Differences Between Dysthymia And Major Depression

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It was a bright and sunny morning, and the birds were wide awake, chirping their hearts out as you opened your ajar eyes only to let in the brightest beam of light you had ever witnessed. You expeditiously shut your eyes and turn your back against this pleasant morning. You drag your silky duvet over your head as it's warmth envelops you in a never ending slumber. As the time passes by, you find yourself struggling to get out of bed. You had a very crucial day ahead of you, and staying in your bed was not going to help, and you knew this. Each day seemed to be passing by deliberately as you speculate why you even bothered waking up in the morning if you were just going to be a impediment throughout the whole day.

Everyone has felt sad or blue every once and a while, but when does feeling low become the more serious problem or depression? The two most common types of depression are dysthymia and major depression, also called major depressive disorder. Dysthymia is a persistent, low-grade unhappiness and inability to get full pleasure from life. In contrast, major depression significantly interferes with your everyday life and functioning, with symptoms …show more content…

Lifetime prevalence of major depression differs by gender, with rates of ten percent to twenty five percent in women and five percent to twelve percent in men. Overall prevalence of dysthymia is about six percent, although women are two to three times more likely than men to develop the condition. The higher risk in women may be due to the fluctuations in hormone levels. Women also face stressful psycho social demands such as balancing the demanding roles of work and motherhood. In addition to gender, genetics may also contribute to depression. Major depression is one-and-a-half to three times more likely in first-degree relatives of people with the disorder than in the general

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