AlexBerardi said 8 years, 8 months ago:

I’m 17 years old, and I’ve had dysthymia for as long as I can remember. I was diagnosed a couple of weeks ago, but when they actually said it, I felt a wave of relief surge through me. All these years since I was a kid I’ve felt this sort of hopelessness. And when I talked about it with people (I used to confide in anyone because I was that desperate to find someone who understood this feeling) they used to look at me like there was something wrong with me, or they didn’t really get it at all.
It’s like this emptiness, confusion and despair. It’s always with me, but it hits me more when I’m alone. It’s as if I have no sense of myself.
Lately I think it’s been getting worse. I’m losing interest in being with my friends, in doing any activity I used to like doing, and prefer to be alone most of the time.
I sleep a lot. I struggle to get up in the morning because I’d rather just sleep through the day.
Is there anyone else going through this? I don’t think therapy would help much. If anything I feel it would make me think about it even more.
I don’t know what to do. I feel really lost and confused.

AlexBerardi said 8 years, 8 months ago:

Hey!
I’m sorry. I know how exhausting this is. I’ve never been on antidepressants. I heard something about them taking 2 weeks before any improvement actually starts to show? I’m 17, if I want to take medication I would have to be 18 so I won’t have trouble with my parents. I’m also a skeptic, or rather, I’m scared of how I will be without them. Maybe that’s why I’m unsure. I don’t go to therapy but the psychologist that diagnosed me told me to change my eating habits and exercise regularly. She told me that would also help.