Persistent Depressive Disorder – all this time I’ve been calling it Dysthymia because that’s what my first Psych Therapist called it about 7 years ago. I’ve had it for most of my life, probably starting about 50 years ago. But I won my Social Security Disability case with Depression and Anxiety. Part of the settlement was that I continue to see a Therapist and a Psychiatrist regularly.
Unlike Ryder, I internalize everything and my therapy has really helped. I was taking medication which didn’t really seem to be helping and now that I’m off them, I’m doing better. Meds help for many people, and they certainly didn’t make things worse, but none of the many different meds I was prescribed (including Prozac, Paxil, and Wellbutrin) ever had a noticeable effect. My ex has had success with some meds, but they tend to lose effectiveness for him after a while. Your mileage definitely varies!
I was reluctant to take psych meds, but my ex pointed out that I wouldn’t hesitate to take medications prescribed for a physical issue, so why wouldn’t I take something prescribed by a doctor for a psychological issue? Because I was homeless for most of the time I was on meds, and because I was dealing with the county medical system, I’ve had a series of psychiatrists with gaps when they’d leave the county system and the county had problems finding someone to replace them. The discontinuity contributed to the problems I had changing meds when they weren’t working. Things have settled down, both with my living situation (I’ve been housed for about 4 years) and my psychiatrist situation.
The important thing is to see a professional. It makes a difference. There should be no shame in seeking help for your mental health. There is a long list of famous people who have struggled with mental health problems. It doesn’t make you a weak or bad person if you need to get help, it actually shows strength!