Question About Depression.

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I've felt low/down/depressed for pretty much as long as I can remember (I have no diagnosis since I'm waiting to see a psychologist/psychiatrist). I'm just wondering if it's common to feel like you're constantly depressed but then have periods of time when the depression gets even worse? It's like I'm always depressed but then I suddenly get awfully low (I'm in one of those lows right now) and then, after a while, I go back to my "normal" level of depression. I think I've had about 3 or 4 of those awfully low depressive periods. So, is it common? Is there a name for it?

There is a term for it. Cyclothymic, I think. Anyway, I have depression all the time. I wish it would go away. Like I just wrote to Joe90, I just stay busy. Keeps me from jumping off a bridge.

Googled it. Apparently you have to have something called hypomania to have Cyclothymia. I don't think I have hypomania. I think I'm constantly low, and then I'm suddenly awfully low and then I go back to my "normal" low again. Do you know what I mean?

I get what you mean, that seems to be how it is with me.....I am usually generally depressed but sometimes I get even further depressed to the point its unbearable.

I think the term I may have meant was dysthymia. Still, though, I'm no diagnostician.

I think I understand, I get this too.

It sounds like dysthymia and periods of major depression. Its known as double depression. You have the long lasting depression (dysthymia which has to be a low level of depression for at least 2 years) and Major Depressive Disorder which describes your "very low" periods. So, if you want to know more about your condition, Google "Double Depression."

That seems pretty accurate. Thanks! There's one thing I don't understand though. If I have "Double Depression" do I get diagnosed with Double Depression or Dysthymia and Major Depressive Disorder? Do you know how it works?

EDIT: I should add that I sometimes have days when I feel less depressed (happens very rarely though). I don't exactly feel happy then, just less depressed and less anxious. But then I get some sort of mood swing (usually later that same day) and get depressed again. Had one of those days today. I was in town and bought some things and I felt quite alright (not happy but not awful either). But then, later, I got awfully low. So low I wanted to hit my head etc. What's up with that?

When I have read what people with depression have to say and seen them interviewed on TV, they usually say something along the lines they want their old self back. I feel like I have always been depressed (with dips of more depressed - sad attacks) and I have always wanted a new self.

How long do your "awfully low" periods of depression last? Technically for Major Depressive disorder it has to be 2 weeks of serious depression that affects your functioning. If you check up Major Depressive disorder there is a long list of symptoms and you have to meet the criteria for it. Now I don't know if the term "Double Depression" is the one they will diagnose you with because It might not be official but you would be diagnosed (to my knowledge) with both Dysthymia and Major Depressive disorder. What symptoms do you have? Is it affecting your daily functioning? I don't get happy that often although I have had hypomanic times. I have had delusions and that automatically makes it mania but a lot of the rest its more hypomanic for me. I have schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. 99% of the time I am depressed. When you say "less depressed' are you comparing it to the more major depression or the dysthymia (the mild depression)? If you are still not happy, then it wouldn't be a hypomania. To be dysthymic then you would have to have a low level depression for most of the time. I don't think it states 100% of the time.

How long do my "awfully low" periods of depression last? It's difficult to say. I'd say this one has lasted for about 3 weeks (still ongoing). The one I had before that (in the beginning of the summer) lasted for about 2 weeks. Before that (about a year ago) I had an "episode" but I don't remember how long it lasted. Then I had my first really low episode when I was 18 (but then I had felt depressed and/or anxious for a few years). That lasted for about 4 or 5 months on and off. I think I might have had low episodes before that but I'm not sure. The thing is depression isn't my only problem (at least I really don't think it is) so I'm not sure I've been "just" depressed during the low depressive periods. Do you know what I mean?

What symptoms do I have? Right now? Constant low mood, over-eating, insomnia, starting to feel like things don't really matter anymore, no motivation, fidgety, tired, problems focusing. Again, depression is probably not my only problem so some of these things might be explained by other things (at uni they seem to think I've got ADHD for example).

When I say "less depressed" I think I'm comparing it to both the more major depressive periods and the dysthymia. Like I said, it's not like I'm happy (I don't remember what it feels like to be happy and/or peaceful), it's more like I'm neutral and a little bit more confident (but not overly so in any way). Does that make sense? It's difficult to explain.

Yes. There's a condition called dysthymia, which is a milder, long term form of depression. You generally feel down, but not enough to render you totally nonfunctional. Many people who have this condition end up getting something called a "double depression" which is when they have dysthymia and major depression at once. However, when the major depressive episode has subsided, dysthymics go back to the way they were before.

Here's some more info on it: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001916/

I've been diagnosed with dysthymia. I've been suffering with depression since I was 13, I've had periods where it's been under better control or less of a problem. Periods where it's been classified as Clinical Depression or Severe Depression. One bout where the Depression was so bad, I actually became psychotic. Mostly it's just being flat. But it's always been there. It's tough.

Sometimes I find myself thinking that I can't be happy, that it's beyond me. Then I wonder what the point is if I can't be happy...why bother? I've been told that medication isn't all that useful for my condition. So what I am supposed to do?

I also wonder that maybe it's some sort of coping technique, maybe I feel things too strongly so my mind has just learnt to shut things out or limit things. I know that if I see news about an animal being hurt or tortured it upsets me a lot. Too much compared to other peoples reactions.

I've given up on being bouncing off the walls happy. I can do peace or serenity, usually through experiencing literature, art and music. So that's my aim, not happiness, but peace and contentment. That and my imagination. At the end of the day when I'm lying in bed, I also try to think of at least three things that happened during the day that I was grateful for. Nothing huge, mostly little things, like it being a nice day so I could sit outside, or a good movie being on TV, or finding this website.

Also if I'm really down, I go to my room and have a good cry for half an hour. Once that time is up I force myself to move on. Do something else, read, write, whatever.

I've also realised that there is no point in crying, it doesn't get you anywhere.