Dysthymia - anyone here with any experience?

[LouieStrumpet]

I was searching through the net yesterday looking at information on St John's Wort, which I am considering taking, when I came across a page about the various types of depression and something called Dysthymia.

The symptoms - mild, chronic depression which has been occuring for a number of years, no self esteem, no feeling of happiness excitement etc kind of reached out and slapped me across the face - that's me exactly.

I am thinking about going to my GP to get an opinion, tbh it would be a relief to find out that my brain is not functioning properly rather than thinking that I am naturally just a pessimistic, self-loathing person.

Anyone else had any experience with this?

Bumping for you. Best wishes.

Ahh good old puzzlerocks!

I think it's a good idea to go to your GP to talk about this if you can face it (if you find it difficult to talk about it, try writing it down and giving to the GP). I have also wondered if I'm dysthymic, but have never sought a diagnosis. Really I can't see what you have to lose by seeing your GP about this.

Hoping someone with more experience of this sees the thread, and good luck Louie.

Thanks to both of you, I am going to see a GP next week about this.

one potential problem for a dysthymic person is "double depression", or a major depressive episode on top of normal misery. Dysthymia is harder to treat than other depressionss, partly because it's causes are harder to unravel(egit's not in response to an event like bereavement, job loss or specific instances of abuse) and it is so pervasive. Some doctors do not believe it exists but that it is just a personality feature. I hope your gp is helpful.

Thanks for that yellowvan. I did have a major depressive episode when I was 24, fortunately I have not had another one but it has come close a few times. Both my parents have also had major depressive illnesses so in a way I feel like I can't escape.

Hopefully this GP will be helpful, if not I will go to another one.

OMG that sounds just like me

Theresonlyme did both your parents have depression as well? Like your name, I though it was only me.

I don't know as I didn't live with them.

Eekk sorry if I touched a sore nerve - I am guessing you meant the dysthymia thing then.

I read somewhere someone describing dysthymia as insidious and that is exactly what it is, I have realised that I have lived with this for more than ten years - so much time wasted feeling like shit.

Not at all.

I have had the whole of my life to get used to my parents not wanting me.

I meant the depression thing.