Posted by JohnL on August 3, 2001, at 18:26:36
In reply to pdoc doesn't believe in dysthymia, posted by Edward on August 3, 2001, at 13:46:17
> My pdoc (that means psychiatrist, right?) doesn't think I'm depressed anymore, just dysthymic. He dismissed dysthymia as being "like eeyore" and "always looking on the black side of things" (sounds similar to some naive ideas about depression that we've all had to endure, I think). I'm leaving him and the mental hospital next friday, and I think I might be able to cope, but everything I read about dysthymia says it is a treatable illness. I'm only 17, but I feel completely bored with everything life has to offer. I don't think it will drive me to attempting suicide again, but shouldn't I demand a better life if there's one going? I'm might being seeing another pdoc anyway once I leave this one, so maybe the next guy will have different view. Or maybe not. Perhaps I won't see anyone at all. The question is, if I'm only dysthymic, should I ask for anti-depressants? I taken paroxetine, fluvoxamine and finally mirtazapine, the latter taking me through a bad patch. I have recently stopped taking it due to side effects, and the fact that I felt even more flat (although in a less unpleasant way to before). The more severe depression has not returned, but I am still finding life very dull and unsatisfying.
>
> EdDysthymia is treatable, and your doc sounds like a cop out to me.
For successful treatment of dysthymia however, it needs to be viewed as a different monster than depression. Though they are similar, like cousins, they are also totally different beasts. Drugs that I have found, and seen, most useful for dysthymia are not the same drugs for depression.
John
poster:JohnL
thread:73361
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010731/msgs/73408.html