WHAT IS DYSTHYMIA ?
The online dictionary describes Dysthymia as
A mood disorder characterized by periodic depression
Dysthymia is a minor but long-term (chronic) form of depression that affects women 2-3 times more than men.
A diagnosis can be given when the person is in a persistent depressed mood for two years.
The symptoms of Dysthymia usually last for at least two years, and often for much longer than that. It interferes with your ability to function and enjoy life.
With dysthymia, you may feel withdrawn, inactive, lose interest in normal daily activities, feel hopeless, lack productivity, have low self-esteem and an overall feeling of inadequacy. People with dysthymia are often thought of as being overly critical, constantly complaining and negative in their approach to life.
People feel that depression is a part of their character hence their illness goes unnoticed and eventually untreated.
The symptoms come and go over a period of time and may involve lack of interest in daily activities, a feeling of emptiness or feeling low, lethargicness, lack of energy, low self esteem, trouble making decisions or focusing, short-temper, avoidance of social gatherings and interactions, poor appetite/overeating, problems trying to sleep.
SYMPTOMS
Dysthymia may be caused due to various psychological or personal reasons such as :
Genetics: If someone in the family has had depression related problems, there is a fifty percent chance of family member or blood relative to inherent the same.
Biological causes: Even though there are some biological reasons, which involve some changes in the brain, their significance is still uncertain.
Personal life events: Problems due to financial issues, loss of a loved one, a traumatic experience or stress may also be a cause.
CAUSES
DYSTHYMIA AMONG STUDENTS
According to the Mental Health Foundation 1 in 4 people experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of one year.
Being a college student comes with it's own set of hardships.
Students are busy and have days where they might be overwhelmed with stress due to deadlines, personal problems or being away from home.
But for students with dysthymia this feeling is constant and they have no control over anything. It can get overbearing to a point where they might have to seek professional help but are unable to do so due to the fear of being judged, taking medication or simply having no knowledge of where to go to seek help.
Studies show that there has been an increase in the number of students experiencing depression, anxiety, feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
It is difficult to identify the main causes of Dysthymia among students since each student is different and might be experiencing problems that vary from others. Some may stress over exams while others may stress over personal issues.
According to a newspaper article by the University of Iowa, a student recalls her experience with Dysthyma as
It is therefore important to spread awareness and talk about mental illness since its effects on students is rapidly increasing.
"Last year, I would get so overwhelmed, and I would not let myself stop, and I pushed myself so far and so far for so long," she said. "There was a week that I just couldn't go to class, and I felt totally useless and incapable of anything, and I just didn't care." (Oates , 2015)