I know, I'm naive
The medicalization of personality styles has been going on for years.
However, it's beginning to get to me.
Is dysthymia (persistent depressive disorder) a diagnosis, a dimishnessment, or a divergence? I go with divergence.
Dysthymia is not depression. It is a personality style. A view of the world. A pessimistic life style. A cautiousness. A put out the toe and make sure they won't pee on your leg sort of wariness, born of experience. It is yet another gift of the diaspora Jews, who, born of experience knew--don't get too comfortable and always keep a go bag ready. One pharaoh is good, another less, a third, a terror. Franz Joseph the II was tolerant and expanded the Law of Reception. But then came WWI and Fascism and Horthy's White Terror, succeeded by Hitler and then Communism. Jews who went to Palestine suffered from waves of Arab terrorism, epitomized by the Siege of Jerusalem detailed in Amos Oz' memoir. From pessimism, we derive "Jewish" humor. Humor where anyone is fair target--especially the powerful. Says one Jew to another, "Why do you read that Anti-Semitic rag?" Responds his friend, "Because it makes me feel so powerful. I learned that Jews control the banks, Hollywood, and secretly run the world." We get Jewish mother jokes, "Why was Moses' mother so happy?" "She not only had fun in bed but she made a profit [prophet]. Why did the Jewish mother work at Bloomingdales? Because that way her daughter would visit 2x/week. What's the difference between a Jewish mother and piranha? The piranha lets you go after you're dead.." And self-loathing jokes aimed at potential Jewish mothers--the Jewish Princess: "What is the Jewish princess favorite wine? I don't want to go to Cozumel for vacation....What does a Jewish princess make for dinner? Reservations."
Dysthymia thus is a world view born of personal and vicarious experience. It is not a medical problem. It is not treatable with medication. One cannot dose away a point of view.
It is a divergence. A dysthymic personality is just as good and as valuable as your sunshine optimist.
Nu, long story short--let's take the dis out of dysthymia. Because, as the great R.Kevin Moser, Ph.D once said during a lecture on the DSM, as he held up a volume, "There's nothing in here you'd want for anyone you care about."