Depression is good clean fun for the whole family!
As of today, I am officially dysthymic. This is the most obvious diagnosis I've had since coming out as queer. I fit the DSM-IV perfectly:
A. A person has depressed mood for most the time almost every day for at least two years. Children and adolescents may have irritable mood, and the time frame is at least one year.
B. While depressed, a person experiences at least two of the following symptoms:
C. A person has not been free of the symptoms during the two-year time period (one-year for children and adolescents).
D. During the two-year time period (one-year for children and adolescents) there has not been a major depressive episode.
E. A person has not had a manic, mixed, or hypomanic episode.
F. The symptoms are not present only during the presence of another chronic disorder.
G. A medical condition or the use of substances (i.e., alcohol, drugs, medication, toxins) do not cause the symptoms.
H. The person's symptoms are a cause of great distress or difficulty in functioning at home, work, or other important areas.
One doctor is recommending medication and the other is recommending weekly therapy for the rest of my life.
yippee.
Apparently, while there are effective treatments out there for major depression, manic-depression and cyclothymia, there is nothing for dysthymia. I notice that I'm really good at having lifetime problems for which there is no treatment or cure.
On the upside, I've been depressed my entire life. I don't know what I'm missing so it's not like I'm in mourning for any lost sanity or happiness. Still, if they can't do anything to help, what was the big need to get a formal diagnosis. Do I get a plaque? Congratulations on your dysthymia! Or, no successful suicide attempts: 19 years! Or I could join a club! For people who have never, in their lives, gone two weeks without experiencing depression!
Never let me spawn. Being a genius is not worth depression, other mental illnesses and chronic pain. Intellect is highly overrated. Let my children be happy fools.
A. A person has depressed mood for most the time almost every day for at least two years. Children and adolescents may have irritable mood, and the time frame is at least one year.
B. While depressed, a person experiences at least two of the following symptoms:
- Either overeating or lack of appetite.
- Sleeping to much or having difficulty sleeping.
- Fatigue, lack of energy.
- Poor self-esteem.
- Difficulty with concentration or decision making.
- Feeling hopeless.
C. A person has not been free of the symptoms during the two-year time period (one-year for children and adolescents).
D. During the two-year time period (one-year for children and adolescents) there has not been a major depressive episode.
E. A person has not had a manic, mixed, or hypomanic episode.
F. The symptoms are not present only during the presence of another chronic disorder.
G. A medical condition or the use of substances (i.e., alcohol, drugs, medication, toxins) do not cause the symptoms.
H. The person's symptoms are a cause of great distress or difficulty in functioning at home, work, or other important areas.
One doctor is recommending medication and the other is recommending weekly therapy for the rest of my life.
yippee.
Apparently, while there are effective treatments out there for major depression, manic-depression and cyclothymia, there is nothing for dysthymia. I notice that I'm really good at having lifetime problems for which there is no treatment or cure.
On the upside, I've been depressed my entire life. I don't know what I'm missing so it's not like I'm in mourning for any lost sanity or happiness. Still, if they can't do anything to help, what was the big need to get a formal diagnosis. Do I get a plaque? Congratulations on your dysthymia! Or, no successful suicide attempts: 19 years! Or I could join a club! For people who have never, in their lives, gone two weeks without experiencing depression!
Never let me spawn. Being a genius is not worth depression, other mental illnesses and chronic pain. Intellect is highly overrated. Let my children be happy fools.