You may have come across some people that stay in the lower energy state and are unsatisfied all the time. Today, we’ll discuss what is dysphoria; its types, symptoms, causes, and treatment.
What is Dysphoria?
Dysphoria is a state when you feel an extreme level of dissatisfaction and unease, and it is completely opposite to the term “euphoria” which offers a sense of great happiness and joyfulness. Dysphoria doesn’t fall under the category of mental health conditions. In fact, its symptoms are caused by different types of mental illnesses like substance use disorder, depression, anxiety, or stress.
Types of Dysphoria
Since dysphoria doesn’t fall under the diagnostic of mental health conditions. Therefore, it doesn’t have a formal division of types and categories. Some of the unofficial types of dysphoria relevant to its condition are as follows;
Gender Dysphoria
Gender dysphoria is the most commonly discussed type. It comprises distressful feelings that a person experiences when one’s preferred gender identity doesn’t match up with the sex they were born in. Sometimes, it results in the form of gender transition or trying to live the life of your proffered gender whatever you want to identify with. However, the transition doesn’t change their dysphoric condition, and they kept on experiencing the same feelings during and after the gender transition.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
The premenstrual dysphoric disorder is the aggravated form of PMS (premenstrual syndrome). It comprises various psychological and physical symptoms like poor self-image, depression, irritability, and moodiness. You can treat this condition by changing your lifestyle and medication.
Tardive Dysphoria
Tardive dysphoria outlines the treatment-resistant chronic depression condition. It usually happens through the long-term usage of antidepressant medicines.
Symptoms of Dysphoria
Dysphoria is relevant to the symptoms of other mental health problems and depression-like limited sleep, appetite disturbance, losing interest in pleasurable activities, and crying. Some of the main symptoms of dysphoria are as follows;
- Worry
- Uneasiness
- Sadness
- Low life satisfaction
- Fatigue
- Apathy
People with the dysphoric condition tend to think differently. A study published in 2019 showed that dysphoria has an association with frequent future thoughts. Usually, they think of implausible and unrealistic outcomes and negative thoughts. It is not clear whether negative future thought causes the dysphoric condition, or the dysphoria causes negative thoughts.
Prevalence
A person with dysphoria won’t formally qualify for the diagnosis of mental health condition like depression. It’s because its symptoms are too short and too mild to meet the criteria. According to an estimate, approximately 5% of the general condition experiences this condition. Women aging from 25 to 44 years are more vulnerable to it. Often, it lasts for a short time and gets resolved quickly. If the dysphoric condition is relevant to the mental health condition, then it would last longer.
Causes of Dysphoria
There are various factors that could cause the dysphoric condition, and they are as follows;
Medication
Dysphoric symptoms could be the side effect of various types of medications
Health
Physical health issues like toxicities, thyroid problems, or nutritional deficiencies would cause to develop the dysphoric symptoms
Stress
Stressful factors in the environment like family conflicts, stressful and toxic workplace environment, and the loss of loved ones
Treatment of Dysphoria
If the dysphoric symptoms last for more than 2 weeks, you should consult with a professional physician. Your doctor would examine you thoroughly in order to rule out other conditions like side effects of medications or medical conditions that are causing the dysphoric symptoms to occur.
After ruling out the physical health issues, your doctor would refer you to a psychologist in order to analyze symptoms and whether the dysphoric condition is happening due to the medical condition or not. The treatment plan depends on the main causes of dysphoria.
In order to improve your feelings and mood, your doctor would recommend you make changes in your lifestyle, medication, and talk therapy.
Coping Mechanism
Along with the treatment plan, you should make changes in your lifestyle in order to deal with dysphoric feelings. Some of those changes are as follows;
Accompanying Others
Usually, dysphoric feelings occur when you isolate yourself from people. But a strong social support network plays a significant role in your mental health. Your focus should be on accompanying friends and family members.
Exercise
Many research studies have shown that exercise plays a significant role in your mental health while dealing with depression and stress. While engaging in physical activity, you should follow the guidelines of the CDC, and it comprises light to intensive physical exertion activity of 150 minutes.
Healthy Diet
Healthy and nutritional diets have a great impact on your mental health and mood. You should make sure that you’re eating a healthy diet in order to deal with dysphoric feelings.
Adjusting Routine
You should try to break the cycle of the monotonous routine because getting stuck in the monotonous routine could amplify feelings of dysphoria. You should engage in healthier activities that would improve your mood.
Conclusion: What is Dysphoria? Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
After an in-depth study of what is dysphoria; its symptoms, causes, and treatment; we have realized that dysphoric mood could badly impact your routine life. If you’re experiencing its symptoms, then you should discuss it with your doctor and bring healthier changes in your lifestyle.
Ahsan is an accomplished researcher and has a deep insight in worldly life affairs. He goes Live 3 days a week on various social media platforms. Other than research writing, he’s a very interesting person.
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