My own opinion is that you need a second opinion. If your husband is regressing back to "pre-depression" behavior, then it would seem obvious to me that he needs to go back on his meds, or try a new antidepressant. When I looked up Dysthymia, I found it to mean long term or repetitive depression. Seems that from what I read, most people who have it are currently on meds for it. I think he needs to get back under control as he was before he went off his meds. Once that happens, if marriage counseling is still on the table, and you feel it would be helpful then maybe that would be the time to do it. Sorry, but I think his therapist is making a mistake here. Wishing you the best as you struggle through this difficult situation.

hmmmm, .. I am probably WRONG, but I don't think a "mere" therapist can make a diagnosis, .. only an MD, Psychologist, Psychiatrist, or Physician's Assistant. Again, I am probably wrong, .. so will comment on the rest of your post.

I highly agree with sadsheri. With meds, better behavior, without meds worse behavior. Guess I need to go to med school to figure that out? I don't think so.

ON THE OTHER HAND, it is VERY possible and even likely that a married depressed person needs medication and ALSO needs marriage counseling accompanied by his wife. That is not beyond the realm of possibility.

It is ALSO possible that a therapist with certain certifications can and often makes diagnoses and is dead on, .. that marriage counseling would do MORE for him (and indirectly his wife) than medication alone ever will and the end justifies the means.

If medication won't "cure" his depression but simply keeps him a "good boy" but marriage counseling will CURE the depression and thereby allow him to be a "good boy" then the therapist has a point.

What I am trying to say is the therapist, with his training may have concluded that medication is a "band aid" and therapy on the marriage (marriage counseling) is what is actually needed to have the greater effect.

Let me try it this way. Patient has "problems". Goes on medication and there is SOME positive effect, but the real solution to ultimate psychiatric recovery is marriage counseling. Start patient on marriage counseling but the effect of medication actually interferes with the progress marriage counseling can have. So, .. take patient off medication and put him on marriage counseling. Whew, .. hard to explain.

This could very well be the therapist's strategy. The therapist may feel marriage counseling IS the key but would not be as effective if husband is on medication. Just thinking.

One way to "find out" is to talk to the therapist. You also have the lattitude to talk to another provider. The thing is, we don't know what therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists are actually doing in their treatment protocol. AND, it may defeat the purpose for them to even tell us. Guess it is a "God I hope I'm right" decision. My 20 cents worth.

Maybe I need to go to bed.

It's been shared with me that that's what's up with me. But no one yet has come up with a solution for it. I tried cognitive books, therapy, drugs, and so far no solution.

I wonder what's up with this? I want to be so much more than I'm being in the world. I've heard the norapanefrin serotonin idea.

But when I take those drugs it just makes me feel stiill depressed,
but very agitated and wired. I'm still working with a doc.

Niceguy, . I am sorry you are struggling. I am VERY glad you still see a doc. Stay with it, .. the solution will be found. Keep trying and you will win. You deserve a good life and can have one, .. keep trying your best.

Thank you for that. I've cannot tell you how many of the meds. I've tried. I'm a good person with a brain that could use tweaking.

If you read my profile that is what I have.