What is Dysthymia?

Depression comes in several different forms. Some cases of depression are severe and can affect a person’s quality of life. Other people experience depression that is relatively mild and only flares up in response to specific triggers. There are also people who suffer from dysthymia, which is a type of chronic depression that can be difficult to overcome.

What is Dysthymia?

Dysthymia is a long-term form of depression that is also called persistent depressive disorder. Unlike some types of depression that only last for a few weeks or months at a time, dysthymia is chronic depression that lasts continuously for several years. People who have dysthymia usually experience mild or moderate depressive symptoms that are rarely severe. Generally speaking, dysthymia doesn’t interfere with someone’s ability to function on a daily basis.

People who suffer from dysthymia experience many of the same symptoms associated with major depressive disorder. However, they experience the symptoms almost every day, which can make it difficult to ever feel happy or positive. People who have dysthymia are often described as having a gloomy personality, are constantly complaining, or are averse to having fun. As a result, some people who have dysthymia struggle to maintain personal relationships and form new ones.

Roughly 1.3% of the U.S. population will experience dysthymia at some point in their lives, although doctors aren’t exactly sure what causes it. The disorder is more common in women than in men, and it can affect everyone from children to older adults. Research also suggests that dysthymia could be hereditary, meaning that it tends to run in families. Like all forms of depression, dysthymia can’t be prevented or cured.

Dysthymia can be caused by a few different factors, other than genes. Certain people who suffer from chronic depression have a chemical imbalance in their brain which can affect their mood. Similarly, brain structure is thought to play a role in the development of depression. It’s also possible for traumatic life events to trigger dysthymia, which can cause people to feel extreme sadness, grief or stress, which doesn’t get better over time.

Do You Have High-Functioning Depression?

Dysthymia is considered to be high-functioning depression, meaning people who have it aren’t profoundly affected by the disorder. The symptoms are unpleasant, but they are manageable, especially with the right treatment. You may be suffering from dysthymia if you:

Feel slightly down or upset most of the time
Are rarely happy, and when you are, it doesn’t last very long
Get tired all the time, despite getting enough sleep
Don’t have the energy to function at a normal level
Feel bad about yourself and have poor self-esteem
Gain or lose weight unintentionally
Cry often for no reason
Avoid social situations

If you suspect you have dysthymia, it’s important to speak with a doctor or mental health professional to get evaluated. Some of the symptoms of dysthymia could be related to other health problems, like hypothyroidism, which can cause persistent lack of energy or unexplained weight and appetite changes.

Also, keep in mind that chronic depression is characterized by having consistent depressive symptoms for at least two years. If you’ve been experiencing these symptoms for a few weeks or months, it’s likely not dysthymia. It’s also important to know that chronic depression doesn’t come in waves like major depressive disorder does. Chronic depression symptoms occur consistently for years at a time.

Symptoms of Dysthymia

Someone who has dysthymia experiences the common symptoms on most days. These include:

Feeling sad or being in a depressed mood
No longer enjoying your favorite activities
Rapid changes in weight
Having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
Feeling physically rundown
Loss of energy
Feeling guilty or ashamed
Having trouble concentrating and making decisions
Having suicidal thoughts

How Dysthymia Affects Daily Life

Dysthymia is a disorder that causes people to feel sad or low most of the time. Many people feel like they are stuck in a negative mindset and can’t break out of it, no matter how hard they try. The things that used to bring them joy no longer do, and finding things to be happy about is more difficult than usual.

Not only do people with chronic depression struggle internally, but there are also certain external consequences of the condition. For instance, people with dysthymia are often seen by others as overly negative, ungrateful, incapable of having fun, or they are seen as always complaining. Friends and family members of people with dysthymia might feel the need to distance themselves, which can put a strain on important relationships.

Although most people with chronic depression can go to school and hold a job, performing tasks associated with work or school can be challenging. If a person suffers from a constant lack of energy, they might have trouble getting to the office on time. People who struggle with a lack of motivation might be slow to turn in assignments or complete work-related tasks. Not to mention, some people with dysthymia give off the impression that they are lazy or don’t care, which doesn’t bode well with teachers or bosses.

Treatment for Dysthymia

Mental health professionals treat dysthymia similarly to major depressive disorder. People who suffer from dysthymia will usually benefit from a combination of therapies, including talk therapy, medication, and self-care. Certain lifestyle changes can also help improve a person’s condition, including maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and creating a strong support system.

For people who haven’t had luck with conventional depression treatments, their therapist may recommend Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy. TMS uses electromagnetic waves to stimulate areas of the brain that regulate mood in people with depression. During a TMS session, an electromagnetic coil is placed against the person’s forehead, and small pulses pass through the skull to stimulate parts of the brain that regulate mood.

TMS is FDA-approved, doesn’t require any anesthesia, and there’s no downtime after treatment. Clients who undergo regular TMS therapy report having fewer depressive symptoms, better sleep, and better concentration.

How Dysthymia Differs From Other Types of Depression

To understand “what is dysthymia,” it is helpful to look at how it differs from other forms of depression. The defining characteristic of dysthymia depressive disorder is that it is persistent. Unlike other forms of depression that may linger for a few weeks or months, dysthymia symptoms last for years. The intensity of dysthymia often shifts over time, but the symptoms do not entirely disappear for longer than a couple of months. Unlike people with major depressive disorder, those with dysthymia do not have a stable baseline. They may struggle even to remember what it feels like not to be depressed.

Another big difference is the level of severity. Dysthymia is often referred to as a high-functioning depression because symptoms are not always so powerful that they completely incapacitate a person. Symptoms may not be severe enough to qualify a patient for a traditional depression diagnosis. However, even though a person with dysthymia may focus enough to succeed with their personal, social, and work-life, they are still affected regularly. Despite the lack of traditionally severe depression symptoms, dysthymia can harm your:

Physical health
Overall wellbeing
Relationships with others
Substance use patterns
Productivity levels

What Causes Dysthymia Symptoms?

Like major depressive disorder, no one knows the full answer as to what causes dysthymia. At a biological level, there are specific physical changes in the brain linked to dysthymia. When people have varying amounts of assorted brain chemicals, their brain may struggle to function correctly.

Many different factors can contribute to developing the condition. Genetics plays a big part in the occurrence of dysthymia. People are more likely to get dysthymia if they have a family history of depression because individual genes can affect how the brain works. Chronic levels of high stress or severely traumatic events may also cause a person to get dysthymia. Having other conditions like anxiety or OCD may also be linked to higher dysthymia risks.

What Is Dysthymia Treatment?

Since dysthymia is such a complicated condition, treatment often contains a combination of many remedies. In some cases, standard antidepressants may be enough to manage the situation. However, many patients also benefit from the inclusion of psychotherapy. Speaking with a mental health professional can help patients discover healthier thinking patterns and better methods to cope with stress.

Every case of dysthymia is different, and some people may not respond to medication or counseling. In these cases, transcranial magnetic stimulation may be a good option. Some 2012 research found that transcranial magnetic stimulation in dysthymia patients caused significant changes to particular brain wave activity patterns. This discovery of a positive change helped provide relief from many of the symptoms of dysthymia.

If you have more questions about dysthymia or how transcranial magnetic stimulation helps dysthymia, we have answers. Our team is happy to discuss your condition and help you decide if TMS is right for you.

Updated on 2/1/21