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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cubic_me on January 27, 2004, at 10:54:05
I've just been diagnosed with dysthymia with major depressive episodes. I kinda knew I had it, but its never been 'official'.
Has anyone else here got it? What's helped you?
Posted by Susan J on January 27, 2004, at 13:00:43
In reply to Dysthymia anyone?, posted by cubic_me on January 27, 2004, at 10:54:05
> I've just been diagnosed with dysthymia with major depressive episodes. I kinda knew I had it, but its never been 'official'.
>
> Has anyone else here got it? What's helped you?When I'm just mildly depressed (constant though), making sure I have a good regimen I adhere to helps me a lot. I make sure I get enough sleep, I exercise, I eat right, I stay away from dysfunctional relationships.... I also take Vitamin B 50 complex that my doc recommended for energy levels. Sorry if this is TMI -- Don't know if you are a man or woman, but I'm female, and while dysthymic, I can get *really* depressed the weekend before my period. Had to change birth control Rx to get that fixed.
That's enough to keep me fairly decent if I'm not dealing with a major depressive episode....but then, this past major episode has lasted almost 2 years....I dunno if I'll get back to dysthymia. While not great, it was manageable.
Hang in there. :-)
Posted by janejj on January 27, 2004, at 19:32:11
In reply to Dysthymia is my middle name » cubic_me, posted by Susan J on January 27, 2004, at 13:00:43
Hi Susan,
I am also dysthmic and I was interested to read that you get very depressed the week before your period. I have exactly the same problem, I try not to plan things around that time because it ends up in tears or me just feeling realy irritable!
I'm not taking BC. Can you recommend anything else that has worked for you or others to relief this a bit? Its really frustrating.
Janejj
Posted by cubic_me on January 28, 2004, at 5:29:05
In reply to Dysthymia is my middle name » cubic_me, posted by Susan J on January 27, 2004, at 13:00:43
Thanks Susan,
I'm female and notice some ups and downs in my moods over the month too. I've just changed oral contraceptive because of breakthrough bleeding on the previous one, so my moods might change - wait and see.
I don't know whether I'm dythymic or in major depression - I'm kind of between. I can get on with day to day stuff, but I'm still suicidal quite often. I think I'm abit wierd tho!
Are you ever not dysthymic/depressed? I've read that some people get it for a few years, then they are ok for a while and it comes back.
Are you on meds? My pdoc said they don't usually work during the dysthymic phase, but I've read that prozac (fluoxitine) can be helpful.
Thanks for the info - I like lots, so don't worry ;)
Posted by Susan J on January 28, 2004, at 7:34:47
In reply to Re: Dysthymia is my middle name » Susan J, posted by janejj on January 27, 2004, at 19:32:11
Hi,
> I'm not taking BC. Can you recommend anything else that has worked for you or others to relief this a bit? Its really frustrating.
>
> Janejj<<I'm not a doctor by any means, but I have had some docs recommend going on BC to help stabilze moods. Don't know if that's true or not since I've had trouble with them.
Nothing much else really helps me when I'm mildly depressed like that. I work hard to have good things in my life and not bad things. I do get happy when I'm dysthymic, but it doesn't seem *super happy* or anything. Kind of like everything (except sadness) is blunted. But during these times I have enough energy to cope and to function. I guess I've never really tried to get better while dysthymic. I mean, I wasn't seeing a therapist or pdoc or anything. Just struggling along myself.
I'm not giving any helpful information, am I? :-) I hope you start feeling better soon, though,
Susan
Posted by Susan J on January 28, 2004, at 7:40:15
In reply to Re: Dysthymia is my middle name » Susan J, posted by cubic_me on January 28, 2004, at 5:29:05
>>so my moods might change - wait and see.
<< My moods took 3 months to level out.>>but I'm still suicidal quite often. I think I'm abit wierd tho!
<<You're not weird. :-) I never felt suicidal when dysthymic. But I'm sure it's different for everyone. BTW, don't leave, OK? :-)
> Are you ever not dysthymic/depressed? I've read that some people get it for a few years, then they are ok for a while and it comes back.
<<I've read that too. When I was in law school, my life was so great, I think I was genuinely happy for the first time since puberty. That lasted almost 4 years and then I plummeted into major depression. Got out of that, into dysthymia, and now back to being depressed. This is the first time I've used drugs to help my moods and I'm still in the trial and error phase. My pdoc said I'd be on them for life cuz I've had more than 5 major depressive episodes. So I hope these help me get back to somewhere near normal. Not so terrified of getting sad again....I've forgotten what a normal sadness feels like.>
> Are you on meds? My pdoc said they don't usually work during the dysthymic phase, but I've read that prozac (fluoxitine) can be helpful.
<< I didn't take them while dysthymic, only now. I'm on Wellbutrin and just recently added Zoloft.>
> Thanks for the info - I like lots, so don't worry ;)
<<Hang in there. I hope you start feeling better too.Susan
Posted by cubic_me on January 28, 2004, at 9:11:58
In reply to Re: Dysthymia is my middle name » cubic_me, posted by Susan J on January 28, 2004, at 7:40:15
Thanks,
I'm not planning to leave soon - even though I'd like to. I'm not brave enough!
_me x
Posted by Susan J on January 28, 2004, at 9:15:51
In reply to Re: Dysthymia is my middle name » Susan J, posted by cubic_me on January 28, 2004, at 9:11:58
> Thanks,
>
> I'm not planning to leave soon - even though I'd like to. I'm not brave enough!
>
> _me x
<<It's just funny you put it like that. The times I've been truly suicidal, I actually get pissed at myself for being such a coward and not doing it. Death doesn't scare me, but pain does. Knowing me, I'd screw it up and be a parapalegic or in a persistent vegetative state or something. :-)But then when I'm better I'm really glad I was too chicken. So you stay chicken, too, please. :-)
Posted by cubic_me on January 28, 2004, at 9:23:29
In reply to God I feel the same way! » cubic_me, posted by Susan J on January 28, 2004, at 9:15:51
I'm not scared of pain, I'm scared there might be something after death. I get so pissed off when I can't kill myself! I've cut 'coward' into my leg before.
I'll stay chicken for now, if you'll be my chicken friend....
Posted by Susan J on January 28, 2004, at 9:32:09
In reply to Re: God I feel the same way! » Susan J, posted by cubic_me on January 28, 2004, at 9:23:29
> I'll stay chicken for now, if you'll be my chicken friend....
<<Always. :-)
Posted by shar on January 29, 2004, at 21:12:24
In reply to Dysthymia anyone?, posted by cubic_me on January 27, 2004, at 10:54:05
That's my dx. The pdoc I had before the current one said it's something that is pretty much untreatable, and my experience bears that out (have been depressed--more than slightly--since teens). It's good to know that others have a different experience (which I learned about by reading this thread).
I have almost constant suicidal ideation, and during major depressive episodes it's extremely difficult to stick around. I've already researched my method which is pretty foolproof and not that painful (a LOT less painful than childbirth), but I've had life events that got in the way of carrying it out.
I always tell people not to think about suicide seriously unless they're at least 50 years old. At 50 I think one can go with a clear conscience of having given it a good go, so the young whippersnappers out there should erase it from their list of options til then.
Shar
Posted by cubic_me on January 30, 2004, at 7:03:37
In reply to Re: Dysthymia anyone? » cubic_me, posted by shar on January 29, 2004, at 21:12:24
50 years old is a long time to wait - I'm only 21!
Maybe I can get to being a dysthymic in remission some time!
_me xx
Posted by noa on January 31, 2004, at 16:09:21
In reply to Re: Dysthymia anyone? » cubic_me, posted by shar on January 29, 2004, at 21:12:24
OTOH, I think some people find that the pain lessens with middle age--maybe it's a change in hormones, maybe it is changing social pressures, etc. SO, perhaps there is something to look forward to--if you can get past the tough years of early adulthood, life might be less diffiult i middle age?
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