However, these supposed traits and tendencies might actually be a diagnosable and treatable disorder. In other words, that pessimistic personality, that deep-seated self-doubt, or that sinking energy may be a symptom of an illness.<\/p>\n
In her 2017 article <\/a>in Open Journal of Depression<\/em>, researcher Sherri Melrose, Ph.D, RN, noted that the above speaks to some of the ways health professionals have described individuals with a chronic form of depression called persistent depressive disorder (PDD). Before DSM 5<\/em> was published in 2013, PDD was known as dysthymia.<\/p>\n PDD is one of the most under-treated and under-diagnosed conditions.<\/p>\n \u201cSome people may have been depressed from an early age and thus are unaware that there is any other way to feel,\u201d said J. Kim Penberthy<\/a>, Ph.D, ABPP, a board-certified clinical psychologist and professor of psychiatry and neurobehavioral sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine who specializes in chronic depression.<\/p>\n \u201cMany have parents or caregivers who also suffer from PDD and thus, again, these symptoms may seem \u2018normal,\u2019\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Signs of PDD include, according to Penberthy: \u201csadness, tearfulness, low self-esteem, low energy, poor concentration or attention, and feelings of helplessness or hopelessness.\u201d<\/p>\n Individuals with PDD also often \u201cwithdraw socially,\u201d and have physical symptoms, such as: \u201cheadaches or pain, poor sleep, fatigue, [and] appetite changes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n PDD has been referred to as a \u201csmoldering mood disturbance<\/a>.\u201d Adults with PDD experience symptoms for at least 2 years (with no longer than 2 months without any symptoms). In kids and teens, PDD lasts at least 1 year.<\/p>\n \u201cTrauma during childhood or later in life has been hypothesized to play a role in the development of PDD,\u201d Penberthy writes in her new book Persistent Depressive Disorders<\/a><\/em>. \u201cRetrospective and prospective studies have found increased rates of traumatic events, especially childhood trauma, in patients with PDD,\u201d she writes.<\/p>\n After experiencing a severely traumatic event in her teens, Maddie Baldassari<\/a>, a writer, speaker, and mental health advocate, was diagnosed with chronic depression. Baldassari felt exhausted all the time and too tired to read or hang out with friends.<\/p>\n \u201cProbably the most noticeable symptom for me is not showering. The thought of having to wash my hair and dry it and fix it was so overwhelming I wouldn\u2019t even try,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd then I would be too embarrassed to leave the house and it just became a cycle.\u201d<\/p>\n PDD also frequently co-occurs with other conditions such as major depression, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse.<\/p>\n PDD rarely gets better on its own, which is why Penberthy stressed the importance of getting help. She suggested seeking out a mental health professional who specializes in treating PDD (if possible), namely because the treatment may differ from treating acute depression.<\/p>\n \u201cTreatments for PDD will typically need to be for a longer period of time and may require a combination of antidepressant medications or that the medications are given at higher doses for longer periods of time.\u201d<\/p>\n Penberthy noted that research has found the following therapies to be effective: Cognitive behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy (CBASP), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for chronic depression, and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT). Penberthy is certified in CBASP. (You can learn more about these evidence-based interventions in this treatment article<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Also, mindfulness based cognitive therapy has been shown to be helpful in preventing relapse in individuals who\u2019ve improved, she said.<\/p>\n Today, Baldassari takes medication, sees a therapist twice a month, and volunteers at her local NAMI. She also relies on the skills she learned from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). She regularly uses the skill of \u201copposite action.\u201d For instance, any time she\u2019s exhausted and overwhelmed and just wants to lay in bed, she does the opposite and gets up.<\/p>\n Sometimes, Baldassari feels hopeless, \u201clike I am trapped on a merry go round of hopelessness and it won\u2019t let me off.\u201d This is when she uses the DBT skill of emotion regulation. Specifically, she asks herself this question: \u201cAre these scenarios I am thinking true, or are they a fleeting feeling or emotion?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis oftentimes makes me more aware that it is a symptom of my illness and not my reality. I also use my husband as a sounding board as he has a good idea of when I am slipping into a state of depression.\u201d<\/p>\n Baldassari stressed the importance of finding a good doctor\u2014whether you do so on your first or fifth try\u2014understanding that medications aren\u2019t miracle workers, and being willing to try different medications (when appropriate).<\/p>\n \u201cI still experience my depression but I found the right treatment for me, that allows me to live a successful life,\u201d Baldassari said.<\/p>\n \u201cI have been married for 16 years and [have] a job that I love. That is the important part to know: Your story is yours and you need to try and be your own advocate to live a life of wellness. Know that you aren\u2019t alone and that many people have the same symptoms and you can get help with the proper treatment for you.\u201d<\/p>\n And that starts with getting the right diagnosis, which starts with contacting a mental health professional. Which you can do today.<\/p>\n You can feel better. You can change your mood and your ways\u2014no matter how deeply entrenched they might seem. And yes, you deserve that, even if it doesn\u2019t feel like you do. After all, that\u2019s the depression talking, and, thankfully, that depression is highly treatable.<\/p>\n Visit Original Source<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You\u2019re intensely insecure and self-conscious, so much so it feels like one of your prime attributes. You\u2019d describe yourself as a true-blue pessimist or cynic. You don\u2019t really get excited about anything. You have a hard time connecting with others. And you find yourself constantly exhausted and drained. Because it\u2019s <\/p>\n Read More<\/a>Signs and Symptoms<\/h3>\n
Treating PDD<\/h3>\n
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Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger<\/a> August 1, 2019<\/p>\n