Posted by Noa on January 16, 2000, at 17:14:46
In reply to Dysthymia, posted by Janet on January 16, 2000, at 16:10:47
Cured? I think it is a tricky concept.
I understand your discouragement. I have been so discouraged myself. I have "double depression" which is dysthymia with cycling episodes of major depression on top of the dysthymia.
I think it is possible to treat the dysthymia sufficiently. But it takes finding the right combo of medications, and it takes some work in therapy to try to figure out how you want to live your life. And it takes support from people around you.
All of these things take time and effort and it can be discouraging. I am now trying to dispose of the idea of being "cured" because it has only led to feeling more disappointed when the depression returns. I am trying to just stabilize myself, to get control over the cycling major episodes. When I used to believe/hope that I had "put my depression behind me forever", it made me vulnerable to feelings of anxiety that depression might return. Now I am trying to accept that I live with depression and it is not a failure on my part if it comes back.
Maybe if you list what meds you have been on, what combinations, what doses, any negative or positive effects, people here will help you figure out a next step.
BTW, have you considered that you might have something else, like Epstein-Barr virus, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or a sleep disorder?
poster:Noa
thread:19054
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000112/msgs/19058.html