What is Dysthymia? (Persistent Depressive Disorder)

I'm Kati Morton, a licensed therapist making Mental Health videos!
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If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call a local emergency telephone number or go immediately to the nearest emergency room.

[diond]

It reminds me of something I've been saying lately: "Sleep is what I look forward to when I wake up in the morning".

[AqilahNaqlis]

I'm afraid if i go for diagnosis it'd really just be me overreacting..

[OLAWDYLAWDY]

She has the perfect personality for dealing with people who struggle with things like these; it's very comforting and hopeful.

[finbarrtpf]

“If you know someone who’s depressed, please resolve never to ask them why. Depression isn’t a straightforward response to a bad situation; depression just is, like the weather.

Try to understand the blackness, lethargy, hopelessness, and loneliness they’re going through. Be there for them when they come through the other side. It’s hard to be a friend to someone who’s depressed, but it is one of the kindest, noblest, and best things you will ever do.”
― Stephen Fry

[bronxkies]

I hate that it’s referred to as “low grade”. Nothing about being suicidal for 3 years and then getting better and being suicidal again is mild. Low grade makes it sound like calling it a low grade headache. Low grade means you can live with it and it’ll just go away. Suicidal ideation isn’t low grade...

[shane]

I'm afraid that If I tell my parents or someone they'll think I'm overreacting or just being a drama queen about little things and not take me seriously

[patteegee]

When a person has chronic Dysthymia, there are no things that we "used to enjoy." As a life-time sufferer, this reference is frustrating to hear. I have hardly enjoyed anything for my entire life, since childhood. While I have had moments of pleasure, it is always difficult to sustain the feeling.

[PeachPepsi]

Is it normal to not even remember feeling happy most of the time? For as long as I can remember, I've felt depressed. My famiy thought I loved being miserable and complaining often. It really hurt to hear that said by my own mother. Even knowing I have depression, they still think that I'm purposfully miserable so I barely talk to them. Now recently being diagonsed with Dysthymia, it explains so much about my childhood up until now. I still enjoy playing video games and watching shows but there is very little else that makes me happy.

[Jennifer-bwku]

Psilocybin saved my life. I was addicted to heroin for 15 years and after Psilocybin treatment I will be 3 years clean in September. I have zero cravings. This is something that truly needs to be more broadly used in addiction treatment.

[KyleS.]

Wow. I was dysthymic even as a kid. I had no idea.

[jaskayy]

It's generally a feeling of emotional disconnection - disconnection from pleasure, from activities ect ect

[Rundownshoe]

I know this is old, but because of you I just realized I have had dysthymia for 4 years.

[OpusOvertone]

Wow, she literally hit almost everything in my life. I was recently diagnosed with persistent depression disorder. For me it stems from my father being murdered when I was 8, happiness never really returned after that day. I was diagnosed with ADHD as a kid even though all the symptoms pointed to dysthymia. I couldn't sleep, social problems, yelling at teachers, irritability, everything she said, that was me. It took me 22 years before I sought help, Basically I couldn't take it anymore as I was reaching the same age my father died. I was just doing some research as I feel particularly depressed today and it's to late to talk to anyone. Let's see if I can fall asleep now that this is off my chest.

[RSFF]

I don't enjoy anyone or anything. I have basically been in bed for two years. I think I may be just waiting to pass away quietly.

[jasonsands]

“A loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy.” What if you’ve never enjoyed doing anything?

[byirds]

*we're supposed to get out of the house every day? :| uh oh...*

[TheTerriblePorpoise]

This sounds so much like how I've felt for all of my two years of college. Most of high school I remember feeling similarly, too, though. I'd get into moods of feeling all alone, and like my life was fake and no one liked me. just such low self esteem and so many negative thoughts. I'd be irritable, but eventually somehow a friend would unknowingly bring me back, something as simple as making me laugh at a time when I felt like I couldn't.
Here at college, I feel isolated from all of my close friends and family, so that it is easier for me to stay in these moods for longer, and they are harder to get out of. I keep in touch with people as best I can, but that does nothing to help me get through the week anymore. Like I always get by and keep up a certain level of functioning, but I have so little motivation and energy, and most weeks I feel like I struggle just to get through. I still enjoy some things, and some friends here do cheer me up, but it's been hard. I'm kind of afraid that I do have a problem. it's so easy to assume whatever I'm experiencing is not abnormal, and that I'm just having a tough time coping with college, but I'm worried it's more. I guess I'll try to spend less time fighting against myself and figure out ways to help myself get better. Either way, I get to go home in two weeks and that's basically the only thing keeping me going with papers and exams at this point.
That was kind of a long rant, but it felt good to write. thanks for making such great videos, Kati! they've really been helpful, and address important topics I probably wouldn't have known as much about otherwise

[ClandestineGirlX]

Kati, i've been diagnosed with dysthymia, and i've been like this for 7 years.. thank you for making this video <3

[cubjosh]

I teared up watching this as everything she said links to how I’ve been feeling for years.. I’m glad now there’s a reason for it and there’s an explanation. I feel like I’m no longer alone and there is help out there

[weirdzfully]

I have this shit, it really really sucks, but at least it is not major depression.