What Is Persistent Depressive Disorder?

Persistent depressive disorder (PDD) is less severe than major depression but can last longer, often for at least two years or more. The condition affects more women than men and may affect children as well as adults. PDD can occur with major depressive episodes at times.

The symptoms of PDD disrupt people’s lives on a daily basis for years. Feelings of hopelessness, a loss of interest in life, feeling inadequate and low self-esteem are all too common among suffers. This condition requires the correct treatment, which is very effective, and support, so please reach out.

What Are The Symptoms Of PDD?

PDD symptoms can change in intensity and last for at least two years. The sufferer may also experience bouts of major depression before or during PDD. As I said symptoms cause significant impairment to the person’s life.

Each person may experience symptoms differently. These symptoms may include:

1. A loss of interest in everyday activities, avoiding social activities.
2. Persistent sadness, anxious, emptiness, low mood, feeling down.
3. Inabilities to concentrate, think, and/or make decisions.
4. Less energy, fatigue or complains about or seems tired constantly.
5. Irritability or excessive anger.
6. Feeling hopeless, guilt.
7. Significant weight changes due to over- or under-eating (+/- 5% within a month).
8. Changes in sleep
9. Low self-esteem

What Are The Causes Of PDD?

The exact cause of persistent depressive disorder isn’t known. As with major depression, it may involve more than one cause. These may include: Biological differences, Brain chemistry, Inherited traits, Life events.

Other conditions may also arise causing complications for the person. These can include: major depression, anxiety disorders, mood disorder, personality disorders. Other factors that may arise as a complication can include: substance abuse, relationship difficulties and family conflicts, or work or school problems.

What Is The Treatment For PDD?

If you suspect you may have PDD, or a loved one has PDD, then your first point of call are you main doctor or GP. Your doctor will complete some tests to rule out other conditions, such as an underlying physical health condition.

An assessment will need to be carried out to determine if you have PDD. It will probably be carried out by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. This assessment can help determine if you have PDD or another condition that can affect mood, such as major depression, bipolar disorder or seasonal affective disorder.

As PDD can affect children and there is a difference in the diagnosis criteria between adults and children.

1. For an adult, depressed mood occurs most of the day for two or more years
2. For a child, depressed mood or irritability occurs most of the day for at least one year.

Treatment

There are two main treatments for PDD are medications and psychotherapy. The treatment will depend on how severe the symptoms are, any previous treatment, plus other conditions that might be present.

Self-Help With PDD

If you suspect you may have PDD then please see support from your main doctor or GP. The treatment for PDD is very effective. Firstly stick to your treatment plan and learn all you can about PDD. These two can be very helpful all by themselves.

It is important to make lifestyle changes:

1. Exercise, even a 10/15 minute walk daily will help.
2. Eat healthily, 3 meals a day or 5 smaller meals.
3. Cut down on or out alcohol.
4. Quit smoking.
5. Finding ways to relax, such as mindfulness or meditationof some form. Make sure you are setting realistic goals for yourself and planning in frequent breaks during the day.
6. Reading self-help booksor articles on depression can help you understand your condition better.
7. Join a support group, learning others are the same as you does help your self-esteemand you’ll make new friends who understand what you’re going through also.
8. Put your positive team of supporters Include them in your recovery plan.
9. Make sure you know your rights and entitlement to help your financial or workplace situation (so get advice if needed).
10. Do not use illegal drugs to self-medicate.
11. Make sure to get to know your warning signs or triggers. Your therapist will be able to help you put together a plan and give you better coping strategies to use daily. Please be patient with yourself and your recovery. It will take time so try to focus on the positives and progress you have already made.
12. Take time for activities that help you feel better and help with isolation which can be a huge part of PDD. So use your positive support team to help with these. You can try movies, gardening, coffee or lunch out with a friend, or other social activities or perhaps some classes where you can meet people.

Supporting Someone With Any Form Of Depression.

It’s not just the person with depression who’s affected by their illness. Their friends and family are also affected.

If you are in this situation please note you too need support. Partners may find that the relationships changes and becomes strained. Know that at this time you need to talk to someone such as a psychologist and perhaps consider joining a support group too.

If you find your marriage is now suffering, as a result, don’t put off having marriage counseling as a couple either. It is important to voice your concerns and talk things through in an open manner. A psychologist can help you do this together.

Make sure you understand all your rights and entitlements too as this can fall to the partner. Talk to MABS, Citizens Advice or Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (all in Ireland so look at you local supports if outside of Ireland.) if you need help, especially financially.

You too need to reduce your stress, exercise, eat healthily and relax daily. You may need time off away from the family member you are caring for. Never feel guilty about this, as it isn’t unusual for one partner to get better only to find the other partner has become ill as a result of all the stress.

Work With Me.

Remember you are allowed to ask for support. No one is an island. If you need extra support then you can also work with me. We all struggle with stress and overwhelm from time to time. If you find this has become a problem for you and you’d like some support then schedule an appointment with me.