Dysthymia - Anhedonia.

Dysthymia is a milder, but long-lasting form of depression. It’s also called persistent depressive disorder. People with this condition may also have bouts of major depression at times.

Depression is a mood disorder that involves your body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way you eat and sleep, think about things, and feel about yourself. It’s not the same as being unhappy or in a "blue" mood. It’s not a sign of weakness or something that can be willed or wished away. People with depression can’t "snap out of it" and get better. Treatment is key to recovery.

Dysthymia affects women twice as often as men. Some people may also have depression or bipolar disorder.

There is no clear cause for this type of depression. Mental health professionals think it’s a result of chemical imbalances in the brain. Many factors are thought to contribute to depression. These include environmental, psychological, biological, and genetic factors. Chronic stress and trauma have also been linked to this condition.

Dysthymia seems to run in families, but no genes have yet been linked to it.

Dysthymia is  milder, yet more long lasting than major depression. Each person may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

Lasting sad, anxious, or “empty” mood, Less ability to concentrate, think, and/or make decisions, Less energy, Fatigue, Feeling hopeless, Weight and/or appetite changes due to over- or under-eating, Changes in sleep patterns, such as fitful sleep, inability to sleep, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much, Low self-esteem

Dysthymia is a milder, yet more chronic form of major depression. People with this illness may also have major depression at times.

There is no clear cause of this disorder, but mental health professionals think it’s a result of chemical imbalances in the brain. Some types of depression seem to run in families, but no genes have yet been linked to depression.

In general, nearly everyone with depression has ongoing feelings of sadness, and may feel helpless, hopeless, and irritable. Without treatment, symptoms can last for many years.

This condition is most often treated with medicine, therapy, or a combination of both.

ANHEDONIA

Anhedonia is the inability to feel pleasure. It's a common symptom of depression as well as other mental health disorders.

Most people understand what pleasure feels like. They expect certain things in life to make them happy. Maybe you enjoy riding your bike, listening to the sounds of the ocean, or holding someone's hand. But some people lose the ability to feel joy. The things that once made them content are no longer fun or enjoyable. That's anhedonia.

There are two main types of anhedonia:

Social anhedonia. You don’t want to spend time with other people.

Physical anhedonia. You don’t enjoy physical sensations. A hug leaves you feeling empty rather than nurtured. Your favourite foods taste bland. Even sex can lose its appeal.

Anhedonia makes relationships, including those with friends and family members, a struggle. With the reward of enjoyment gone, it's hard to get motivated to spend time with others. You might turn down invitations and skip events like concerts, parties, and even one-on-one get-together because you no longer believe there's any benefit in taking part.

Or you could have social anxiety. You feel like you don't fit in, especially when meeting new people.

Relationships also thrive on positive feedback, and without it they can wither: Imagine not being able to tell someone you love them or that you had a great time spending the day with them. But if you have anhedonia, you can't, because you don't have those feelings. Meanwhile, loss of libido can take a toll on a romantic relationship.

It's also worth noting that some scientists believe anhedonia isn't always a black-and-white issue. You might feel no joy at all, or you could find that your positive emotions are dulled. In other words, it's possible to still like eating chocolate ice cream or listening to jazz; you just don't like those things nearly as much as you used to for reasons you can't explain.

Anhedonia is closely linked to depression, but you don't have to be depressed or feel sad to have it. It also affects people with other mental illnesses, like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. And it can show up in people with seemingly unrelated health concerns like Parkinson's disease, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and substance abuse issues.

Scientists think anhedonia may be tied to changes in brain activity. You might have a problem with the way your brain produces or responds to dopamine, a "feel-good" mood chemical. Some early research suggests that the dopamine neurons in an area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex might be overactive in people with anhedonia. This somehow interferes with pathways that control how we seek out rewards and experience them.