Mood Disorders
Dysthymia
The Most Important Facts About Dysthymia
- Dysthymia is a treatable illness
- Dysthymia is an illness that affects about 3% of the population
- Dysthymia like major depression, occurs more in women then in men
- Dysthymia primarily affects young adults beginning in the late teens through the early thirties
- Dsythymia can be associated with drug abuse, smoking, alcoholism and other addictions
What is Dysthymia?
- Dysthymia (in Greek it means difficult state of mind) is a disorder with similar but milder and longer lasting symptoms than major depression
- In order to be diagnosed as Dysthymia that disorder has to last for at least two years
Dysthimia is not!
- Dysthymia is not a character flaw
- Dysthymia is not a bad mood someone can "snap out of"
What are the Symptoms of Dysthymia?
Dysthymia manifests itself in three major ways: emotionally, cognitively and physically.
- Emotional Symptoms
- Hopelessness
- Helplessness
- Sadness
- Anger
- Irritability
- Impatience
- Physical Symptoms
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Low energy
- Fatigue
- Overeating or loss of appetite
- Cognitive Symptoms (negative and self-defeating thoughts and beliefs)
- Thinking of oneself as a failure
- Low self esteem
- Being pessimistic
- Difficulties in concentrating
- Difficulties in making decisions
What is the Cause of Dysthymia?
- Genetics
- depression runs in families
- Brain chemistry
- Stress
- Transitional periods in one’s life (Teenage years, young adulthood, etc.)
What is the Treatment for Dysthymia?
Both medication and psychotherapy are effective in relieving the symptoms of Dysthymia.
What to do if you Suffer From Dysthymia?
If you think you need help, you have one of these options:
- Talk to your Primary Care Doctor.
- Call the HIP Mental Health Center near you.
- Call the HIP Mental Health Hot Line - 1-888-447-2526
- Participate in support groups.
- Educate yourself about this illness.
- Try to think about the cause of your Dysthymia.
- Be aware of your negative thoughts.
- Be kind to yourself. Praise yourself every time you accomplish a task.
- Focus on positive experiences and events.
- Be as active as you can.
- Exercise on a daily basis.
- Constantly remind yourself: You are not alone! It is not your fault that you are depressed!
Negative low self-esteem, helplessness and hopelessness are symptoms of Dysthymia rather than accurate perception of the reality!
There is no shame in getting help!
Support Groups and Online Support
Support groups can be tremendously helpful to people with dsythymia. These groups can help in many ways. First, they convey the massage that in spite of the feelings evoked by the illness, one is not alone. They give one the unique opportunity to meet and interact with others with the same illness and learn about different ways of coping with it. Support groups also provide important information about the illness.
- Mood Disorders Support Group of New York City (MDSG) - This is a non-profit, self-help organization that serves individuals with mood disorders and their family members. MDSG conducts support groups, discussion meetings, lectures and publishes a newsletter.
Contact MDSG:
Telephone 212 533-6374
Mail: The Mood Disorders Support Group,
P.O. Box 30377
New York, NY 10011
E-mail: info@mdsg.org
Web Site: http:// www.mdsg.org- National Depressive and Manic-depressive Association (NDMDA) - NDMDA is a national organization with 275 chapters. This organization is dedicated to the mutual support and education for people with mood disorders and their families.
Contact DBSA:
Telephone 800 826-3632
Mail: Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance(DBSA)
730 N. Franklin
Chicago, IL 60610
Web Site: http://www.dbsalliance.org
