So far the past 3 months or so, I have been feeling depressed, not constant and not severe but it was still bugging me, esp. since this is a time in my life that I should be totally joyous and happy having just moved in with my boyfriend, talking about getting engaged, married, etc. Anyway, I decided to go see a therapist for the first time to talk about my issues. I was intially afraid that the reason I was feeling blue was because maybe I don't really want to be in the relationship I am in....I wasn't sure if I was feeling depressed bc of internal things or if it was because of my relationship. (I should add that I have the most loving, supportive, amazing bf that anyone can ask for) Anyway, went to therapy and in my first appt. told her a lot about myself, my relationship w/ my bf, my childhood (dealt with a lot when I was little....divorces, my mom's affair, etc.). She asked me about past relationships, and I told her about one boyfriend that I fell very hard for that was a little crazy, over the top. She said it sounded like he exhibited signs of bi-polar. I also mentioned another boyfriend that reminded me of this past boyfriend. And I mentioned in passing that my current boyfriend said to me during a fight that nothing is ever good enough for me (I was complaining that he didn't do enough sweet, romantic things for me). My mom has also said this to me several times. Anyway, at the end of the appt. the therapist mentioned dysthymia and told me to think about (whatever that means). She said the reason she thought of it was bc of specific things I said: falling for the crazy boyfriends...she said that perhaps I fell for men like this bc my mood is low and being with them lifted my mood up, and she also noted what my mom and boyfriend said about nothing ever being good enough for me. Anyway, her mention of dysthymia didn't sound like an actual diagnosis, she just told me to think about it. But I went home and over the next several days read everything I could on the internet about dysthymia. And I really couldn't tell if I had it or not. I guess I can identify with some of the symptoms but some of them I do not. So I decided to put together a list of reasons why I may have it and reasons why I may not have it. Some of the reasons that I thought I may it are that I can be a huge procrastinator, have trouble making decisions, can be super critical of myself (esp. appearance) and of others, have occassional insomnia, feel as if I have a lower energy level than other people sometimes, and I can also remember specific times throughout my life that I have been depressed (esp. several times throughout college). Reasons why I may not have it is that I have never ever thought about suicide, I have never had eating issues, my insomnia is only occassional like when I am stressed or anxious, I have a good amount of friends and I enjoy being around them, have never had any issues with drug or alcohol abuse, I know how to experience happiness/joy, I laugh/smile quite often, have a good sense of humor. Anyway I brought this list to the therapist for our 2nd appt. and she interrupted me in the middle and told me to stop with the labels. But she didn't understand that it was important for me to know if she was diagnosing me with this mood disorder or not. I asked her but she never really responsed. Sooooo…..based on everything I have said, does it sound like I have dysthymia or not? Thanks!!