The Big D.

No, not depression. Dysthymia - which is depression's younger half sibling.

I went to a therapist last week for the first time. Not because I'm feeling down and out, but because I'm training to be a psychologist and I believe it's important to analyze my own sh*t before I go and attempt analyzing everyone else's schtuff. So everything went smooth and well; it was a little like an interview for a practicum site because we talked about my past placements and school. Then came the awful end when we had to discuss insurance. (which I equate to the devil and anyone dealing with insurance deals in the devil's work! sorry I digress) Ok, so she has to give me a diagnosis so that insurance will pay up. Although I appear to be well adjusted and in no dire crisis she says simply I can choose something like dysthymia or GAD *for all you non-psych types that's generalized anxiety disorder* whichever I prefer because she does not think that diagnosis, especially DSM diagnosis, is that relevant but alas that is a whole other topic in and of itself. So she asks me simply, "are you more depressive or anxious?" and I automatically said depressed. And now, I am feeling a little more sad. Sad that summer is over and I basically have nothing to show for it, and sad that home seems so far away. So I guess it's a good thing I'm in therapy because now I've gotta treat this dysthymia that I didn't know I had.