Depression is finally being accepted as an ailment not unlike the common cold. People are becoming more open about depression and seeking help to overcome their feelings of despair. There are several different types of depression and the vast majority of them are easily treated with medications and therapy. Chronic depression is one of the less severe forms of depression but it is one of the most difficult forms to treat. The symptoms and the feelings last for an incredibly long period of time and you simply learn to work and live with the depression just as people learn to live with chronic pain.
Dysthemia Symptoms
Dysthemia is the medical term for chronic depression. Dysthemia can be a debilitating illness because of the sheer length of time you spend depressed, even though it is a mild form of depression. You may be less productive during these periods of depression which can lead to further trouble. There are a number of symptoms associated with chronic depression and they are often similar to other forms of depression except for severity and duration. Symptoms of dysthemia (chronic depression) can be extremely long term or even constant but they are typically mild. These lingering symptoms have to last at least two weeks and can include:
Fatigue
Appetite changes
Difficulty sleeping
Mental and physical sluggishness
Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
Loss of interest enjoyment in anything
Excessive feelings of guilt or worthlessness
Difficulty concentrating, thinking or making decisions
Diagnosing Chronic Depression
There are over 10 million American adults who have chronic depression and it is likely every one of those people has felt like they were alone in their suffering. You should always remember you are not alone and one of the most important things you can do is get yourself checked out by a doctor. It is important to diagnose chronic depression to be able to get help.
A mental health professional will likely perform an evaluation of your depression, assign a level and begin treatment. It is important that you provide them with your family’s history of psychological and medical illnesses as well as any substance abuse. All tests are done based on your expressed symptoms, so you need not worry about blood or urine testing.
Double Depression
It is possible that dysthemia can develop into a form of double depression. Double depression happens when a person who already has chronic depression develops an episode of major depression (a shorter term depression that has severe symptoms). This type of depression can affect a chronically depressed person in the same way as a person who does not typically experience depression and is difficult to treat. Double depression can lead to a chronically depressive mood similar to major depression which lasts a long time.
Treating Dysthemia
Chronic depression symptoms come and go but the illness itself cannot go away on its own (despite what many people believe) and it can be a terrible burden to have to suffer. Chronic depression can be treated with psychotherapy sessions alone but it is better to have some form of medication to help correct any chemical imbalances that may be the cause of the depression. There are a number of types of talk therapy that focus on the various types of causes for chronic depression and a number of mild medications used to treat chronic depression and they can be used long term.
