Depression (major depression)

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• June 2, 2009 7:11 a.m.

  My history seems different from many I read. I was always a happy-go-lucky child, loved exploriing, loved "playing" during college, excited about getting jobs after college, and enjoyed being single till 30. However, after a divorce in my early 40's (remarried in mid 40's), a child in my late 40's, dealing with undiagnoised Lyme Disease throughout my 50's, and losing a sister to cancer in my late 50's, I apparently gradually developed dysthymia. I took Lexapro for 6+ years which seemed to level out my ups and downs, but never gave me that zest for living. Now I'm in that roller coaster again of some days feeling somewhat OK, others feeling bland and hopeless, and every now and then actually feeling good about life. I'm trying to break out of this cycle without medication because everything I read about the meds scares the heck out of me. I've been doing cognitive and behavorial therapy, but still have this cloud and no real zest for life. I'm also recently without a job and wonder if finding a fulfilling job would be enough make me feel good about life. Has anyone actually been able to pick themselves up by their boot straps without going the medication route?

  - Gene

• June 1, 2009 3:00 p.m.

  I think my husband is suffering from dysthymia what can i do to help him. he is going to the doctor this month. i know i can only do so much. what can i do?

  - lovingwife

• April 7, 2009 7:56 p.m.

  I inherited a predisposition to chronic depression from my father. I'm 52 and in menopause with symptoms that have made me feel like I'm not in control, a memory like a sieve, no attention span, mood swings, and different types of hot flashes (burning from the inside out, just burning on the skin's surface, just burning on the face). Plus the ever present depression that's been escalating from work and family stress over the past 1-1/2 years. I was hoping to somehow avoid going on another antidepressant because of the side affects and the medication not working at all or long term, but I'm taking 60 mg of Cymbalta and 20 mg of Lexapro. The Lexapro keeps me from waking up in a panic and has stopped me from feeling like I can't catch my breath. My memory and attention span have improved. The Cymbalta isn't helping at this point and I'm not sure it ever did much so I'm back to the psychiatrist this month to ask for a dosage increase or different medication or a combination. I'm in counseling but my psychologist is ineffective, doesn't listen to what I'm saying, and mainly wants to talk about himself or the latest movie. I'm hoping to find someone that specializes in cognitive behavorial therapy to help me make positive changes, tone down negative thinking, and move forward with my life. Right now I feel like my life is on hold until my 25 year old daughter moves out, and she just got discharged from her job. It's time to kick butt, mine included.

  - Jess

• March 17, 2009 9:30 p.m.

  I was wondering what middle aged women out there with Dysthymia are experiencing with perimenopause. I am starting to have other symptoms, like the vaginal dryness etc. but the onset of mood swings is a bit alarming. I am looking into trying Bio-identical hormone therapy. I am also concerned that my current antidepressant which has helped for years may need some changes. I would rather try hormone therapy first, I hate to mess with what has been working so well for so long.

  - Susanne

• February 16, 2009 9:03 p.m.

  Many of the symptoms of Dysthymia are the same as those of major depression;however,they may be less severe or intense. Dysthymia also has some symptoms that may not occur with major depression. The hallmark of Dysthymia is the length of time that it persists. ============ Liza Find the latest news about Depression,Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia. Discuss Mood Disorders topics with members of the Health Community. Manic Depression News and Discussion Forum

  - Liza

• February 14, 2009 8:45 p.m.

  I am 53 years old and have struggled with dysthymia since my teens. My father was critical of the entire family and we never quite measured up, no matter what. As a child, I didn't have control over how I was treated, but as an adult, I do. The trouble is, I don't think that concept ever sunk in and my response is to accept automatic defeat in the face of adversity. This in turn dumps the wrong chemicals into my body from the brain, and over time causes depression. It is clearly a pattern. My marriage partner is often critical, like dear old dad. Antideppressents, although helpful, only mask what is really going on. I need to somehow retrain my internal defeatest attitude...which is rather automatic. Yes, I could quit this relationship, and that job, which sometimes helps. But what I really need to do is somehow get control of my own life and don't give it away again! Trusting others to look out for your best interest is often a mistake...although I certainly have done it for them. This depression is caused by my brain dumping bad chemicals after experiencing an unpleasant encounter. Over time, the depression worsens. It is not going on when my life is free from the venomous types, so I am sure there is a correlation between depression and repeated unpleasant encounters. AV

  - AV

• January 26, 2009 11:31 a.m.

  Dr. Daniel Amen's books are excellent and we highly recommend them. They are not a substitute for seeing your Physician though. Thanks for your interest in Mayo Clinic.com!

  - MC.Com Staff

• January 23, 2009 1:41 p.m.

  To Sharon (1/21): From one manic depressive to another. Pristiq is an antidepressant. Sometimes, if one is Bipolar, an antidepressant can drive you into a manic phase. the nervousness you feel inside could be heralding a manic phase. Take it from one who has been there--call your doctor right away!

  - Jan

• January 22, 2009 10:50 a.m.

  I've dealt with mild depressions since high school; I'm now 61. I read one of Dr. Daniel Amen's books, the title is something like "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life' and it was truly life-changing for me, a real eye-opener. He talks about ANTS - automatic negative thoughts - and how do change them into positive thoughts. Wow, what a difference it's made in my life; the hard part of course is remembering to work on removing those life-long ANTS. I would recommend reading his books for great insight into depression and other mental health issues. Most public libraries carry his books. His lectures are also on PBS channels and they are informative and humorous!

  - Michele

• January 21, 2009 10:04 p.m.

  I have been Dx. Bipolar and Chronic Depression for over 35 years.Started with Surmontil,then Cymbalta, and two weeks ago with new medicine, Pristiq 50 mg. I am either losing my mind or something good may be happening. I can no longer cry. But I really want to.The only word I can think of ia "nervous inside".If anyone knows what I mean,please,please, tell me what I'm trying to explain.I no longer know what to do,but I don't think something is right after two weeks on Pristig, that was right before.

  - Sharon

• January 20, 2009 7:03 p.m.

  Dysthmia..I was so glad to have a name to my symptoms which I have had for 50 years!!! I now use wellbutrin (50) mgs. and 20 mgs. Celexa. Have used several different types including Effoxor but the sweating side effect was a major problem. It seems if I don't exercise regularly I get lethargic and of course gain weight.The negative thinking , obsessive, I call it, still bothers me when I wake up but now I can say oh! there is that obsessive thinking and it seems to disappear, for the most part. It is true that people often don't understand so i educate them if they seem open to it. Best wishes to all and hurrah for Obama.

  - joyce

• January 18, 2009 2:07 p.m.

  I was depressed for years. What worked for me was quitting my job. I was surrounded by miserable, angry, critical, self-serving people. The whole atmosphere was one of using other people to gain power. Constant guilt-tripping and criticism was used to demoralize employees. Most of the supervisors were co-dependent, and insisted on a co-dependent relationship with their subordinates. This was also a 70% Catholic community, where suffering is considered saintly, and rules and authority are always sacred. I quit the job, lost my home, move 500 miles away, and now am happy and sane again. My advice is to find out what you are depressed about, and deal with it! Get out of a bad marriage. Tell your parents off. Move out of town. Find another job. And change your attitude about life. It's not about suffering, or accepting blame. Remember that unfortunately, many, if not most people, want to use you for their own advancement. Don't let them. To heck with people like that. Don't feel bad that the world is filled with selfish, miserable people. That's their problem. Be happy! Enjoy life! Don't help miserable selfish people. Understand what co-dependency is, and don't get into it. And remember--no one likes depressed people. Depression leads only to more depression. It is a selfish emotion, you have been trained to feel that it is an accepted part of life. Reject your training. Make yourself into a new person!

  - Sonya

• January 15, 2009 12:37 p.m.

  \.i am like ur help in everyway u can,first of all i have been living all my life in nigeria and i be staying with my family alot of things happened to me when y\to me i was there we robbed by armed robbers and then a year after i had an accident,then i left to the middle east.then i felt ok but my problem is when i meet a guy and he invites me out i begin to panick and get really stressed and when i be with him i am not myself.cause of this situation i dont last in realationship,i am 30 yrs,and now recently i met this guy he really likes me i do too,but every time i want to go outr with him i start panick and feel strange and i wouldnt myself,now i am enaged i feel so stressed that i all i do is cry and feel i doning something wrong start to feel if i do like him or not or if if i am doing the right thing.

  - No name given

• January 15, 2009 12:28 p.m.

  I too have had dsythemia since I was in my early twenties. I am now 56 years old. Serzone has been working for the past 8-9 nine years and recently Abilify was added. I am going through a major depressive episode again. I will be on meds for the rest of my life for sure. I hate this. The part I hate the most is the anger and irritability. Yes I am in therapy as well and it is most helpful in keeping me close to normal, what ever that is.

  - sue

• January 14, 2009 3:51 p.m.

  There have been a few times in my life, since my earlier 20's, during which I enjoyed life fully and felt "normal." The rest of the time, I have been dys- thymic. I have suffered 3-4 Major Depressions. I sought psychiatric help, and received psychotherapy as well as psychiatric medications. I have been on antidepressants almost constantly since Prozac was first approved. One bout of Major Depression was 2 years long and took many adequate trials of just about every antidpressant available, alone and in combination. Finally I responded to Cymbalta 90 mg. with a small dose of an antipsychotic to boost the its effects. (I was not psychotic.) After my depression abated a great deal, I stopped the antipsychotic. I have been unable to taper the Cymbalta below 60 mg/day due a constant low-level depression and to neuropathic pain, which it also helps. In addition to dysthymia, I think I must also suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) becaused every winter my mood plummets. Consequently I now take 120 mg of Cymbalta. It has relieved my current depression somewhat, but I think I would also benefit from some Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Over the course of about 30 years, I have realized that I need to stay on meds; sometimes they stop working and then I need to begin the process of trial and error until I find one that works; and that when I can change some of my erroneous beliefs and automatic ways of thinking, I am much healthier. There is hope!

  - Enid

• January 14, 2009 2:50 p.m.

  I too was diagnosed with this at age 12. I find Wellbutrin effective, but honestly i never realyl find that it ever goes away completely.,..

  - miss

• January 14, 2009 1:50 p.m.

  I was diagnosed with dsythemia about four years ago and have been taking Cymbalta ever since. The minimum dose of Cymbalta has been effective for me and I have no plans to go off of it. I have also been seeing a counselor. I am now 42 and looking back, I am pretty sure I have depressed since at least my early 20s. Depression definitely runs in my family, but so does denial. I finally talked to a doctor about it after having lunch with my sister one day and she expressed some concern about how I was doing and I ended up crying in the middle of a restaurant and could not stop. There is a real stigma about depression in our country, but I would encourage people to talk to your doctor and seek help. There are lots of treatment options and living with feeling sad all the time is not necessary. I wish I had sought treatment about 15 years before I did.

  - kac

• January 14, 2009 12:17 p.m.

  There are different types of depression and taking prescriptions may relieve the symptoms but not cure the problems. If there were a place to get answers and assistance dealing with problems depression would be less common.

  - garyk

• January 14, 2009 11:58 a.m.

  The brain "zings" that two of you described can sometimes occur when coming off medications such as Celexa, Effexor and Paxil (This can occur with other medications, too). It's uncomfortable but is not life threatening and is not dangerous. It doesn't happen with everyone who is tapering off these medications and you can't predict who it will happen to. Your options are to slow down the taper or sometimes a medication with a longer half-life (meaning it stays in body longer) such as Prozac (Fluoxetine generic name) can be used instead. Thank you for your interest in the Mayo Clinic Depression Blog. All the best to you all!

  - Mayo Clinic.Com Staff

• January 14, 2009 5:20 a.m.

  I have been suffering from dysthymia now for 15 years since my husband died. I have been on an old drug, Serzone all this time and on the whole, I am doing OK. I still have my days of deep despair and sadness.I don't feel that I will ever be off my drugs. I have tried to wean myself off of it and within two days,the feelings come back. I tried Paxil, Zoloft and Effexor and none of them help like Serzone. I wish I could be "normal" and enjoy life all the time. Find a good therapist who will help you learn to deal with life's ups and downs. I have had to learn to let go of past experiences and to be more assertive with what I want and what I will no longer have in my life to upset me. It is a long, hard struggle that I am still learning. Good luck to all!

  - Leslie

• January 13, 2009 11:47 p.m.

  Looking back through the years, I had been depressed as a child and continued to be until today at my age of 53. My doctor has put me on Effexor and I continue to gain weight and feal just lethargic with no ambition to do anything. Does anyone know if adding Welbutrin gives you more energy and helps you lose weight? I also use Xanax for my anxiety. On my next Dr. visit, I am going to ask about this.

  - Elvira

• January 13, 2009 10:06 p.m.

  I was diagnosed with dysthymia about 10 years ago, went on Zoloft for 3 or so years and it made a world of difference. I went off of them VERY slowly (still got those "brain zings" others talk of, like a whisk broom sweeping inside my head whenever I moved my eyes, but they eventually went away). Am going back to my doctor tomorrow to discuss going back on antidepressants. About a year ago I started feeling emotionally flat. The last few months I've felt those old symptoms returning--hopelessness, sadness, irritability, loss of self-esteem, etc., and since there's no obvious/outside forces that would make me feel this way, I'm convinced it's my brain chemistry in need of a boost again.

  - Susan

• January 13, 2009 9:56 p.m.

  I am 61 and cannot remember a time when I wasn't depressed. I have been on Paxil for 13 years and still have bouts with some very dark times. I have been diagosed with dysthymia and chronic depression, and have had several years of cognitive therapy, and have been gifted with some coping skills. Every day is a battle, and some days are frightening. Get with a good doctor, therapist and whomever else. It takes time and effort.

  - bcw

• January 13, 2009 7:50 p.m.

  Could I have dysthymia?? I am 59 years old, but my childhood was anything but happy. I had no friends, I still don't. My mother was abusive to me. I trust no one. I know I have depression, although it is not medically diagnosed. I will talk to my doctor about dysthymia and see what he says. I will also see about getting into counseling. It is hard to do that where I live unless you are on drugs, alcohol, are suicidal, or "hear voices"--this is what I was told by the Mental Health people. I will stay tuned to this blog to let you all know what happens.

  - Estell

• January 13, 2009 6:09 p.m.

  I was finally diagnosed with dysthymia after years of living with depression. I, too, was anxious and sad as a child and remember wondering why I wasn't happy like the other kids I knew. I have taken Paxil and then Celexa (minimal dose) for over 10 years. Medication has helped a lot. Have tried to wean myself off a couple of times, (with dr.'s knowledge) but had strange side effects (I call them "brain zings") and I began feeling sad and "weepy" again, so I restarted meds. I do wonder about the long-term effects but want be be depression free, so I'll continue the Celexa. If you think you might suffer from dysthymia, do some research on the symptoms and talk with a good psychologist. Therapy along with medication has been a good combination for me. I may be for you also. Advocate for yourself. You're worth it!

  - pat