Dysthymia – causes, symptoms, treatment. How to deal with dysthymia and how long can it last?

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Depression is an increasingly common condition. However, dysthymia is a type of chronic depression with a neurotic basis. People with dysthymia experience depressed mood for a long time, and sometimes even for years. Unfortunately, it is a chronic disease that cannot be underestimated and treatment should be started immediately after diagnosis. Fortunately, dysthymia can be treated. How do you recognize chronic depression?

Dysthymia – what is it?

Dysthymia, also known as neurotic depression or depressive personality disorder, is a type of long-term (chronic) depression. As with other forms of depression, dysthymia can greatly reduce quality of life. Sadness and hopelessness are common symptoms in people who suffer from depression, but in dysthymia, people can experience these feelings for many years.

Without treatment, dysthymia can affect us emotionally, mentally and socially, negatively affecting our health, relationships, and work life. That’s why it’s so important to seek support. Be aware that you can fully recover and regain control of your life.

See also: The time for anxiety and borderline comes

The causes of chronic depression

Research into dysthymia is still ongoing. It is believed that it may be caused by genetic determinants. It is more common in people who have a family history of depression or other affective disorders. However, dysthymia may also have a biological basis. People with dysthymia can have physical changes to their brain. The significance of these changes is still uncertain, but they may eventually help determine the causes.

Patients develop disturbances in the neurotransmitter system in the nervous system. Neurotransmitters are chemicals found naturally in the brain that possibly play a role in depression. Recent studies indicate that changes in the function and action of these neurotransmitters and their interaction with neuro-circuits involved in maintaining mood stability may play a significant role in depression and its treatment. Chronic depression may occur with a decrease in serotonin or noradrenaline.

It may also be the result of endocrine system disorders, especially in the functioning of the thyroid gland and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

As with depression, traumatic events such as the loss of a loved one, financial problems or high levels of stress can trigger persistent depressive disorders, including dysthymia, in some people.

Dysthymia – risk factors

Dysthymia often begins early in childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood and is chronic in nature. Certain factors appear to increase the risk of developing or causing dysthymia, including:

1. Having a first degree relative with major depressive disorder or other depressive disorder
2. Traumatic or stressful life events, such as loss of a loved one or financial problems,
3. Personality traits that include negativity, such as low self-esteem and being overly dependent, self-critical, or pessimistic
4. History of other mental health disorders, such as personality disorder.

Globally, dysthymia affects approximately 105 million people annually (1,5% of the population). It occurs 38% more often in women (1,8% of women) than in men (1,3% of men).

Also check: Personality types – tests, personality types according to Jung. Division into four personality types

Dysthymia – complications

Conditions that may be associated with dysthymia include:

1. Reduced quality of life,
2. Severe depression, anxiety and other mood disorders
3. Substance abuse,
4. Relationship difficulties and family conflicts,
5. Problems at school and work and reduced productivity,
6. Chronic pain and general medical diseases,
7. Suicidal thoughts or behavior
8. Personality disorders or other mental health disorders.

Dysthymia – symptoms

Symptoms of dysthymia usually come and go over the years, and the severity of these symptoms can change over time. However, usually symptoms don’t go away for more than two months at a time. In addition, episodes of major depression can occur before or during dysthymia, sometimes referred to as “double depression”.

Dysthymia has symptoms such as:

1. feeling of constant fatigue,
2. constantly depressed mood,
3. no feeling of happiness,
4. poor self-esteem,
5. loss of interest in everyday activities,
6. guilt and fears about the past
7. thoughts about the nonsense of life,
8. sleep disturbances,
9. lack of appetite
10. decreased activity,
11. irritability and problems with concentration,
12. avoiding social contact.

Although these are symptoms that also appear in the course of depression, dysthymia is a less turbulent disorder.

In children, symptoms of dysthymia can include depressed mood and irritability.

Read also: Depression test. When a teenager sees the world in black colors

Dysthymia – when to see a doctor?

Seek medical attention if you have any symptoms of dysthymia. It is recommended that you talk to your GP about your symptoms or seek help directly from a mental health professional. If you don’t feel like it

When contacting a mental health professional, it is helpful to talk to someone else who can help us “break through” to start treatment (such as a friend or loved one, a teacher, or someone we trust). If you have thoughts of harming or killing yourself at any time, see your doctor immediately.

See also: Malaise – illness or not?

Dysthymia – a test that confirms the disease

Adults can be diagnosed with chronic depression when symptoms have not improved for at least 2 years. In the case of children and adolescents, on the other hand, dysthymia occurs when symptoms have been present for a year.

To confirm dysthymia or another disorder, adults are given a psychological test. The dysthymia test is simply questions about how you feel, how you feel about the world, how you feel about yourself, and even about health problems. After answering the questions, the researcher checks the results and interprets them.

In addition, if your doctor suspects you have dysthymia, tests may include:

Laboratory tests. Your doctor may order laboratory tests to rule out other conditions that can cause depressive symptoms. For example, a blood test may be ordered to find out if the patient has an underactive thyroid gland.

Physical research. A doctor may conduct a physical examination and ask specific questions about the patient’s health to determine what may be causing depression. In some cases, it may be related to an underlying health problem.

Symptoms caused by dysthymia can vary from person to person. When dysthymia begins before age 21, it is called “early onset”; if it starts at age 21 or older, it is called ‘late onset’.

Dysthymia – treatment

Dysthymia is a chronic disease, often lasting many years, during which other conditions can also occur, so treatment is long-term. They can be divided into two methods: psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, which are used separately or together.

The treatment approach recommended by your doctor depends on factors such as:

1. worsening of symptoms
2. the patient’s desire to deal with emotional or situational problems affecting his life,
3. personal preferences of the patient,
4. previous treatments
5. the patient’s ability to tolerate medications,
6. other emotional problems the patient may have.

You may need to try several or a combination of drugs before finding one that will work for you. This takes patience as some medications take weeks or longer to get full effect and side effects will ease as your body adjusts.

When pregnant or breastfeeding, certain antidepressants may pose an increased health risk to the unborn child or the maternal child. You should talk to your doctor if you become pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The most commonly used drugs are: serotonin reuptake inhibitors, norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants.

During psychotherapy, the therapist selects the method of conducting classes in terms of the patient’s needs. However, the most commonly used treatment for dysthymia is cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. Treatment with psychotherapy alone brings the best results in the case of children and adolescents, while in adults pharmacotherapy is also often needed.

Psychotherapy can help with:

1. adapting to the crisis or other current difficulties,
2. Identifying problems that contribute to depression and behavior changes that make it worse
3. identifying negative beliefs and behaviors and replacing them with healthy and positive ones,
4. finding better ways to cope and solve problems
5. exploring relationships and experiences and developing positive interactions with others,
6. regaining a sense of satisfaction and control in your life and relieving symptoms of depression such as hopelessness and anger
7. learning to set realistic goals in your life.

Dysthymia and alternative treatment

Alternative therapies have also been considered for the treatment of dysthymia. In one 2006 study, published in the scientific journal Phytomedicine, St. John’s Wort, often viewed as an herbal remedy by lay people, was found to be fairly effective for mild depression but less effective for dysthymia. St. John’s wort cautions include potential interactions with blood thinners, birth control pills, chemotherapy, HIV / AIDS drugs, and antidepressants.

Another 2010 study published in the Psychiatric Times also found exercise is beneficial as an adjunct to depression treatment, but the effects are not well understood in dysthymia. Lifestyle changes, with people adopting healthier patterns of eating, exercise, relaxation / sleep, substance use, and social interaction, are believed to improve depression.

Dysthymia – prevention

There is no sure way to prevent dysthymia. As it often starts in childhood or adolescence, identifying children at risk of the disease can help them with early treatment.

Strategies that can help ward off symptoms include:

1. Take steps to control stress, increase your resistance to stress, and increase your self-esteem.
2. Contacting family and friends, especially in times of crisis, so that they can help us through difficult times.
3. Treatment at the earliest signs of the problem to prevent symptoms from worsening.
4. Consider using long-term supportive care to prevent symptoms returning.

See also: The war stress psychiatrist: if swearing helps, it should be done

Dysthymia – home remedies

Dysthymia is generally not a self-treatable condition. However, in addition to professional treatment, the following tips may help:

1. Stick to your treatment plan. Don’t skip therapy sessions or visits to a specialist, and even if you feel well, don’t skip medications. Take time to gradually improve.
2. Find out more about dysthymia. Education about your condition can strengthen us and motivate us to stick to a treatment plan. Encourage your family to learn about the disorder you suffer from so that they can understand and support you.
3. Pay attention to the warning signs. Work with your doctor or therapist to find out what may be causing your symptoms. Make a plan so that you know what to do if your symptoms worsen or come back. See your doctor or therapist if you notice any changes in symptoms or how you feel. Consider having family members or friends watch for the warning signs.
4. Look after yourself. Eat healthy, be physically active, and sleep a lot. Consider walking, jogging, swimming, gardening, or any other activity you enjoy. Good sleep is important to both your physical and mental well-being. If you are having trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor about what you can do.
5. Avoid alcohol and psychoactive substances. Alcohol or drugs may appear to improve symptoms associated with depression, but in the long run they generally make it worse and make it difficult to treat. Talk to your doctor or therapist if you need help dealing with alcohol or psychoactive drugs.

Also check: The course of psychotherapy – contracts, goals, methodology, duration

How to deal with dysthymia?

Dysthymia makes it difficult to engage in behaviors and activities that can help us feel better. In addition to the treatments recommended by your doctor or therapist, consider the following tips:

Focus on your goals. Dealing with persistent depressive disorder is an ongoing process. Set yourself some reasonable goals. Stay motivated by keeping your goals in mind. However, give yourself permission to do less when you feel depressed.

Simplify your life. If possible, limit your commitments. Organize your time by planning your day. You might find it useful to make a daily to-do list, use sticky notes as reminders, or use a diary to keep things organized.

Keep a journal. Keeping a journal as part of your treatment can improve your mood, allowing you to express pain, anger, fear, or other emotions.

Read reputable guides and websites. Ask your doctor or therapist to recommend books or websites to read.

Stay connected. Don’t isolate yourself. Try to participate in social activities and meet regularly with family or friends. Support groups for people with depression can help you connect with others facing similar challenges and share experiences.

Learn how to relax and deal with stress. Examples include meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, and tai-chi.

Don’t make important decisions when you are depressed. Avoid making decisions when you are feeling depressed as you may not be thinking clearly.