What is an effective treatment for dysthymia? What has worked for you? Can you share your experience?

Question:

I have had dysthymia for nearly my entire adult life. The low grade depression sometimes lifts (for weeks or even months). But, the gray feeling invariably comes back. I have taken Prozac before (but, it became ineffective over time). I am going to see a psychiatrist soon to get treatment again because I am getting tired of feeling lousy all of the time. I just want to be informed about what's working for other people who are in the same boat.

Answers:
Instead of an SSRI like Prozac, would the psychiatrist try something a bit different? Cymbalta and Effexor affect not only serotonic (which Prozac affects); they also affect Dopamine. You might get a better result.

If you have been going to the same psychiatrist for a while, you might try to find someone different who is doing well for others.

Just a thought...any chance you are bipolar? Depression and dysthymia are part of that.

My teen is bipolar, and after we found the right doc for him he made a very fast improvement! He went from being severely impaired, to nearly normal 24/7. We found him through a local psychologist who knows all the local psychiatrists and their reputations.

Good luck, friend!

I have taken Prozac for years. When it didn't seem as effective the doctor doubled the dose. Now I am doing fine. Have tried other things but Prozac is the only thing that has helped me. The doctor thinks I have a chemical imbalance. Good luck, hope you find something to help.

What is an effective treatment for dysthymia? What has worked for you? Can you share your experience?

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