You might not have heard of dysthymia, but it is a common mental illness often seen as the milder form of depression. However, despite the fact that it is weaker, it can still negatively affect your life.
Also known as dysthymic disorder, according to the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), dysthymia affects approximately 1.5% of adults in America. Like depression, women are more susceptible to developing this mental illness than.
In this article, we are going to provide you with everything you need to know about dysthymia and how it can be treated.
The Symptoms of Dysthymia
The symptoms of dysthymia are very similar to that of depression, but not as powerful. In fact, it is the lack of power that makes it so hard for many people to find the exact cause of it.
When an individual suffers dysthymia, they will commonly battle with low self-esteem issues, feel miserable and hopeless, which may begin to affect the way they live their lives.
Other symptoms include:
- Exhaustion and constantly feeling tired.
- Poor concentration levels
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Eating too much or too little
Many people that have dysthymia will also experience major depressive episodes, which according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR; APA, 2000) are: “Depressed mood and/or loss of interest or pleasure in life activities for at least 2 weeks and at least five of the following symptoms that cause clinically significant impairment in social, work, or other important areas of functioning almost every day
- Depressed mood most of the day.
- Diminished interest or pleasure in all or most activities.
- Significant unintentional weight loss or gain.
- Insomnia or sleeping too much.
- Agitation or psychomotor retardation noticed by others.
- Fatigue or loss of energy.
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt.
- Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness.
- Recurrent thoughts of death”
The strange thing about dysthymia is that even though an individual will show these symptoms, they may then go for up to 2 months being normal, causing doubt in the minds of those concerned that their loved one was depressed in this first place.
Dysthymia Treatment
If you or a loved one has suffered these mild – moderate symptoms for a period longer than 2 years and it has begun to affect the way you live, then it could be a clear sign that dysthymia is present.
The best way to treat dysthymia is to see a mental health profession who can do an assessment and accurately determine what type of treatment is best suited for you or your loved one.
In the assessment, you may be questioned about the emotions and moods you experience, your sleeping patterns, your energy levels and your concentration span.
Depending on the severity of these symptoms, antidepressant medication and even psychotherapy may be prescribed.
We provide access to the best private psychiatric clinics in South Africa, call us now and let one of our qualified consultants provide you with free confidential and expert advice on what treatment is best suited to you or your loved ones needs.
Sources: National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64063/