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Depression: What is dysthymia?

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment

Depression: What is dysthymia?

By: Josette DeFranco

Dysthymia is mild but has more long-lasting symptoms than major depression. Dysthymia is also known as persistent depression disorder because it is continuous and long-term. There is no exact cause of dysthymia but biological differences, brain chemistry, life events, and inherited traits can play a role. It has been demonstrated that those with depression don’t have any family history of this disorder and those with a family history of depression don’t struggle with this disorder.

Some noticeable symptoms of dysthymia:

  • Loss of enjoyment of regular activities
  • Sadness or depressed mood
  • Lack of motivation
  • Tiredness
  • Sleep problems
  • Problems with decision-making or concentration
  • Restlessness and impatient
  • Low self-esteem
  • Overeating or eating very little
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Substance misuse
  • Relationship difficulties
  • School or work hardships

Some ways to help prevent dysthymia:

  • Reach out to friends and family
  • Seek medical professional help
  • Work on reducing stress
  • Be patient
  • Be kind to yourself
  • Practice self-care
  • Don’t self-medicate

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ, or Manhattan, NY offices at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to schedule an appointment. For more information, please visit https://aristapsychiatrypsychotherapy.com/

Resources:

https://www.webmd.com/depression/chronic-depression-dysthymia

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/persistent-depressive-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20350929

Depression: Do Genetics Play a Role in Depression

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment

Depression: Do Genetics Play a Role in Depression

By: Josette DeFranco

Major depressive disorder is a condition that affects many individuals. Major depressive disorder can range from being clinically mild and short-lasting to recurring over and over again, to being highly chronic and treatment-resistant. Depression is known to run in families indicating that there are genetic factors. It can be a combination of life experiences and environment. Genetics plays a mild role in depression. Also, families with certain genetic patterns lived eight years shorter than average. As depression may range from transient to debilitating it is expected that many different sets of genetic alterations are involved. Some genes are associated with weight and body, neuron development, and brain inflammation and another group is associated with proteins that tell the immune system which cells are friendly and which are not. This means that our genetics can not only influence our physical characteristics but also how our brain functions and our immune system interacts and identifies with different cells in the body. Your environment can modify the genetic factors that play a role in depression.

If you are concerned about a strong history of depression in the family and are scared about it affecting you or your future children a study suggests that even with a high tendency for depression, psychotherapy or behavioral activation therapy can reduce it. Individuals need to understand the life-changing impact their environment can have on their mental health. Our emotions are generated by our thinking which may serve as an influence on our behaviors. You may have had genetic roots of depression, a difficult upbringing, or a terrible tragedy that has currently occurred but if you change your thinking then your emotions will change as well.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit https://aristapsychiatrypsychotherapy.com/

Sources:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201603/depression-new-research-shows-genetics-are-not-destiny

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psychiatry-the-people/201804/massive-study-clarifies-genetic-risks-major-depression

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-three-minute-therapist/202007/overcoming-genetically-based-depression