Life With Persistent Depressive Disorder (aka Dysthymia)

Do you have Persistent Depressive Disorder? Or maybe you stumbled upon this video because you are wondering if you have depression. In my opinion the best way to shine a light on topics related to mental health is to start a healthy conversation, so share your story and experience below. Also, if you have dysthymia, how long have you known you've had it, and what's life been like for you on the other side of receiving a diagnosis?

The problem with dysthymia is that when you have it for so long it becomes ingrained in your character. I guess it has a lot to do with upbringing and learned coping mechanisms. The feeling that everything is vain is the worst. Also I haven’t seen much improvement with antidepressants except for irritability.

I definitely struggle with constant dread, hopelessness, and have to push myself to do fun things because it all seems so pointless. It's ten times easier for me to do the dishes, laundry, or chores than it is for me to do something for "fun".

One of the trickiest mental illnesses to detect I think. It feels so integral to your whole personality that you often just can’t imagine life being different.

The main thing with PDD for me is that I generally feel less happiness and excitement over good, positive things. I get happy when I recieve gifts, but my reaction to it doesn't necessarily match how much I actually appreciate it. It's like I don't feel happiness at the same intensity as someone who doesn't have PDD. And it can be quite frustrating from time to time. Less interest and excitement for my favorite hobbies is also a big thing I struggle with. I have a really hard time to find motivation for pretty much anything. And that's really just the tip of the iceberg.

I'm almost 60 yrs old. I've had depression all of my life. I've reached out as much as my insurance's would let me including years of cognitive therapy and several types of antidepressants. I'm still in the same place but feeling much worse and hopelessness because I realize that I've pretty much spent my whole life feeling liked I've been robbed of happiness. If only I could have a few years of knowing what it feels not just to be happy but to feel NOT DEPRESSED, I would be forever grateful. This condition ( I won't dare call it a disease with such stigma in this world referring to as a disease) has messed up so many relationship's in my life I find it easier to just keep to myself .So there are actually people who want help, do the work with therapists, medication and alot of prayer but somehow never get the help they need do to insurance, financial difficulties or just not being able to because they have to work and are dependent on themselves. Needless to say at my age I'm simply exhausted after years of this monster living on my shoulder ( like the Mucinex man) who won't leave me alone. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. It's a life sentence in a rabbit hole.

I was just recently diagnosed with PDD, and the way my therapist said it made it look even more horrible than what it already is. She said that "thats how my personality is" and that I would feel like this or worse for the rest of my life. But I like that in your video you mention "the light", and its so reassuring to listen to someone that feels exactly how you feel. Thanks for making this video, you make others like us feel less alone.

The photoshop analogy is awesome. People think of depression as sadness, which is an emotion. But depression is more than just emotion, it's like the atmosphere is stale and dead no matter where you are or what you're doing.

I’ve been depressed for 15 years. I’ve been living life on 4 hours of sleep every night , ruined relationships and career opportunities. I have 3 past suicide attempts. I was just tired of never looking forward to anything or being able to appreciate the things that would make anyone else content with life. I always feel guilty for being depressed even though I have a great life. It’s nonstop negativity, not matter what I’ve done or tried. I finally went to an inpatient program for 4 days after a severe MDD episode and am finally diagnosed and on Zoloft and back into counseling. I’m just hoping this will finally be a means to an end. But I’m happy and also heartbroken that I’m not the only one.

I got diagnosed with dysthymia a few days ago and didn't realize I've been having this since I was a kid. Wouldn't have been diagnosed with this if I didn't have a panic attack with PD/DR. Thank you for sharing your experience. Hearing this makes me feel less alone.

At my worst I would literally stare at a wall since I can't feel pleasure (or connection) to pretty much everything. Being able to play video games while listening to podcasts is actually a big deal for me. Yes, I am similar to you in that I have been in therapy for a very long time and have tried two medications. The SSRI I am on now has been helpful with keeping my mood in the middle and definitely with sleep (I have been able to sleep through the night for the first time in years), but I still have very little pleasure, numbness, and I struggle to "feel" true gratitude for all the good things I have in my life.

I started to cry, because I felt the same for so long and hearing you putting it into words made me feel like I hear myself talk. It was so realatable. I didn't know this exists till a week ago, when I was diagnosed with Dysthymia. I was very afraid that they would send me away and say everything is finde, why are you even here. I only knew Depression and couldn't realate to every symptom, so I thought, the way I feel must be normal then. Thanks for the video!

I've never been properly diagnosed with anything, but ever since I was a teen, i've always felt a sense of "downness"... not really depression, but just a lack of joy, a constant state of cynicism and an understanding that anything good would never last. Sometimes it's not bad, sometimes i'm barely functional, but always i felt a weght attached to me, a drag on everything I do. I was never suicidal, and in fact i believed, at times, that I didn't even deserve suicide - there are people with REAL problems, who have it way worse than me, that truly suffer; they deserve an "out". I've spoken with my doctor, who agreed that I have "depressive symptoms" and I've been on a course of Welbutrin for years now... it doesn't seem to do much, except when i stop taking it. It just kinda stops the lows from getting so low, but it doesn't make the highs any higher, and it doesn't make the middle any better. It just makes everything in the middle. It wasn't until a couple days ago that i learned about PDD, and how it is not the same as "mild depression". Your description of PDD is much more akin to what I've experienced than depression ever was. So thank you for putting this out. It's hard enough to pin down your own personal demon, but knowing it's true name is huge help.

I just got diagnosed with dysthymia a week ago as a 16 year old high-school student. I thought it was how everyone in the world felt, but talking to my doctor and getting diagnosed with this really was an eye-opener. Thank you for making this video. It makes me feel better knowing that I'm never alone with this.

Your video does an excellent job of describing dysthymia! I've struggled with this since my teen years, and when I was in my late 20's, I finally got medicine for it. It was a huge game changer for many years. Then, your body adjusts.. and 15 years later I had to start augmenting with other medications (probably tried about 8-10 over the course of a few years). One stuck, so that's my tratment now. It still doesn't prevent episodes however. Dysthymia is never cured. You are so correct about the litany of trite self-help "tips" that make me laugh or cry. They don't touch PDD. I'll never forget one of my first thoughts when I was on medicine for this... "my God, the world is in color". Thanks for sharing your experience!

I had dysthymia since I was 10, but it wasn't diagnosed until I was 16. I am now 68. I have had stress management, anxiety management, CBT, and was referred to the gym. The gym calms me and so does cycling. I am now 68.

'What if she says nothing is wrong with you' - I relate so hard. I felt such a relief when psychiatrist said i'd had dysthymia and needed some medication. I was afraid that's nothing wrong with me and it was just live and I needed to keep up on my own like everybody else was

I was diagnosed with PDD this year and today I was inspired to seek a better understanding of it. I also recently came out of an emotionally abusive relationship in which the stigma against mental illness was very great. I got told "what is the point of knowing the name of your supposed condition?" "What's taking so long? When are you going to get better?" I just want you to know that I'm very thankful you shared your experience. Mental illness doesn't discriminate, so it should not be stigmatized. When someone like me hears another person's story who is having positive results to treatment, it gives me hope.

I have been diagnosed with persistent depressive disorder a few days ago. You really explain exactly how I feel. Thank you for educating other people about this disorder ❤️

As soon as you described the “mud pit” that you just can’t crawl out of, I felt such a great sense of understanding. I’ve been journaling about my symptoms and the best I could describe it was like quicksand, and the more you fight/oppose it the faster you will sink. That’s when desperation turned into determination. Thank you for this video and sharing your experience❤