10 Symptoms of Dysthymia

By amanda

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Dysthymia, also known as dysthymic disorder, dysthymic depression, or persistent depressive disorder (P.D.D.), is a type of chronic depression. People with this condition tend to feel unhappy even when everything in their lives is going well. They lack motivation to participate in social activities and on the outside may appear lazy, negative, or disengaged. On the inside, they feel sad and hopeless.

The symptoms of dysthymic disorder are similar to those of clinical depression. However, those with clinical depression have a normal mood they return to after a depressive episode, while dysthymia causes people to stay depressed all the time. If you have consistently experienced the following 10 symptoms of dysthymia for at least two years, then you should consider seeking advice from a mental health professional.

1. Feeling Hopeless and Sad

Although depression is more complicated than just feeling blue, being sad is a significant aspect of dysthymia. Because it is a chronic condition, people often cannot remember or even imagine what it felt like to be happy. For them, it is not possible to experience more than the most fleeting elevation in mood. Sadness is a habitual state of mind for them.

Dysthymia is characterized by having symptoms for the majority of the day on most days, for a period lasting two years or more. Living without joy for such an extended period can cause sufferers to give up hope of recovery. Some even entertain thoughts of suicide. If you suspect someone is suicidal, you should ask him or her about it immediately and then call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800)273-8255.