Posted by Meltingpot on January 10, 2010, at 16:14:41
Hi,
I'm a bit confused about the different types of depression and what it is exactly that I suffer from. From what I've read there is:-
Recurrent Major Depression - where one has episodes of depression that have a beginning and an end (not me). These episodes can be melancholic, psychotic? Am I right in saying this? Melancholic depression is characterised by lack of interest in anything, psychomotor vegetation (Excuse spelling), insommnia, loss of appetite.
Bipolar Disorder - where a person cycles between depression and mania.
Atypical/Reactive depression - Where a person is responsive to good things happening. They overeat and over sleep.
Dysthymia - Which is chronic low grade depression.
I'm not quite sure where I fit in in the above. From 17 to 24 I would say I had dysthymia and anxiety which was treated successfully with antidepressants.
Now I am 43 and for the last eight years, when I don't take medication I feel constantly anxious (for no reason), apathetic, listless, uninterested in anything, lack of appetite, empty, lack of pleasure and have constant suicidal thoughts. However, I rarely cry. When I stop the medication I go back to the above and on medication life is just about bearable but I still have thoughts of suicide.
I've been told I suffer from dysthymia with double depression but for the last eight years my depression/anxiety does not seem to have got any better or worst apart from 2 years between 2003 and 2005 when Seroxat worked quite well.
Do I suffer from Dysthymia?
Also, I've been reading a lot on Deep Brain Stimulation and they only seem to be doing trials on people with major depressive disorder. Does this mean these people who are having the operation are likely to remit on their own when the depression has run it's course?
I would actually consider Deep Brain Stimulation if I thought it might help me to have a better quality of life but the thing is I don't think I would even be considered for it. Yet one day in about five years or so I can see myself taking my life if I still feel the same as I do now. Therefore, shouldn't they be trialing this out with people with less severe depression as well. From what I've been reading people with dysthymia are more likely to commit suicide than people with major depressive disorder.
Denise
poster:Meltingpot
thread:933163
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100103/msgs/933163.html