Dysthymic Disorder and Depression
Depression is a word that may be used to refer to several different things. Depression may be used in regard to a condition of inconsolable misery, suicidal thoughts, a passing mood of sadness or discouragement, delusions or physical signs and symptoms. When depression is serious enough or lasts long enough to interfere with your family life, physical health, work and/or social life, it is considered to be a clinical disorder. The word dysthymia is a Greek word that means a bad state of mind or ill humor. Dysthymic disorder, along with major depressive disorder, is one of the two major kinds of clinical depression. The signs and symptoms of dysthymic disorder are regarded as being fewer and less serious than those of major depressive disorder in most instances. On the other hand, the signs and symptoms of dysthymic disorder continue for a longer period of time than those of major depressive disorder. It you are suffering from dysthymic disorder, you may also go through an episode of major depressive disorder. Then, you may go from dysthymic disorder to major depressive disorder and back again to dysthymic disorder. When this occurs, it is known as double depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, somewhere around 11 million people who are the age of 18 or older have chronic depression. The National Institute of Mental Health also says that nearly 19 million people who are over the age of 18 have major depression. Dysthymic disorder is a condition that may begin at any age of life. However, dysthymic disorder usually starts earlier than major depressive disorder does. Do you have dysthymic disorder? If you do, you may be eligible for social security disability benefits like SSDI or SSI. The right thing to do is to call on one of the social security attorneys at disabilitycasereview.com, today, to find out what choices you have in regard to obtaining disability benefits. As is true of other forms of depression, there is no single cause of dysthymic disorder. Biological and environmental factors have a role in bringing about this disorder. Heredity may also have a major role in causing dysthymic disorder. A large majority of the signs and symptoms that result from dysthymic disorder are the same as those of major depressive disorder. However, as mentioned earlier, they are not usually as severe and are more chronic (long lasting) in nature than the signs and symptoms of major depressive disorder. Some of these signs and symptoms are:- ? A loss of interest in things that used to bring you pleasure, including sex
- ? Changes in your sleeping habits
- ? Fatigue and a loss of energy
- ? Changes that occur in your appetite
- ? Having feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness
- ? Having a sad and blue mood
- ? Indecisiveness and having problems concentrating.
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