Dysthymia

[janepefko]

I've been diagnosed with major depression and PTSD, but after having taken my elementary psychology course believe I have dysthymia.  But I really know nothing about it.

I'm not suicidal.. I'm just at a stand still -- a sort of plateau for the last six or seven years of my life.  I feel like I'm not alive, and my dreams are starting to concern me as I can no longer draw the line between fiction and reality.  I don't know what to do... whether its treatable... whether I should pursue the medication recommended for my diagnosed condition.

If you know anything about dysthymia... if you've been diagnosed and can provide some help... please do



I miss living

[AnnaE]

Please look for a competent psychiatrist to diagnose you. Florena's advice is also excellent. Your regular doc might help with some mild anxity meds in the meantime.

[ParamedFlorena]

Hi,

There isn't much I know about dysthymia. I had to look it up on the health topic pages here on MedHelp. Did you know that you find posts that have been tagged with dysthymia too? Maybe that gives you some answers?

Either way, a life that's stagnant might come loose with adding one or two interesting things - my addition was to follow one of my impulses about more education. I still ain't done with that yet and long for my final examinations! Oh, seems that I added a little something that I really could look forward to.

Life seems to take leaps now and then. Suddenly we desire more from it. I did blindfolded believe in my depression-diagnose but we know ourselves the best. If we have faith in counseling being the right way to start off with possible treatment of depression, that's where we should start.

A good life starts with regular sleep, regular meals and some physical activity (exercise releases endorphines). That's the best advice I was ever given. It took a great while before I followed that advice but I've never become better faster than I did with exercise. (So ok, I am a little bit broader over the shoulders than a regular female, but it was the muscles and the shoulders that made me feel I could carry my problems). Now well, exercise and bodybuilding is maybe not something that helps everyone. Too much of something isn't good either!

I hope you come in touch with others who know more about this matter.

~Florena