Dysthymia is what my Dr. described my condition as. A milder form of depression, in which you never sink permanently into the depths, but you just sort of experience a perpetual disappointment and humdrum over everything.
Normally, he said, they would try to treat depression with a cycle of antidepressants and have the person taper off under some supervision. We tried that a few times and it didn't pan out. After talking to him about it, we realized it has always been there in my life.
He said that some people simply do not produce enough of the right endorphins OR they are uptaken too quickly in the brain.
But, I also have to agree with the people in here that talk about environmental factors playing a major role in the aggravation of this kind of condition: Proper diet, exercise, sunlight, etc. puts me in a better state.
As a teen, I self-medicated, I think, with all kinds of drugs, alcohol, etc. It was more of a destructive lifestyle back then.
But with a well-ordered mind, and a properly functioning brain, now I supplement my lifestyle with some all natural herb. My doctor is not supportive of the use of mj for depression or anxiety, as I have both conditions.
My point of view is this: Nobody else knows what my mind is like except for me. MJ has been a miracle for me in the past year. I took it up again after a 14 year hiatus. I did so just because it didn't fit into my family lifestyle at the time.
Now I am older, was dealing with back and neck arthritis, weight gain, depression, anxiety. It's all interconnected. I was taking vicodin for the arthritis. After awhile, those types of drugs stop being effect for pain. More is required to alleviate the symptoms. Also, IMHO, it is overkill for arthritic inflammations. At least, the ones I have.
I heard about all of the medical mj, and educated myself to its benefits. Talked it over with my wife, and we agreed to try it out. If things looked bad, I'd just stop doing it. With a little bit of self-allowance for re-adaptation to the frequent use of MJ for all of my symptoms, I can report the following:
In 6 months time from starting MJ therapy:
1) I lost 35 pounds. I am wearing jeans that would have fit me in high school. I am almost 40 years old.
2) My lower back inflammations are almost non-existent. My neck inflammations are nearly always there, but the mj makes it more bearable.
3) Depression is gone. I have periods where I still hit a doldrum, but nothing like it used to be. I can experience joy.
4) Anxiety is always there. This is mainly about having my mind well-ordered. I take Paxil as well. The combination of MJ + Paxil has been good for me. Treatment with only one of the two meds isn't as effective in my experience.
5) I have more self-confidence than I did. Not trying to be all "touchy-feeley" but anybody who doesn't know what its like to watch your career dwindle without any good explanation other than how you feel...
6) Much more energy.
Sorry for the long post. MJ has been a GOD -send for me. The use of it has been without side effects.
I respect the education and experience of my MD, but at the end of the day I am smart too. I don't think that my particular MD has the ability to see beyond convention, at least not yet. But my results kick his results ass. Nobody else knows what my existence is like but me.