What is the difference between dysthymia and major depressive disorder?
Major Depressive Disorder-
Symptoms of major depressive disorder include feelings of sadness and emptiness, difficulties getting out of bed, loss of appetite, excessive feelings of guilt, difficulties concentrating, and suicidal thoughts or plans. Major depression is diagnosed when symptoms are present for at least two weeks, have a sudden onset and are significant enough to impact daily functioning.
-
Symptoms of dysthymia include feelings of hopelessness; sleeping and eating too much or too little; fatigue; poor concentration; and low self-esteem. These symptoms cause distress but are not as severe as the symptoms of major depression. Dysthymia is a long-term condition and is diagnosed when these symptoms are present nearly every day during a period of two years.
-
The symptoms of major depressive disorder and dysthymia are very similar. Both disorders are characterized by sad mood, loss of pleasure and changes in appetite, sleep and energy. Both disorders can be treated successfully with medication and/or counseling.
-
Differences between major depressive disorder and dysthymia are characterized by levels of severity, duration and persistence. For example, the change in mood in major depression occurs nearly every day during a period of two weeks, whereas in dysthymia, the mood disturbance occurs more days than not during a two-year period. Dysthymia may be reported less than major depression, as its symptoms are less severe. Technically, dysthymia is a pervasive “low level” depression that lasts a long time – often a few years. major Depressive disorder is a discrete episode of severe depression. When it is gone, the patient is in “remission,” and feels completely normal.
Recurrent major depressive disorder comprises discrete periods of major depression that come and go, while major depressive disorder in partial remission is a severe discrete episode that never completely gets better. How does that feel any differently than dysthymia, you might ask? It doesn’t. These terms are descriptions, not different diseases.
Sources:
http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/8873/dysthymia-major
http://www.ehow.com/about_5367216_major-depressive-disorder-vs-dysthymia.html#ixzz20vZMXfEg
We're meant to be.. because we're both pieces of shit.
Im so stressed, I cant breath.
And you wanna take the blame?
“Im not good for you.”
Well, guess fucking what?
You’re not. Because in the end, It’s all about Chase getting what Chase wants IN THE MOMENT.
I will never be good enough. It’s either too hard or too scary for you to comprehend.
So I give.
between you.
And home.
And financial bullshit,
ICANNOTBREATH.
I can not move.
I dont want to think.
Ive wanted a fucking beer since 2pm.
The moment I woke up.
When I get offered extra hours, extra money, just to fucking clean random shit for the VP visiting thursday, and I turn it down, EASY MONEY, because I dont wanna get out of bed, there. is. a. problem.
I am a problem. Fuck.
And YOU. If you cant fucking deal? If you’re just gonna continue to fucking give me shit? Stay away.
stay.the.fuck.away.
I am not in control enough to be what you want me to be.
Im sorry.
differentiation
[
my father said to me
that there is a difference
(other than location)
between his disease and mine
he believes that his is a
disease of circumstance
that mine is a disease i chose
leaving me to wonder
what the difference is
between crohn’s disease and MDD
what the difference is between
his immune system and my mind
]
{
dear father,
the difference is naught
the immune response
is out of your control
the mind is unmanageable
my subconscious resides high above both of us
as distant as clouds and as infinite
as the water droplets that form them
the cloud that is hovering over me
cannot be moved with the release
of even your deepest breath
the origin of my disease
is beyond your reach and
really the reach of anyone
it was created in a place unknown to either of us
my mind can only figure out why the
cloud is so stagnant and invent a
mechanism to induce atmospheric change
sincerely
}
On Drugs I have Taken, and What That was Like
Let me direct you to the About Page. Once you’ve looked it over, check out the text below the cut.
mental illness talk, good stuff, happy post
so, when you’ve been mad for as long as i have, you get to know your mental illness and its cycles
i am on an upswing. I’ve been feeling this way for maybe a week or so, and i didn’t want to say anything unless it was temporary, but i’ve realised that its one of my ‘you’ll be better then you usually are for at least a while’ moments
i’ve been in a generally good mood, even when i’ve had some very low moments during the day. and things that would normally take me days to recover from, i’m handling in hours.
i realised that it wasn’t going to be a super fleeting thing last night, when before we went to eatsbananas party, i was accidentally triggered into a massive panic response. i was hovering around a full blown panic attack and then i was able to breath and move on.
and then i went out afterwards and interacted and had a great time! normally being on the cusp of a panic attack would require me time alone to get myself back to equilibrium.
i’ve also realised this because its #mother’s day and I’m only a little bit upset. i thought it would be this stressful thing, but i’m coping super well.
so awww yisss. it’s nice to be in an upswing. I haven’t had one for ages. its when i get stuff accomplished. hopefully it will hang around for a few months. they usually do!
its not to say i won’t have bad days or i am magically cured or whatnot. just generally during this sort of even keel period, i am able to cope with everything a little bit better.
