10 Symptoms of Dysthymia
7. Having Trouble Concentrating
Depression makes it difficult to concentrate. A person’s work can be impacted as he or she struggles to stay focused on tasks during the day. Likewise, teachers may notice that children do not listen or complete assignments and may wonder if they have a form of attention deficit disorder. Even seemingly insignificant tasks like counting money, checking email, or driving a car can feel overwhelming. Dysthymia can make it difficult to follow conversations, and others can misinterpret this distracted behavior as a lack of interest.
People with dysthymia also find decision-making difficult. Small decisions, like choosing which clothes to wear, produce overwhelming anxiety and can take a long time to make. Larger matters of discernment, such as those that affect money, home, or well-being, can leave them panicked. Friends and family may notice that the person has made irrational decisions with unintended consequences. Sometimes a person can feel virtually paralyzed with indecision and escapes the anxiety by avoiding the situation altogether. An outward sign of this behavior is decisions that simply have been left unmade.
Advertisement
