They say with depression you lose interest in things you enjoy

[MisterM]

So why do I still get so high and achieve catharsis by listening to music I love?
And why do I still have a healthy sex drive?
Everywhere I read online says with Dysthymia/Depression you lose interest in music, sex, hobbies etc.
I was diagnosed as suffering from dysthymia and anxiety.
I am confused.

[Achernar]

Hi MisterM

We are not our depression, we are still individuals and have our own way of being in the world. The literature often talks of what is typical - the "you". I have read that when depressed "we" typically beat ourselves up, worry excessively etc neither of which I do. I still love music, love writing poetry, still have interests.

Achernar

[geoff]

dear MisterM, I see that have a few posts under your username, which is good.

Firstly can I ask you to google this 'illnesses that cause high sex drive', as there is some great information on there.

A text may say that with depression our sex drive may diminish, and this can be very true, and probably a psych who has not actually been through depression themselves would definitely mention this, however, those that have gone through depression themselves could well and truly disagree, because it's not always the situation, we all differ, so basically there is never a general rule, so in other words your high sex drive is not unusual as the site I gave you says as well.

With regards to music well personally I loved listening to music especially love songs and I have to admit sad songs, because they always made me cry, maybe it was an excuse to cry, but then again I didn't need a reason, because it would happen at any time.

I did however lose all interest in any hobbies and even now that I have overcome my depression I still don't like doing any of them, those which I have always loved doing, but not now. Geoff.

[ThisNameWasAvailable]

As Geoff said, every individual is different. It might be generally the case that people with depression lose interest in things, but not necessarily true across the board or in such plain terms.

 I for example, no matter how bad things get, always love listening to music, and in the past continued to love playing and writing music. If anything, playing and writing were things that helped to keep me going each day. These days though, I've lost all interest in writing, and the instrument I've played for 16 or so years gives me no enjoyment at all.

So more than just differing from one individual to another, it can also vary for an individual as time goes on. Maybe it's the severity of the depression at the time, maybe it's other things that happen to be going on in life, maybe it's just the brain changing as one gets older, who knows...

So if you still have interest in hobbies and whatever else... good for you. Take whatever enjoyment you can from them and keep your head up.

[MisterM]

Thank you all for your replies and advice.