, so I'm almost your complete package.  Good huh?   Well, no not really and I'd give anything to not suffer like I do, but we have to live with what we live with.  We however have to put into place an awful lot of effort to assist us in order that we are able to get through days, weeks, etc.

Any sort of mental illness is just terrible;  there's nothing good about any of them and there are a number of different varieties that affect 'so many' people;  so many wonderful people are struck down and live this hellish existence.  And on this site we have so many of these people;  and I will say again, and I do say this often, these beautiful people are on this site and they either post with their own traumatic experiences and yet, they'll come back and offer guidance and support to other fellow sufferers.  That's what I mean about them being beautiful and wonderful.  It really takes a special kind of person, who is so terribly suffering themselves, but to then reach out and grab hold of the hand of someone else to try and help guide them to a safe place.

EMH, there is nothing to be ashamed about or embarrassed about in suffereing with this illness.  But you MUST make that appointment with your GP;  they understand mental health illnesses (well, I should possibly say that MOST, understand) and they are knowledgeable about what steps to take.  This is important that you get this done, and soon.  Try to arrange with your appointment the option for doing a mental health plan check;  just a series of routine questions that you go through and at the end of that, they should be able to recommend you to a psychologist.  I hope I'm not putting too much detail or info here for you ... I just sense that you've been dealing with this for some time now and it's now time for you to extend and seek out professional help.

I will stop now and send this off, otherwise you simply won't get to the end of it and will have fallen asleep half-way through it .. and then what good will I have done;  none, and I don't want that to happen.

By the way, tick VG (very good) with regard to the exercise, that's a very important aspect with 'self help' with depression.  It really does help, so please keep going with that.

I hope that you can get back to us as well, as I'd love to know how much you read of my post until you first fell asleep.  🙂

Cheers

Neil

[geoff]

dear EMH, how can we explain all these different levels of depression as well as ranging from an extensive variety, but I suppose it doesn't matter it's this awful illness code name depression that is the core of all our trouble.

Why do you get it while the person next to you doesn't, there is no real reason why this happens, although sometimes it could be because of a loss in the family or a friend that creates it, and it just snowballs along it's journey.

You should go and see your Gp, because what concerns me is that you need to maybe have a blood test and for them to check on your thyroid level, as if this not functioning properly then your mood swings from happy to being sad.

I believe that it is more common in females, as well as having dental x-rays can also affect your thyroid, unless they cover it up in a safe manner.

Google thyroid symptoms and see whether any of the history describes how you feel, it's just a guess on my part. L Geoff. x

[EMH80]

Hi Neil

I just wanted to say thank you for answering my post. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. I have made an appointment with my GP so first step to feeling better i hope. 

Thank you again

E 

[EMH80]

Hi Geoff

Thanks for taking the time to reply to my post, i really appreciate it. I have made an appointment with my GP and you might be on to something with the thyroid issues. I will get it checked out. 

Thanks again

e

[LizzieB]

Hi EMH,

I realise that you posted your first post back in January however I am new to BB, read your post and had to reply.

I have suffered with dysthymia probably since my early teen years.  I am now 42 so that's a pretty long time!  I wasn't diagnosed with this until about 6 years ago though.  I had post-natal depression after my first child and then was diagnosed with bouts of depression on and off for the next 15 years or so.  Finally I saw a psychologist after an serious traffic crash I was in and he diagnosed me with dysthymia. 

I have never been suicidal but looking back throughout my life I cannot remember a time where I was not depressed.  I am still able to have good periods and even periods of happiness when life is good, but there is ALWAYS an underlying, tired, melancholy mood.

I am on permanent anti-depressants now and am content with that.  Life without them is not great! My husband would vouch for that. LOL 🙂

I hope that you have sought the help of a GP and psychologist and that your are ok.  Know that you are not alone and you are normal!  Mental health issues are nothing to be ashamed of EVER.

Take care,  LizzieB

[EMH80]

Hi LizzieB

 Thank you so much for your reply, its really nice to know your not the only one who feels this way. I saw my GP and she referred me to a psychologist which was helpful but i felt like we were going around in circles. I'm seeing a new psychologist next week so fingers crossed it will be better. 

I hope you are doing well. I was wondering if talk therapy worked for you or you found that medication was better?? Are you having any negative side affects?

Take care EMH