depression vs. bi-polar?

With bi-polar you go from being extremely happy to extremely sad and you can't control it.

Bipolar disorder used to be called ‘manic depression’. As the older name suggests, someone with bipolar disorder will have severe mood swings. These usually last several weeks or months and are far beyond what most of us experience.

By what you discribed it doesn't sound like bi-polar, you just get depressed from time to time.

I used to suffer with depression for 5 years and I was bi-polar for about 1 year, so if you have any questions about them, feel free to PM me

Carson3 wrote:

Severity is the key with bi-polar. It's not just being "really happy". Some of the symptoms are racing thoughts, super energy and the feeling like you don't need to sleep, hypersexuality in some, paranoia and fear that others are out to get you. These are just a few, and there may be a combination of symptoms. Then the lows are keep-you-in-bed lows. Also, some people can have the manic without the depression part. It doesn't sound like you have it. Like Liney said, probably a mild depression. Besides just pills, maybe counseling in addition to get to the bottom of it? Sometimes depression is just a symptom.

Well, i know not having a job isn't helping, but it seems that i can't really remember a time when i was happy for an extended amount of time.  There are memories of a couple hours but the sadness lasts for days...weeks even.  If depression is a symptom, could you give and example of what it would be a symptom of?  Thanks again for all of your help.
~Aunna

A little side note.  If you do try the pills, and they do not work.  Don't give up on them!  There are so many different kinds.  Some work for some, others don't.   Also, do your research on each and every one of them.  Pay close attention to your reactions after you start taking them.  Counseling, as suggested above, could also help.  But I was stubborn and did it without it. 

I know alot about bi-polar. My sister was diagnosed almost 5 years ago after the first time she tried to kill herself, however the symptons started a long time before that.
There are two types of bi-polar, bi-polar one and bi-polar two. One is like the manic depression Liney mentioned above, however bi-polar two is a bit different. With two you don't get the highs anywhere near as much, its more like a constant state of depression (but there are other symptons than just depression).
Doctors are much more happy to diagnose depression that bi-polar because still very little is known about the disease. It took my sister 2 years to get correctly diagnosed, and one of her friends has only just been diagnosed after over 6 years being told she had different things wrong with her.
But it is a disease that can be managed. The most important thing you can do is find someone to talk to - whether it is a friend or counsellor, but someone you can trust. By talking to someone you are comfortable with first it will make it easier to go to a doctor or psychiatrist later.
There are no quick fixes for bi-polar, and it can take years to get the types and levels of medication and counselling right. But not doing anything about it would be worse.

I'm very passionate about this subject because of my sister and her attempts to take her own life which I was first on the scene for. It can be a devastating disease and it is not well understood.

I have many problems in my life but not physically!!!
I have today a big problem and I am not happy for that...but when I have some problem or I am sad I like to be alone!!!!

wow, you all are great.  I aprpreciate that you open up with me, to help me.  There is some great advise here.  And to everyone still suffering, we can always talk to eachother here.  Thanks again so much
~Aunna

Lulustarr wrote:

I am trying to get of the meds for depression now.. SO HARD! would be nice if there was anyone I could talk to in my situation?

i understand how hard it can be to stop some medications. i went through it, but i do ok now. so, feel free to pm me any time if you need to talk

Wow, I feel so proud reading all these posts, seeing people suffering from Bi-Polar Disorder who have the courage to reach out, to seek help and soldier through it. I am proud of each and every last one of you because I know how hard it is to take that step.

My brother is Bi-Polar and it has been a life altering issue for our entire family. He refuses to accept treatment or help and is in complete denial of his condition. He can go from one extreme to the other in 60 seconds flat - blissfully happy, his mind facing with creativity, full of energy - "cycling" as they call it - and then snap in to uncontrollable rages where holes get punched in walls and what comes out of his mouth is the most abusive, soul-destroying poison.

It's heartbreaking to see someone you love with all your heart go from being the person you treasure to a complete stranger. Before he was diagnosed, before the family understood he was sick, I used to take it all so personally and it made my self-esteem plummet. We were the best of friends as children but when he became an adolescent, the illness kicked in. Suddenly out of the blue, he'd become violent and attack me for no reason. There were times I thought he was going to kill me. I went from loving and trusting my brother to being both afraid of and for him. When I started to try to tell my parents that something was wrong, no one believed me and so it all spiraled horribly out of control. He started having public outbursts and when it had gotten that far no one could deny the issue any more.

Today, my brother is still not a healthy person. When the mania which is usually triggered by anxiety leaves he is filled with grief, anguish and often tears. He has a long road ahead of him,  before he finds the strength and courage to take the steps all of you on this forum have already, bravely taken. I applaud your courage and wish you all the happiness you can hold.

Last edited by kellyfoxe (06-23-2008 15:59)

knija wrote:

I suffer from severe depression from 2004 and I'm fed up of meds but by now it seems to be the only way to go on (doctors have said). I'm going to 4 different doctors once every 15 days and I assure you that it is quite tiring. I'm still waiting for the day in which I get up happy. Crying for nothing, fancy nothing, completly sad, interest for nothing but sleeping, difficulties to sleep, doped all the time...a crap life!!.

hey are you on citalopram by chance? x

I think other than medication, the best things you can do from being depressed is to keep busy. I can get depressed very easily, especially if I am alone. I try to set goals for each day and make sure to accomplish most of them, such as reading a chapter in a book, taking a walk to the park, visiting a friend I haven't seen in a while, calling my family, getting some household chores done, etc... It helps me to feel that each day isn't so pointless. It may not seem like a lot, but I am learning to appreciate the small things. By doing this, it is a step towards being happy with myself.

knija wrote:

Lulustarr wrote:

knija wrote:

I suffer from severe depression from 2004 and I'm fed up of meds but by now it seems to be the only way to go on (doctors have said). I'm going to 4 different doctors once every 15 days and I assure you that it is quite tiring. I'm still waiting for the day in which I get up happy. Crying for nothing, fancy nothing, completly sad, interest for nothing but sleeping, difficulties to sleep, doped all the time...a crap life!!.

hey are you on citalopram by chance? x

I was on citalopram for a while but it made me being asleep all day. It was a disaster because I was working some times during the day and others during the night so...
Now I am on fluoxetina it works better although it's not very indicated to my other mental problem which is EDNOS because it reduces appetite but...
What are you on?

I'm on citalopram now makes me so sleeeeeeeepy, been on it for about 8 months can't get out of bed most days, so I had to start doing all my college work from home.  It either makes me really sleepy or the opposite; so I don't sleep at night and am asleep all day which of course isn't ideal.  as well as the depression that slows you down.  I really hate the fact people are so ignorant about it.  people just dont understand

Last edited by Lulustarr (06-23-2008 21:18)