Definition

A mental health condition that causes a long-lasting, mild form of depression, often leading to feelings of sadness, low energy, and low self-esteem.

Example

She was diagnosed with dysthymia after experiencing persistent feelings of sadness for several years.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of dysthymia?

Yeah, I think it's a kind of mild depression, right?

Exactly! It can really affect someone's mood over time.

That's tough; I hope people get the help they need for dysthymia.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Dysthymia is formed from "dys-" (meaning bad or difficult) and "thymia" (from Greek "thymos", meaning spirit or mood). The term refers to a chronic form of depression characterized by a consistently low mood or spirit.

Memory Tip

Think of 'dys-' meaning bad and 'thymia' relating to mood — this helps you remember that dysthymia refers to a bad or low mood.

Visually Confused Words