GLOSSARY TERMS
FOR THE WEEK
Just thought I'd put in some terms for you. I don't know about you but sometimes I get kinda swamped with all those terms.
We'll start with three terms about energy and about depression
Some of you may be familiar with the term
Dysthymic or dysthymia
which is a milder form of major depression. It essentially means someone with very little energy.
Dysthymia is a chronic type of depression where your moods are low. The exact cause is not known but it tends to run in families. Many people with it may suffer with anxiety, or substance abuse. It is characterized by feelings of hopelessness, too much or too little sleep, fatigue, low self esteem, under- or over-eating, poor concentration, poor memory, social withdrawal and lack of motivation.
Makes me think of the character Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh who tends to see the world in a constant gray light. A constant gloom and doom outlook.
Hyperthymic or hyperthymia
Hyperthymia is the opposite of dysthymia where the person has increased energy and productivity, shorter sleep periods, is self-assured and self-confident, has a strong will, is very talkative, tends to repeat themselves, loves attention, has a low threshold for boredom, may overspend, tends to be more emotionally sensitive, is unusually warm, expansive, tireless, irrepressible and has an infectious quality. One dictionary on line describes Hyperthymia as “a condition characterized by extreme overactivity” and “exaggerated emotionalism”.
Wikipedia says it’s a lesser form of hypomania where a person is in a state of mild euphoria, has a flood of ideas, endless energy and very ambitious.
Cyclothymic or cyclothymia
Cycylothymia, says Wikipedia, “is a serious mood and mental disorder that causes both hypomanic and depressive episodes.” It is a part of the bipolar spectrum of mood. It is an unstable mood pattern that can go from mild elation to mild depression. Even though it is less severe than bipolar disorder it can still greatly affect a person’s life and inhibit them from functioning normally. It's probably quite confusing for the person as well to be feeling energetic one day and depressed the next. Very difficult to figure out what's going on much less plan any activities.
Do you have a term or two you would like to share? Pass it on to rcaerweber@shaw.ca
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