

It is best to postpone big decisions until the depression has lifted.Expect your mood to get better slowly, not right away.Doing something nice for someone else can also help you feel better. Going to a movie, gardening, or taking part in religious, social, or other activities may help. It’s usually better than being alone and secretive. Try to be with other people and confide in someone.Set priorities, and do what you can as you can. Set realistic goals and don’t take on too much.If you think you may be depressed, see a professional as soon as possible. Negative thinking fades as treatment begins to take effect. It is important to realize that these negative views are part of the depression and may not reflect reality. Such negative thoughts and feelings may make you feel like giving up.

Depression can make you feel exhausted, worthless, helpless, and hopeless. If you have depression, there are things you can do to help yourself. It also works to improve relationship skills, and identify and manage stressors.īecause this condition usually last for longer than 5 years, long-term treatment may be needed. It focuses on changing distorted views of yourself and your environment. This is most often cognitive behavioral or interpersonal therapy. Some people have to switch medicines or add medicines to get results. It’s also important to talk to your healthcare provider before stopping. It’s important to keep taking the medicine, even if it doesn’t seem to be working at first. It often takes 4 to 6 weeks for anti-depressants to have a full effect. Many different medicines are available to treat depression. Treatment may include one or a combination of the following: But, early diagnosis and treatment is key to recovery.Ī diagnosis may be made after a careful psychiatric exam and medical history done by a mental health professional. Often, people with dysthymia grow accustomed to the mild depressive symptoms and do not seek help.

It may also happen with substance abuse or anxiety disorders. How is dysthymia diagnosed?ĭepression often happens with other conditions, such as heart disease, or cancer. Always talk with a healthcare provider for a diagnosis. The symptoms of this illness may look like other mental health conditions. To diagnose this condition, an adult must have a depressed mood for at least 2 years (or one year in children and adolescents), along with at least 2 of the above symptoms.

Less ability to concentrate, think, and/or make decisions.Each person may experience symptoms differently. What are the symptoms of dysthymia?ĭysthymia is milder, yet more long lasting than major depression. Chronic stress and trauma have also been linked to this condition.ĭysthymia seems to run in families, but no genes have yet been linked to it. These include environmental, psychological, biological, and genetic factors. Many factors are thought to contribute to depression. Mental health professionals think it’s a result of chemical imbalances in the brain. There is no clear cause for this type of depression. Some people may also have depression or bipolar disorder. Treatment is key to recovery.ĭysthymia affects women twice as often as men. People with depression can’t "snap out of it" and get better. It’s not a sign of weakness or something that can be willed or wished away. It’s not the same as being unhappy or in a "blue" mood. It affects the way you eat and sleep, think about things, and feel about yourself. People with this condition may also have bouts of major depression at times.ĭepression is a mood disorder that involves your body, mood, and thoughts. It’s also called persistent depressive disorder. Dysthymia is a milder, but long-lasting form of depression.
