text: If you have been experiencing any of the these symptoms for more than a few weeks, you may be dealing with depression, and need to seek medical support.
  When my children was between the ages of 4 to 7, dinosaurs were of huge interest.? They were fascinated by all things prehistoric.? Not only could they identify many of these creatures (T-Rex, Triceratops, Stegosaurus…), they could tell you all about them.? Who knew there were so many types of dinosaurs?
  We can think of depression in the same way.? Just like “dinosaurs” is a major category including many types, “depression” is a major category.? Some types of depression that you may already be aware of:? major depression, bipolar depression (also known as manic depression), seasonal affective disorder (SAD), postpartum depression, psychotic depression…? Who knew there were so many types of depression?? What about dysthymia?
  Dysthymia (also known as Persistent Depressive Disorder or PDD) affects up to?6% of the general population with women being three times more likely to be diagnosed than men (US stats?according to Health Research Funding.org?).
  This ‘dinosaur’ is characterized by a mild depression that lasts at least two years.? The symptoms are less severe than major depression, but are longer lasting or chronic.? Thankfully, the more severe symptoms that mark major depression?including anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure), psychomotor symptoms (particularly lethargy or agitation), and thoughts of death or suicide?are often absent in PDD.
  Unlike other types of depression, dysthymia often goes under the radar because people are able to function.
  Agnes (a 30 year old woman) hasn’t felt ‘happy’ for a long time.? Even though she gets plenty of sleep (maybe too much, she wonders), she doesn’t have any energy.? At work, she has difficulty concentrating.? At home, Agnes can’t make decisions about simple things.? Unable to decide about what to have for dinner…most nights she stands in front of the fridge eating whatever comes to hand.? Healthy eating has become a thing of the past.? When Agnes thinks back over the past few years, she can describe a few weeks when the ‘fog’ lifted, but it always returns.? While Agnes is able to get through her days, she is starting to feel hopeless…that she will feel this way forever.