Dysthymia is a depressive disorder included in the main diagnostic classifications DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association) and ICD-11 (World Health Organization). As such, it is necessary for a professional to determine the best intervention strategies for the specific case being treated.
Understanding that “getting out of dysthymia” means remission of the symptoms of the dysthymic condition, we must be aware that we will not be able, on our own, to achieve said remission. However, in this article, we offer you some guidelines and some advice that are in your power and will undoubtedly contribute positively to the work of the professional handling your case. Continue reading this Psychology-Online article in which we explain how to get out of dysthymia through 8 psychological strategies.
Seeking professional help
As such, he must be treated by a mental health professional. It is important that the patient attend a consultation so that the professional can assess their particular case and decide what the best intervention will be.
It is possible and common for patients to notice improvements that keep them from seeking professional help. Even if it seems that the problem is subsiding on its own and without help or even though the degree of discomfort may fluctuate over time, we emphasize the importance of going to a professional’s office.
We must also keep in mind that disesteem constitutes a depressive disorder which, by definition, has a long history in the patient. It is a disorder that, if not treated, will tend to become chronic. Next, we will see important tips to know what to do to overcome dysthymia.
Collaboration between the professional and the patient
The patient and the therapist must form a team that works together to achieve the therapeutic objectives that both have agreed upon (in this case, the reduction of depressive symptoms).
Among the numerous variables that can influence the intervention, there are variables that depend on the relationship established by the therapist and the patient and, within them, variables that depend directly on the patient.
How does a person with dysthymia behave? Within depressive symptoms, the appearance of hopelessness, demotivation, fatigue and loss of energy, etc. is common. Taking into account the limitations caused by said symptoms, the patient should try to collaborate with the psychologist: answering your questions as clearly as possible, being completely honest, and trying to help you in your work.
Follow the professional’s recommendations
Although it depends on the psychologist’s way of working, it is possible that he or she will send tasks that the patient must perform between sessions and guidelines that you must put into practice as instructed.
If the case is being treated by a psychiatrist, it is very likely that he or she will prescribe antidepressant medication. It is also important that the patient follows the schedule and takes the prescribed dose as the professional has indicated. If you want to know the medication for dysthymia, we recommend the following article about.
Do pleasant activities
People who suffer from depressive disorders such as dysthymia frequently experience . It is important to compensate for this balance by activities that provide gratification, that you enjoy and motivate you. Thus, you will experience pleasant emotions that will help in a very positive way to the psychological intervention or psychiatric treatment that you are carrying out, therefore, it will help to overcome dysthymia.
Feeding
In the face of any psychological disorder, it is important to maintain a healthy life style. It is possible that the depressed patient may experience an increase or decrease in his or her desire to eat. We must maintain a eating habit that addresses:
- The quality of the food: consumption of nutritious foods and maintenance of a healthy and balanced diet.
- The amount in intake: It is important to eat all the daily meals, feel full and avoid binge eating.
Dream
Another factor to take into account regarding healthy lifestyle habits is sleep, since it helps to properly maintain biological rhythms and whose desynchronization negatively affects our mood. In this regard, in the same way that occurs with food, we must pay attention to:
- Sleep quality: It should be restorative, so that when we get up we feel rested.
- amount of sleep: We must sleep enough hours according to our age.
To achieve this, you can rely on the following.
Perform physical exercise
Establishing healthy lifestyle habits helps improve physical and mental health, therefore these habits will be a good ally in the intervention on dysthymia. Practice any sport, go for a run or walk It can help us reduce anxiety levels, and this is usually related to depressive problems and appear together.
Besides, the release of endorphins During the practice of physical exercise it will have a positive impact on our mood. In this article we specifically explain.
Search for social support
The support that the patient receives from the people around him (friends, family, partner, co-workers, etc.) will contribute positively to his recovery. However, in depressive disorders, the patient may become isolated from his or her social environment.
Therefore, it is important encourage the dysthymic patient to make plans with their environment and rely on them sharing your problems, worries, emotions, etc.
Close people can play a very important role in the dysthymia intervention process, since if the case requires it, they can receive instructions from the professional and act as co-therapists.
What to say to a person with dysthymia? That we are by her side and that she can count on us to talk or do some activity.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to get out of dysthymiawe recommend that you enter our category.
Bibliography
- American Psychiatric Association (2014). DSM-5. Reference guide to the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-5-Breviary. Madrid: Panamericana Medical Editorial.
- World Health Organization (WHO) (2018) International Classification of Diseases, 11th revision. Recovered from https://icd.who.int/es