What your therapist said is incredibly rude. I wouldn’t be just angry, I’d be mad!! How can he minimize the impact that your condition has had on your life? Regardless of how long you've lived with it, it’s not something to brushed aside as something minor. I know what dysthymia, I’ve read about it when I was researching my own diagnosis. I know how it may feel ingrained in your identity, but let me say this again and again: it doesn't define you entirely! Your emotions, your struggles, they all matter and deserve attention and validation. Your experiences matter—it's part of what makes you uniquely you.
When I was depressed, I used to think the same way too. I thought that I’d been depressed for so long that I wouldn’t even know how to be different. It began to feel uncomfortable not to be depressed… Took me years of therapy to remember who I used to be before the dark times hit me. Perhaps you can make an effort and start doing those things you truly loved once? Even if now they don’t bring as much joy. Perhaps joy can build up with time...
I sort of know how you're feeling. I’ve been in this state of “weird depression”. I could still feel excitement and content, but only temporarily, then always returned to doom and gloom. It was unexplainable. My family didn’t get it. Yesterday I was normal, then the next day depressed again… Therapy didn’t help me, only meds.
@NextLevel I don’t remember what it was like before. I’ve been like this for 15 years. It really feels like there’s no treatment for it. It’s only “manageable”... Returning to old hobbies is extremely difficult with this disorder..
Hello there! I resonate the most with your description of how it feels day to day. I used to be in a similar place mentally. I had to learn to take a better care of myself to make this daily burden lighter. The most effective thing that takes me out of my head is staying active. Nothing super active, just daily walks and occasional hiking with my colleague. Another important thing is keeping close connections with family and friends, I realized that being around people I love makes it easier for me to catch a neutral state of mind, instead of being depressed. Just try not to be idle or alone.
Stop self-sabotaging. All this is not for life. It’s only a phase; you’ll overcome it, and you’ll laugh that therapist in the face. Let him “manage” other clients. I’d run away and never come back! I think you should consult a good psychiatrist. SSRIs or SNRIs are most effective for treating dysthymia. You might need to change your prescription to see any significant results.
From what you've shared, it's clear that you've been through a lot, trying to rebuild your life and wrestling with these persistent feelings of depression. You’re a very resilient person. From all I’ve read about mental illnesses, a lot of them can’t be cured, but all or most can stay in remission for decades. Since your antidepressant has helped you at least to some degree, you’re definitely not in the “treatment resistant” state, and that’s a big plus! Perhaps you haven’t yet found the right dosage, or maybe you need to add a mood stabilizer; sometimes they work miracles combined with an antidepressant. I’m sure there are options to keep it at bay. Sure, there will be bad days, but you can have more good days and ignore those serotonin lows. Don't say that this diagnosis defines you, it’s far from the truth. You’re not your negative self-talk. You’re everything that’s hidden behind it, that person who still loves playing chess, being active and learning languages. You can beat this thing. Keep trying!
We live and learn. I’ve never heard about dysthymia... I have struggled with negative moods throughout my life. Counseling was the best gift I gave to myself. :)
Your therapist is not nice, you’d better look out for someone more empathetic. Keep searching; find those things that bring you back.
All I can say is that recovery can be long but, in my humble opinion, it’s way better than accepting that this is the new broken you. Recent research suggests that due to the neuroplasticity of the brain, any damage that’s been done by PDD or any other kind of depression is reversible. Finding out how to reverse it is the hard part. All you can do is try different medications and other options until you get the right combination. TL;DR it CAN get better. You can feel better, stranger!
@Veena Choudhary From what you say I can only make a conclusion that I should change my therapist. He never gave me any home assignments and we never did anything in written form. We only talk. I've actually thought about it many times during these four years, our sessions did not help me much. But my employer is covering the costs, so I felt very reluctant to look for someone else. I'm pretty sure better therapists will be more expensive and I'll have to pay out of my own pocket :(
I'm sorry to hear about this. Dysthymia is a debilitating condition that can significantly impact quality of life. It makes sense that you feel frustrated and angry at your therapist's response - PDD shouldn't be dismissed as a small concern. Your feelings are completely valid.
At the same time, please know that you are so much more than your diagnosis. I understand dysthymia makes you feel hopeless and prevents you from enjoying life, but calling yourself "broken" or "defective" may reinforce the condition.
Finding a way to not let it take over and start enjoying things again is possible, even though the process towards healing takes time. Many studies show that persistent depressive disorder responds well to a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Therapy is meant to help you identify negative thoughts or behaviour patterns that might worsen the condition, find ways to cope with triggers of depression (such as stress, rejection, isolation, etc.), and develop healthy strategies that would help increase your mental wellbeing. If you feel that your current therapy situation isn't working for you, it's worth trying to discuss it with your therapist and ask for different options, or look for approaches that would suit your situation better.
There are strategies you can try on your own as well. For example, try identifying specific triggers that cause depressive symptoms. Anytime you feel that your mental state is worsening, write in a notebook or a note app on your phone what you did before and what specific thoughts you had. After recording triggers for a week or so, you can start identifying patterns. Examples of triggers can be stressful situations like a huge workload, a fight with someone, fears or negative thoughts and beliefs about yourself, others or the world around you. Once you can recognize these triggers, it will be easier to find strategies to cope.
For example, you say there are days you feel alive but it always comes back. Try to acknowledge what exactly happens before your state worsens. If you notice a workload or stressful event triggered you, see if you can give yourself more breaks, say no more to nonessential obligations, or do something relaxing. If it's negative thoughts, see if you can challenge them by asking yourself what facts support the belief and what facts don't, and what alternative thought would make you feel better right now (to make it easier, imagine someone you care about deeply is going through the same - what would you say to them?). Even though dysthymia can make you believe terrible things about yourself and your life, remember that our thoughts don't always reflect reality accurately.
With practice, it will become easier to identify where the depressive symptoms are about to appear or worsen, and it will help you feel more in control. For some people visualizing that they cut the negative thoughts at their core helps; for others it's changing their focus onto something else like excercising or practicing meditation. I suggest experimenting with different strategies to see what works best for you. Also, don't forget that talking through your feelings is very important as it helps you feel less isolated and process what you're going through. Consider spending more time with people you trust, joining a support group or just journaling your feelings more often.
With the right treatment and self-care, it is possible to feel better. Dysthymia makes things harder, but remember that it doesn't define you.
Experiencing Dysthymia involves low mood, sadness which many many consider it normal like how your therapist did and consider that as person's personality but its absolutely not normal and its serious condition which needs to be treated. Right now it is important that you find a right therapist who validates your feelings.
Therapist would also help you with cognitive behavioural therapy which involves several months of weekly discussion with therapist and written, behavioural homework assignments. Through modification of irrationally negative thoughts and training in social competence it would get better.
Surviving each sing day with it itself is a huge accomplishment. Remember that you are fighting a tough battle where each days comes with a challenge. Know it, understand it. Focus only on all the positive steps you took today and just pat on your back for it. There is nothing small or big even you getting up from your bed and doing your chores itself is an achievement. This is the key of how to be productive with PDD. Depression itself is overwhelming and this lack of motivation or passion in life makes even simple task in life impossible to accomplish. Remember even if one task takes you entire day to complete don't get overwhelmed just accomplishing one task in it itself is an achievement for you.
Lack of motivation would make you feel your entire world is falling apart and you start being harsh to yourself. try to understand none of this is in your hands and depression is the culprit to blame. Try joining a social community online where you can meet people with similar issues to understand that you are not alone. such people could be your pillar of support and strength and you could learn different ways people cope with it.
With right therapy you will gain tools to handles life and will be well equipped. You will be able to understand yourself better too and have self compassion, self acceptance and focus on solving problems that create distress. It can be challenging to have a hope for recovery when currently feeling happy is more like memory than a possibility but recovery is possible. it just takes patience, effort and commitment. Remember you deserve to feel better.