Q: What’s the cost of treating bipolar depression?
I need to know!! Help.
Is it really expensive? I don’t have that much money at the moment so I’d really appreciate this info.

A: bi-polar disorder is very complex and usually requires more than one med. and meds are expensive. so are psychs. however there are local organizations that help with the cost. in va we have the community services which provide psychs, counselors, and meds n a sliding scale. and always remember that as long as you pay something they will work with you.

Q: what ethical values are involved when treating someone with bipolar depression?
If the person with bipolar disorder is in the middle of an episode what are the ethical values involved as far as medication goes. Also how much can a family member do if the person refuses medication but they are putting themselves and others at risk? I’m just trying to find out general information relating values of ethics, the family, individuals, and the community to bipolar depresssion.

A: Where bipolar is involved the treatment should be from a professional and that professional can tell their loved ones what to expect and what to do. They have been trained in that field. My experiences are do not stress them out because stress is one of the triggers. Try to see if they can get a good night sleep. Sleep and a good diet and a friend like you to be there for them is a good start to recovery. Good luck. I wish you the very best.

Q: Any advice on treating bipolar or depression with L-tryptophan, L-dopa, and L-theanine?
I have a friend who is 25 years old and she suffers from bipolar. The doctor wants her to take mood stabilizers which are a form of anti-psychotic drug. I don’t trust many doctors because many drug companies cater to these doctors and treat them with expensive dinners and gifts. In addition, the the drugs usually have side effects such as weight gain or harm the liver. This girl has more depressive episodes than manic but I feel the L-theanine could calm her down then. Also, she knows she will ‘get it’ from her dad if she acts up really bad. Her dad still believes in spanking her and it seems to be effective in keeping her from acting up too much. I figure the L-dopa and L-tryptophan can help give her a boost in motivation and happiness during the depressive state. Any advice on what dosages to take or am I way off base here?

A: Sandy, you are a strange one…… Somehow, your questions about spanking make me regret my own fetish.

Q: How do they treat Bipolar I Depression in Teens?
For my psychotic symptoms/mania I’m on Abilify…but it does not help my depression.

I’ve been diagnosed recently with this with fast cycling…

I’ll tell my psychiatrist, but what can she do? I’m 17.
Are there certain medicines that work with Abilify to help Bipolar depression episodes ??

A: Usually Abilify is used with another drug for bipolar disorder. The most common ones are Lithium, Lamictal, and Serequel.

Q: Is there a difference between Bipolar and Bipolar Depression?
I know about bipolar I and II but my psychiatrist is treating me for bipolar depression and i wanted to know if/how that was different from regular bipolar.

A: Bipolar depression is a subset of Bipolar-ism. It just means one is more inclined to have depressive episodes as opposed to violent or otherwise.

Q: how meds are useful in treating depression?
How meds are useful in treating depression, bipolar…etc

A: Depression is caused by low levels or hormones such as serotonin. By taking meds, the hormones levels are restored to their proper level. Meds also help balance the amount of hormone released. When your hormones are stable, so is your mood.

Q: can depression be treated with weed? what about bipolar disorder or hypomania?
I used to smoke weed for about three years, but I quit for religious purposes, and now I’m wondering if weed treats things like depression, bipolar disorder, and hypomania? I may be inheriting bipolar disorder or hypomania, time will tell, and I’m a bit depressed. anyways can these things be treated with weed?

A: You know?Your depression could be a consequence of your weed smoking…You could probably feel better but would be just for a little period.In time you could be even more seriosly depressed.
I truly believe,and this is only my opinion,you can come out of you state of depression if you really want that.
I wish you all the best.

Q: Whats the name of that new drug that treats depression & bipolar disorder?

A: I found some good info here.

Q: Does seroquel treat bipolar- depression successfully?
Recently i have just been proposed the diagnosis of manic depression, or bipolar. My psychiatrist wants to put me on Seroquel, an antipsychotic (the category name is scary to me) and am very hesistant about going on such a powerful drug. Id just like some feedback from those who have my type of bipolar (depressive) about Seroquel.

A: I took it for Major Depression as part of a study group; it seemed to work pretty well. I asked my doctor to put me back on Paxil after the study was over. Paxil was working well for me and I didn’t feel like I needed something as strong as Seroquel.

A friend of mine is taking Seroquel for Bipolar DIsorder and he appears to be doing very well. He is more calm, not as manicky or hyper as he used to be.

Q: treat depression and bipolar?
I have recently been diagnosed with type 2 bipolar, mainly sever depression with lack of sleep as the main side affect of my manias. Since I have just recently been diagnosed, they are still working on finding the right dose of medicines for me. I am currently on Abilify and Zoloft. What are nonmedicinal ways to make myself feel better while waiting for the medicines to take over and/or ways to enhance the affects of the medicines? Any advice on how to treat/beat/feel better with depression would also be helpful. Thanks.

A: First, you should cut down on your sugar intake. Excessive sugar can help cause depression, nervous anxiety and spurts of energy followed by extreme fatigue. Caffeine products (such as coffee, non-herbal tea, cola, and some medications), cigarettes and alcoholic beverages may also contribute to nervous anxiety, depression and highs and lows of energy.

L- tyrosine has been effective for many people in reducing or eliminating depression in very short order (often in less than one hour! Take 100 to 500 mg twice daily on an empty stomach.

Eat foods with lots of omega-3 fatty acids. Research studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids can help symptoms of depression as well as bipolar disorder. For people who do not like fish, fish oil supplements are available in health food stores.

Eat chocolate! Natural dark chocolate with little or no sugar that is. The natural occurring substance in chocolate called PEA, for short, has been found to elevate endorphin levels and act as a natural antidepressant.

Oregano may ease that depressed, heavy-hearted feeling.

If you have a juicer, whip up half a glass of watercress and a half a glass of spinach. Throw in some carrots to make the juice sweeter. Then, bottoms up and spirits up!

Eat 2 ripe bananas a day to chase the blues away. Bananas contain the chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine, which are believed to help prevent depression.

While running a warm bath, prepare a cup of chamomile tea. Add the used tea bag to the bath, along with a new one. If you use loose chamomile, wrap the herb in cheesecloth before putting it in the bathtub to avoid a messy cleanup. Once the bath is ready, take your cup of tea into the bath with you and relax in the tub.

To lighten a heavy heart, drink saffron tea and/or thyme tea that has been sweetened with honey.

Sniffing citrus essential oils every hour you’re awake may help you get out of a funk. You can buy lemon or orange oil at a health food store. Do NOT take the oils internally.

Cheer yourself up by wearing rose colors – pinks and scarlets. The orange family of colors are also picker-uppers.

Making love can help people overcome feelings of depression.

If you’re mildly depressed, simply change your physiology and your emotions will follow suit. In other words, do the physical things you do when your happy – and you’ll feel happy. Smile! Laugh! Jump up and down! Sing! Dance! Get dressed up!

Juices seem to be calming to the nerves. Throughout the day, sip apple, pineapple, prune, grape or cherry juice. Make sure the juice has no added sugar or preservatives, and drink it at room temperature, not chilled.

Chop a large onion into very small pieces and add a tablespoon of honey. Eat half the mixture with lunch and the other half with dinner. Onions contain prostaglandin, which is proven to have stress-relieving effect.

St John’s Wort – for mild to moderate depression, this herb lives up to its hype. More than 40 scientific studies have verified the traditional use of this herb for depression. It works as well as prescription drugs and has significantly fewer side effects. In all the studies though it took up to 2 weeks to have any effect. In some people it can take up to a month. Typical dosage: 900 mg of capsules standardized to 0.3 percent hypericin per day in divided doses, with meals (including a dose at bedtime if you are suffering from insomnia)

Oats – This is the same plant that goes into your morning oatmeal. It is a wonderful tonic for the nervous system, having generalized nourishing and soothing qualities. The plant is traditionally used not only for depression, but also for anxiety, stress, fatigue, and debility.

When buying dried oats for tea, look for pale green to yellow seeds, rather than something that looks like straw. Typical dosage: 3 cups of tea per day (steep 1 Tbsp of dried seeds in 1 cup of how water for 10 – 15 minutes.

Lavender – This beautiful, fragrant herb has a gentle relaxing and nourishing effect on the nervous system, while lifting the spirits and easing depression. It promotes refreshing sleep as well. It’s essential oil can be applied to the body, inhaled, or added to bath water.
Typical dosage: 1 cup 3 times per day (steep 1 tsp of flowers in 1 cup of hot water for 5 minutes)

Gingko – This amazing herb is beneficial for treatment of the cardiovascular and nervous system.It enhances blood supply to the brain and improves nerve cell function. It enhances memory and other intellectual functions. Gingko can be an excellent treatment for depression especially in the elderly. Typical dosage: 40 – 60 mg of standardized extract capsules 3 times a day.

Q: has any1 ever had electric shock therapy to treat depression or bipolar?
how was it and did it work?
my husband has been on all kinds of meds for years his doctor has suggested this to him

A: Electric shock therapy is not a commonly used therapy nowadays due to the bad side effects associated with it. Is your doctor considering this b/c I highly doubt he is. If you are looking for treatment with depression/bi-polar disorder try medication first. This is the primary treatment of depression/bi-polar and there are thousands of combinations available to treat you specially as a person.

Q: What are the most common meds used to treat bipolar condition as opposed to depression?

A: Mood stabilizers. Most of them are actually anti-convulsents — they have found that some of the best mood stabilizing meds are the same meds they use to treat epilepsy. The most common are Lamictal (I am on that), Depakote, and topamax. For stronger mood stabilizing ability there is also lithium but that has a lot more side effects and health risks so it is not used as much anymore. Anti-depressants can’t be used to treat bipolar as it can actually have a VERY bad effect (making people manic and psychotic). People who are very bipolar and get very manic with psychosis are also put on a anti-psychotic.

Q: Is seroquel used for depression and bipolar?
I asked a question earlier about Seroquel treating my depression and a few people told me that it wasn’t used for that. Is that true?

A: It is definitely used in some people for depression. There are many “off-label” uses of drugs, meaning they are effective for things other than what the FDA states they are for.

Q: Treat Depression and Type 2 Bipolar?
I have recently been diagnosed with type 2 bipolar, mainly sever depression with lack of sleep as the main side affect of my manias. Since I have just recently been diagnosed, they are still working on finding the right dose of medicines for me. I am currently on Abilify and Zoloft. What are nonmedicinal ways to make myself feel better while waiting for the medicines to take over and/or ways to enhance the affects of the medicines? Any advice on how to treat/beat/feel better with depression would also be helpful. Thanks.

A: Healthy diet, exercise, meditation……. lots of fish in your diet and stay away from processes foods. Suppliment with Omegas and a multi vitamin. These are things that you should continue even after you find the right meds to do as staying in good health will in the long term keep you better able to handle the disorder better. None of these will cure it or even really make a big difference in symptoms but in the long haul they do help.

Q: What are the best medicines used to treat depression and Bipolar?
I have severe depression and it is questionable if I am Bipolar. Sometimes I can get hostile., but do not try to hurt anyone or myself. Just very frustrated. I stay in my bed every day and do not want to eat experience difficulty sleeping and I do not want to be around anyone. I used to have a good sense of humor and now nothing seems funny. I used to take life lightly, now everything seems so sad and gloomly.

Even if the doctors do not think that I am Bipolor. They believe I have severe chronic depression. I know you cannot objectively diagnose yourself but I have read so much of all types of depression and I think I could be Bipolar.

Are there any medicines that can be used to treat both problems if there is a doubt. I am taking Prozac and Ambilify. Are those helpful for my situation?

A: Because you feel pretty awful a lot of the time, you really need to go back to a psychiatrists and have yourself reevaluated. A good doctor can and will figure out just what is wrong and prescribe the proper meds for you so you can get on with your life. My husband who has a mental illness has had to change meds 4 times over 10 years, even though we know what mental illness he has. Sometimes 1 med will work for a while and then it will stop working and you need to try something else. Also, one last thing. Depression is the most misdiagnosed of all mental illnesses. Please don’t give up, you can feel a lot better.

Q: Bipolar/Depression/Psychosis treatment and weight gain?
I am seeing the doctor on Monday for what I believe is going to be diagnosed as bipolar disorder, depression, or psychosis. I’ve been doing a lot of reading about the medications used to treat these illnesses and they all talk about weight gain. I’m freaked out by this, so much that I’m thinking of not going to the doctor at all. Isn’t there another way to treat my awful mental problems without gaining weight?!

A: some of these do cause weight gain. not all.
my anti-depressive drug made me LOSE 45 pounds in 2 months. seriously.

talk to your doc about this fear – he or she does have several drugs to choose from.

Q: What does seeking treatment for depression/bipolar disorder disqualify you for?
I am pretty sure I have moderate depression and/or bipolar disorder, and would seek treatment ASAP except that my father told me if i did, i would instantly be restricted from alot of things by the government. For me, this would be handgun purchasing and ownership, and getting a private pilot’s license. I wonder if, after stuff like the Virginia Tech shooting, the systems will see my mental health issue (which has never presented outwardly or inwardly dangerous) being treated, and now the system will give red flags that prevent me from purchasing another handgun next month, and i hate to feel like i should wait to seek treatment until after i get that next handgun (which i have been wanting to get for a year). I also am considering getting a private pilot’s license this spring, as my father has an airplane. I do not feel my set of mental health issues should affect these things, but if i go into treatment for them, will they? If so, i can seek OTC treatments and self-help stuff.

A: The only handicap you have is the flying. Certain medications are forbidden to be taken and be a pilot at the same time. You can beat this problem by talking with your Pshrink when you start to take pilot training. He can change your medications to something you can fly with. I was an Air Force pilot with bipolar disorder.

Q: Geodon and zoloft for treatment-resistent depression?
I have been on zoloft for a few months now and changed to a new doctor. This doctor put me on the two drugs combined, but I thought Geodon was more an antipsychotic or used to treat bipolar depression, which I am just the opposite. If anything, I have very low moods. I have been doing some research, and I can’t find anywhere where the patient just had regular depression and was treated with this combination. Does anybody know firsthand or should I get another psychiatrist’s opinion? I am hesitant to take the Geodon due to what I have read about it, and I want to make sure that it doesn’t worsen my depression or send me over the edge. The Zoloft helps some, but I still have depression, but no where near suicide or psychosis and my thoughts are normal enough. Anybody know? Any advice?

A: I’ve taken Geodon 40 mg for years and it has never helped with depression. (I take it for mania/ psychosis.)

Yet other people have said that it gives them energy and helps with depression…. so I guess it is hard to say.

(I currently also take Abilify 10 mg for depression and Lamictal 200 mg as a mood stabilizer.)

Q: manic depression/bipolar and anxiety?
I’m fifteen years old. When I was 13 I was under treatment for Depression, I got on Prozac and everything was fine. Then I relapsed and was considered suffering from manic depression and was put on Effexor. Then it turned out I was Bipolar and I was given Lithum. And now I’ve been told that I apparently suffer from anxiety . I’m put again on Prozac. Does this make any sense?

A: NO!!!!

Q: If I enlist, can the military find out if I have depression?
Ive been recieving treatment for my bipolar/depression disorders for years now, if I join the military and I dont tell them I have these issues is there any way they can find out? Do they test you for these mental conditions?

A: as long as you have no cuts they will never know unless you tell them to be honest the military can cause a lot of depression they will test your stress levels there are quite a few suicides every year if you feel you can over come it Ive seen people with bipolar disorder make it if you seen the guys I worked with you would know there is no test for mental conditions military also gives you a sense of pride too

d. Current mood disorders including, but not limited to, major depression (296.2–3), bipolar (296.4–7), affective
psychoses (296.8–9), depressive not otherwise specified (311), are disqualifying.
(1) History of mood disorders requiring outpatient care for longer than 6 months by a physician or other mental
health professional (V65.40), or inpatient treatment in a hospital or residential facility is disqualifying.
(2) History of symptoms consistent with a mood disorder of a repeated nature that impairs school, social, or work
efficiency is disqualifying.

Q: Is there a possibility that I could have Depression?
My father has been undergoing treatment for depression, anxiety, Bipolar disorder, and borderline schizophrenia for the past year and a half. I seem to have more of his traits, and I was wondering if I could have gotten these from him. There have been signs of depression for me. I have been completely depressed before, not getting out of bed and feeling too sad to do anything. Also, I feel as if I could be Bipolar because I tend to have various mood swings. Please help me so I can fix these things (I’m 14).

A: Dear One, Depression can be inherited, as are other mental illnesses. Get to a doctor or therapist asap to that you can be treated, rather than waiting. As soon as you can get seen, the better your chances.

Also, first, see your doctor and get a physical and blood panel done. Physical problems, such as low thyroid, can mimic depression. So get checked out and tell your doctor what is going on. Take care and good luck.

Q: What are the treatments of depression?
I need a model for a depression project inside of science. My project is on dysthymic, bipolar, chronic, and long term depression. Can you help?

I’d like treatments of it, sources, and a picture of the brain’s area that is affected. Do you know where I can find it, or have answers?
Can anyone show me a picture of the hippocampus, a part of the brain that controls memory and emotions, before and after depression strikes?

A: While therapy and antidepressant medication are the most effective treatments for depression, home treatment is also important. There are many steps you can take to help yourself during a depressive episode and to prevent future episodes:

Set realistic goals for yourself, and take on a reasonable amount of responsibility.
Break large tasks into small ones, and set priorities. Do what you can when you are able.
Postpone major life decisions (such as changing jobs, moving, or getting married or divorced) when you are depressed.
Try to share your feelings with someone. It is usually better than being alone and secretive.
Let your family and friends help you.
Even if you don’t feel motivated, try to participate in religious, social, or other activities.
Get regular exercise.
Eat a balanced diet. If you lack an appetite, eat small snacks rather than large meals.
Avoid drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs or medications that have not been prescribed to you. They may interfere with your medications or worsen your depression.
Get adequate sleep. If you have problems sleeping:
Go to bed at the same time every night and, more importantly, get up at the same time every morning.
Keep your bedroom dark and free of noise.
Don’t exercise after 5:00 p.m.
Avoid caffeinated beverages after 5:00 p.m.
Avoid the use of nonprescription sleeping pills or alcohol, because they can make your sleep restless and may interact with your depression medications.
Be patient and kind to yourself. Remember that depression is not your fault and is not something you can overcome with willpower alone. Treatment is necessary for depression, just like for any other illness.
Try to maintain a positive attitude—remember that feeling better takes time, and your mood will improve little by little.

Other Treatment
Professional counseling is an important part of treatment for depression. Complementary therapies such as massage therapy and yoga may also help you recover more quickly and improve your quality of life. For information about relaxation techniques you can do at home, see relaxation exercises.

Family therapy may help you and those who care about you deal with depression.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used for those who cannot take antidepressant medications, who have not responded to other treatments, or whose depression is severe and includes symptoms of psychosis, suicidal behavior, or an inability to eat. 10

Other Treatment Choices
Counseling is an important part of the treatment for depression. The types of counseling most often used for effective treatment of depression include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy, a type of counseling that teaches a person how to become healthier by modifying certain thought and behavior patterns. This type of therapy can be provided individually or in a group setting.
Interpersonal therapy, which focuses on social and personal relationships and related problems.
Problem-solving therapy, which focuses on the problems you are currently facing and on helping you find solutions to those problems.
Family therapy, a type of counseling involving the entire family.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used to treat severe depression or depression that has not responded well to medications and counseling. ECT also may be a treatment choice for someone who cannot tolerate the side effects of antidepressant medications. Modern ECT treatments consist of mild electric brain stimulation while you are unconscious (under general anesthetic) and are an effective treatment for depression. Side effects of ECT include memory loss and confusion.

Complementary therapies

The herb St. John’s wort has been shown to work for mild to moderate depression, but it can interact with other medications.
Fish oil containing omega-3 fatty acids is currently being studied for possible antidepressant effects.
SAM-e ( S-adenosylmethionine), a substance that occurs naturally in plant and animal cells, is sometimes used to treat depression. Some studies show SAM-e may help with symptoms of depression, but more studies are needed to determine its safety and effectiveness.
What To Think About
ECT
Deciding whether to try electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be difficult. Although ECT can be a very effective treatment for depression, you may experience short-term memory loss, confusion, nausea, headaches, and jaw pain for several hours—and sometimes even several days—after the procedure. For some people, ECT may cause long-term memory loss. For more information, see electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

St. John’s wort

St. John’s wort is being tested in the United States to determine its safety and effectiveness. So far, the results have been mixed. High-quality St. John’s wort has been shown to work for mild to moderate depression as effectively as other antidepressants and with fewer side effects. However, some negative and dangerous interactions between St. John’s wort and certain medications have been discovered, especially between St. John’s wort and medications used to treat AIDS. 11

Let your health professional know if you are using St. John’s wort, especially if you are taking other medications.
Avoid taking St. John’s wort along with other antidepressants, because you could overmedicate yourself and have serious side effects.
Because St. John’s wort is not currently regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), its quality—and effectiveness—may vary.

Omega-3 fatty acids

There is limited evidence that a small daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids may be beneficial either alone or when combined with an antidepressant. 14, 15 While benefits for depression are still inconclusive, research does show that taking omega-3 fatty acids can help fight other health problems, including arthritis and cardiovascular disease.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends eating fish at least twice per week, plus other omega-3 rich foods. For people with heart disease, the AHA suggests additional fish oil supplements if your health professional thinks it is a good idea. 16

Brain ‘Pacemaker’ For Depression Sufferers
For the first time, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been shown to treat people suffering from major depression. DBS has been used to successfully treat epilepsy and Parkinson’s. About twenty percent of depression sufferers fail to respond to standard treatment; medication plus electroconvulsive therapy may work for some of them. Dr. Andres Lozano, professor of neurosurgery at the University of Toronto, explains why DBS is a more refined choice.

“Electroconvulsive therapy is analogous to rebooting your computer,” he explained. “This [deep brain stimulation] is very pinpointed, precise therapy, involving a very precise area of brain that plays a key role in depression.”
When people are acutely sad, the subgenual cingulate region, or Cg25 region, of the brain, becomes active. Antidepressants can reduce activity in this area somewhat.

“It was as if the thermostat was set for 120 degrees and you want it to be 70 degrees,” Lozano explained. “This area of the brain is running in overdrive, and it is causing depression and also interfering with the function of areas of the brain that are involved in cognitive function.”

(From Scientists stimulate sadness center)
Since this study only involves six patients, it can offer only the most preliminary results. But after a hear and a half, a “striking benefit” has been seen in 4 of the 6 patients in the study.

Science fiction readers may recall the wireheads of Larry Niven’s stories; a wirehead is a person who installs a droud to deliver a minute electrical current to the pleasure center of the brain. Niven creates a realistic picture of the social consequences of this technology in Ringworld.

Read more at Brain Pacemaker may help worse cases of depression; thanks to Jeff Schwenneker for providing the tip on this story.

Q: Help for chronic severe bipolar depression when all the meds and ECT fail?
Asking this question again – I have exhausted all my treatment options for bipolar disorder – have honestly tried over 2 dozen meds, alone and in combinations, and ECT (electroshock) and they have all failed or made me worse or I am allergic to the meds etc. ( this is over a period of 15 years – not short term med trials). I have severe depression in the morning nearly every day, and for the entire day about half the time and I just can’t take it anymore – my situation clearly became hopeless when my last ditch effort, ECT, failed. I rarely get mania anymore, just horrific agitated depression, the anguish so severe I literally want to claw my face off or slash my chest open with a knife, for hours most days, and often, all day. If I still had fingernails, I would have clawed my face off a long time ago. I don’t know what to do anymore – I have been on the edge of death for years. I have hung on and hung on, trying medication after medication, and now there is (realistically, this is not the depression talking) no hope of any significant relief.

So, since medication options aren’t there anymore, I am wondering if ACT (assertive community treatment) can help with this? My county workers have not run into psychiatric cases like mine, they swear up and down that most patients do get at least some relief from meds, but I am in a tiny, rural county, and am hoping that someone here has gone thru this, or has a relative who has, and can give me some advice. I’m thinking about going inpatient at mayo clinic, but I already tried the university of MN and that was a total failure, and my regular psychiatrist thought the university was better for psychiatry than mayo clinic. It would be hard for me to get to mayo clinic anyway, it is a 4 hour drive, and I can’t find any treatment online I haven’t already tried either, other than “out there” treatments that are very unlikely to help and experimental, like vagus nerve stimulation – weird crap.

Anyhow, I have had the finest psychiatric care there is, and it has utterly failed, I lost my faith in God a few years back, just have nothing left for me except a loving husband, 4 great kitties, and a home I love in rural Minnesota with beautiful maple trees and a lovely pond full of wood ducks and chirping frogs in the backyard, in other words, I have a LOT to live for. But I need to die, because I can’t stand the anguish anymore. It is unspeakable pain, and I feel this way for NO REASON, just endlessly live in agony, due to untreatable bipolar disorder. What can I do to live when I hurt so much, with no relief in sight?

background: I don’t have any personality disorders, already see a therapist regularly, have a social worker and a home worker, see a psychiatrist regularly, am not a substance abuser, excercise a lot, have an excellent diet (we have a huge garden and eat a lot of venison), use a light box, keep busy with hobbies, according to my varying energy level – all that healthy stuff. This is just ghastly, severe bipolar disorder that is ( apparently) untreatable. I do also have a severe sexual abuse history, which I have gotten plenty of therapy for. My workers know I have serious problems, but I play them down slightly, since I do not want to be involuntarily committed – it is hard to get help when you have severe mental illness, believe me. An involuntary commitment would not help me – what i need is a medication that would cut down the despair, and apparently, it doesn’t exist – otherwise, if it worked, I would take it. Please no religion stuff – my husband prays for me all the time, but that isn’t going to make me suddenly find my faith again – a person can’t “make” themselves believe. Great for you that your faith helped you, and I sincerely mean that, but it didn’t help me, tried that already. The question is, is there a way to endure daily agony from bipolar depression that is unending, and I will never get relief for it? Anyone been there, endlessly, and still alive? or have a relative like this? I mean, this is EVERY DAY, except for in May and June, pretty much (strong seasonal pattern, there). Thanks for anything that might help!
lamictal was worthless, antidepressants made me worse, so I have been off them for a long time, and I use a light box a lot in the winter, and took a vitamin D supplement, too – all that standard stuff has been tried, and some helps a bit, but only maybe 10%. Not enough to make life bearable.
oh, and I forgot, lithium only helped me with mania, which I very rarely get anymore, so it’s not worth taking it anymore, and I ended up with weirdo, scary side effects after a few years of lithium.

A: i’m pretty much in the same boat; though i refused ect, and my psych docs and even medical docs tried to talk me into it. i take lamictal that keeps me out of deep suicidal depression, though the idea hardly ever leaves my mind. i do know a few of the triggers that push me into despair, and i hide away from them as much as possible. my world is quite small, and as much as i hate it, it’s the only way i can keep half way stable.

the most disappointing thing for me is when i do have a mild manic episode that lasts for a few weeks or more and i want so bad to tell myself it’s over and i can function as a normal person. i’m usually blindsided when i crash, but when someone in my support system reminds me my life doesn’t work that way, i crash hard. too hard sometimes and i find myself hiding from my support system too.

i’m sorry i don’t have an answer for you, just wanted to let you know you are not alone. i just try not to think about how useless i am, and i keep working on the self destructive habits (not doing anything for diabetes, smoking, etc.) so i can go without my people feeling like i deliberately left them.

Q: insurance vs residential hospital stay?
are there any residential hospitals (looking for depression treatment namely bipolar, as well as a borderline issue) that take bcbs insurance? i can’t seem to find one and my history of in and out temporary stays seems to be doing way more harm than good at this point. the crazy thing is, my insurance company will more than willingly pay for me to stay in a temp setting hospital for over a year, but won’t cover residential treatment. any advice at all would be greatly appreciated.

A: You can easily check your minimal health care rates in internet, for example here – health-quotes.isgreat.org

Q: anyone who has bipolar disorder/bipolar depression.?
I was wondering if you could tell me a little about what you go through on a daiy basis and a little about the disorder in personal terms/ factual terms, the things ive pulled up on the internet have been useful but a little patchy.

I think my friend may have bipolar disorder, anyone reading this do not tell me to take her to see a specialist, as you know I wont, I just need some accurate information before I can fully decide what to do for her.

I would like to know about what treatment is like aswell.. are people with bipolar prone to suicide?

some things she expeiences in depressed states include:
depressed mood
difficulty coping
sleep disturbance (having trouble getting to sleep and waking up early)
losing or gaining a lot of weight
poor appetite/ increased appetite
lack of energy
feeling tired all the time
worrying excessively and feeling overwhelmed
misusing panadol
suicidal thoughts
poor concentration and memory

when it comes to the happy/mania side
sleep disturbance (needing less sleep) even just 3 hours
having more energy than usual
poor judgment
spending too much money
irritability
talking too much and too fast
feeling really good
having lots of new and exciting ideas
making rapid decisions without thinking about them
making lots of changes or plans
phoning others late at night

she would be described as entirely hyperactive, to the point where she could be said to have add(the attention hyperactive disorder thing) however she does not have this, she could be describes as annoying and not shy, she gets very hyperactive. but when she is alone she can get really depressed.

people always say to her “geez do you have a personality disorder” people have even suggested bipolar, but they say it as a joke of course… because she swings from happy and hyper to sad and quiet in an instant. I have seen her at her worst and she can get very depressed.
im getting very worried as she wants to commit suicide.

without all the noncense about the doctor, make use of the fact that this is where people come to instead of going to a doctor and tell me the info, you could be saving a life.
thanks for your time if youve read this.
p.s shes 17, and thinks she may have had depression for about 4-5 years now, but now she thinks it could be bipolar because of the mood swings and the high-low manias/depressions.
she has had various eating disorders.

A: She must not be much of a friend to you, if you ignore the one group of people who can actually help her. Why worry about a diagnosis, since that is emblematic of a medical condition? Let her get depressed, even let her kill herself, since getting her real assistance is obviously beyond a level of caring that you are capable of possessing. I tell you what, why don’t you fix her a cup of magic tea, or hold her hands and pray with her, or whatever hocus pocus mumble jumble you think will cure her, and her family and true friends will hope you haven’t killed her.

Q: does natural bipolar treatment work ?wait am i even bipolar?
Ok, so heres the deal.
my psyciatrist lets just call him dr.quack cuz thats basically what he is, youll read why.
he says im bipolar when i first come to see him. now my counselor is ending my counseling and she says dr.quack doesnt have me listed as bipolar… if not then why the hell am i on the meds for it?!?! and then shes all like… well ill have to check.

ok this is why he thinks im bipolar… i have a bad attitute problem (i was a very spoiled brat when i was a kid >.> and still am <.< also i have a bad anger problem (theres many of them around here) and when i get constantly harassed and put down like no other yeah im gonna feel like crap and worthless, and i dont get happy often so when i do get happy i get hyper.

Now my dr put my on depression pills at first >.> when you give a bipolar person depression pills they get more depressed. needless to say i had a really really hard day and i cut my self, i went to the hospital. then my dr told me how stupid i am WELL WTF you put me on crap pills for the diagnosis you gave me.. when he first evaluated me he said i had sever social anxiety order as well but like 2 months later i tried to get into a program that would give me hope for an education (homeschooling) he told my mum not do do it because i didnt have S.A.D ok so hes flipping all my diagnosis’s around… if today im supposedly not bipolar, S.A.D why am i on a anti depressent (makes me more depressed) S.A.D meds ANNNND ehm im not sure how to spell this schizophrenia. im not getting this… if i am bipolar what works for it… and i mean NATURAL hearbs and stuff taken on a daily basis, because i do not like having to consult every 6 months with a man who can barely speak english or make a descision about my mental health!! that and i dont like the things man made drugs are doing to me. so if you know any herbal meds or supplements, strange teas or weird bath salt crap. any ways. dont judge me for what ive said the typos ive made..

BOTTOM LINE I WANT ADVICE NOT PEOPLE GOING OFF ON ME BECAUSE OF WHAT I THINK…IF YOU DONT HAVE ANY THING NICE OR SOMETHING NOT RUDE TO SAY KEEP IT TO YOUR DA** SELF I WANT HELP NOT A LECTURE!!!!

thank you… for those you are the helping type dont mind the above message im just sick of people syaing mean judgmental or just plain stupid things in response to my questions…

thank you for reading this, have a nice day and double thank you for those who can help =^.^=

A: Hey buddy, i’m so sorry you’re on this toxic sludge …….. it sounds to me like you are suffering from an intolerant reaction to the meds they have you on mate …….. change physicians ….. get an appointment with a naturopath or nutritionally oriented physician so that you can be fully assessed and the anxiety and stress and brain frizz can be resolved from the source.

In the meantime eat more foods rich in calcium and magnesium such as fresh fish …. not the tinned variety …… fish is surely brilliant for healthy neural and heart functioning and for bolstering your immunity levels ……. leafy and green vegies too ….. i just love the green vegies mate …. way easier to digset too …… leafy and green vegies ….. broccolli, kale, chard, buk choy, collard greens, celery ………… rich in both calcium and magnesium.

Without sufficient calcium you will suffer insomnia, headaches and migraines, irritability and moodiness, terrible terrible mood swings and brain chatter and brain frizz, achy bones, digestive upsets such as bloating and cramping and constipation, even horrible violent dreams …… calcium is essential for healthy bones, teeth and heart health and works in tandem with magnesium (known as the antistress mineral)…… lack of magnesium will give you migraines and headaches, nervous and twitching and muscular issues and will also cause lower back aches and bad digestion ……. and contribute to high blood pressure ….. increasing your daily intake of foods rich in both such as leafy and green vegies, brocolli, kale, spinach, fresh fish such as tuna and salmon and organic nuts and seeds such as almonds, brazil nuts and sunflower seeds will dramatically increase your feeling of well being and peace of mind.

Eat more green vegies mate, another thing they’ll do is encourage the production of hydrochloric acid in your tummy and help resolve any issues you may have with constipation and bloating.

Get 10 – 15 mins daily of safe sun exposure too …….. everything hinges on sufficient supplies of vitamin D in your body …….. if you can’t do that take a homepathic vitamin D3 liquid supplement …… go to your local health food store or herbal dispensary and ask for their guidance as to which vitamin D3 drops would be the easiest for your body to assimilate …… pharmaceutical grade or practitioner only quality are the best you can buy…… calcium relies on vitamin D for effective assimilation.

A little extra effort sure but anything worth having is worth the extra effort ….. i reckon calmness and peace of mind is worth a few bowls of green vegies a day.

believe it mate, i’ve been where you are now ……. they misdiagnosed me with bipolar / schizophrenia years ago and near fried my brain before i had my epiphany …… that i felt the worst i ever had in my life ….. they had me on vast amounts of Effexor, Xyprexia, valium …. gaaah, toxic sludge all of it ….. i got reassessed and detoxed off the meds and went to a naturopath who diagnosed me with coeliac (intolerance to barley oats wheat and rye) and lactose intolerance (intolerance to milk and dairy) and severe soy intolerance and processed sugar ….. i went into denial for about 12 months and then finally i gradually started to sift slowly through eliminating the foods and chemicals that were making me soooo sick ……… please consider getting a reassessment from a naturopath.

oh, drink loads of water too and try to cut right back on the caffeine, sodas, pop and soft drinks and alcohol if you drink any cos they’ll all dehydrate you terribly and rob you of your precious B complex of vitamins …… processed sugar will also rob you of your B complex and deplete calcium stores and stress your system.

take care of you

peace baby
♥

Q: Is Pot a Medicinal treatment for Bipolar symptoms?
A certain entertainment figure said they used Pot to treat their Bipolar symtoms. Seems to me that it would make the situation worse. And having read what others have defined Bipolar disorder to be (manic depression etc.) I cannot help but wonder.

A: Man, I’ve had friends that smoked pot for a long time. They generally start acting more bipolar.

Q: Recently diagnosed with severe social anxiety & bipolar depression. Can I get disability?
I have been struggling with depression and anxiety issues for as long as I can remember, only I never received treatment until recently. These issues have become so great within the past 2 years that I have been unable to work a steady job or to be able to work at all. The only reason I never sought treatment before was because, when I was underage and was covered by my mother/father’s insurance, they didn’t believe I had any kind of depression issues, just wrote it off as teenage hormones. Once they finally realized that in fact, it wasn’t just hormones, and that I was really having these problems; their insurance no longer covered me (I was over 18 at that point). Ever since, I haven’t had any other kind of insurance and thought, “Well, without insurance I’m just shit out of luck.” Until my friend told me about a clinic that would help me – free of charge. But that was only recently.
So anyways, point being – I was diagnosed (finally) with severe social anxiety/phobia and bipolar depression (manic episodes) and I was wondering if that would qualify enough to get approved for disability, with my clinic testimony?

A: you can try, but alot of times mental disabilities get rejected most of the time. i was lucky with mine…i got approved in less than 3 months. (adhd, schizo-affective, anxiety, depression). they’ll send you to see their psych for an eval since you don’t have a great medical history with it, and if you don’t “Seem” mentally ill, they say you are fine. (quotes because their definition of that is skewed…) good luck if you do…oooh, and,if you do qualify, you’d only get SSI since you haven’t worked the requirement…it’s money, but not enough to ever live on.

Q: Anyone had SPECT imaging brain scan for ADHD Bipolar Depression etc, like Amen Clinics &did insurance cover?
Here’s my full question: Have you or anyone you know of had SPECT Brain Imaging at a specialty place, such as Amen Clinics, OR any other place that does this, for psychiatric evaluation of disorders such as ADD, ADHD, Depression, Bipolar, head trauma, Dementia, drugs/alcohol abuse, etc. and got the insurance company to pay all or part of the cost?

It is well over $3,000 and they make you pay up front, providing you with only a walk-out receipt for (possible) reimbursement from the insurance carrier. On the Amen Clinics website, it says that some insurance carriers will reimburse but not all. However, I have read some websites where some people said that their private health insurances don’t cover it and have yet to find anyone’s testimony on the internet saying that it was covered (except for one, whose doctor wrote a letter of necessity to the insurance company).

I’m 19 and don’t have insurance but am thinking about it in the future. I have had symptoms of ADHD as a child, teenager, and adult, as well as some depression and sadness as a teen (because I was emotionally abused at home by my aunt & uncle), and maybe a little bit of bipolar symptom (not the extreme mania or psychosis you might hear people do have). I also had a few epileptic seizures as a child and so far have taken Carbamazepine age 8-10 for that & Zoloft and then Lexapro (not together) when I was 16-18. I have not yet taken ADHD meds, but might in the near future when I begin seeing a psychiatrist again.

I haven’t been recommended yet for this treatment and I know it’s risky to choose it all on my own for insurance purposes without referral. Other than the example I gave above, can anyone tell me about their own and/or someone else’s experience and specifically what insurance plan type (HMO, PPO, etc) and carrier was used to reimburse for this, and how much of it they paid? Tell me what happened in detail to give me some clues, so I know if I can get this also.

Even if they didn’t reimburse, please feel free to share your story; every little bit helps. Thank you so much and sorry about this being so long

I have seen previous responses here but so far NONE of them provide the answers I need for my question. Now just to clarify, I have been on SEVERAL different treatment medications and NONE of them worked. ADHD stimulants are the only medicine my psych doctors haven’t prescribed to me yet because of other (slightly false) diagnoses of depression and even bipolar. I’m not directly planning on doing the SPECT scan anytime soon, only as a last resort. I know better than that‼ It may take up to 5 years or more before I ever start such a thing! The other issue I have is that I will do anything to prove if I have REAL ADHD because some psychiatrists are reluctant to give stimulants to adults *sometimes* because they think we might abuse them.
NO I am NOT trying to abuse anything; I just want to take it IF it’s found to be right for my condition. I WISH I DIDN’T HAVE TO TAKE ANYTHING‼ Even if I do get the ADHD stimulants, if that doesn’t work, then what am I gonna do? I would only want to do the scans to speed up the process if other treatments have failed. Please don’t tell me what not to do because I never I was going to do it right away. I may be young but I know better than to do something expensive and under-necessary. I just need my main question answered: HAS ANYONE HAD THE SPECT BRAIN SCAN DONE AND ALSO GOTTEN PRIVATE INSURANCE TO REIMBURSE YOU FOR IT??? One example is Amen Clinics that does this. No unsolicited mental health advice, please!! unless you have an answer to give and/or a story to tell me about your experience. Sorry, it’s just that I don’t want the entire page to be clogged with stuff I didn’t ask for. Thank you.
For example, blue_bipo2 is the only yahoo member at this time who has given me the type of answer I’m looking for, but I’m still not finished yet and may extend the answering period for my question if I need to.

A: I first read about SPECT scans while reading a document on it in my psychiatrist waiting room in 2005. I immediately asked my GP to send a demand for me to get one…and after a long waiting list, I finally had mine done in 2006.

The results came back stating that there was a reduction of activity in my frontal left lobe and in my anterior and posterior gyrus (numerous convex folds or ridges of the surface of the brain)…basicaly: areas pertinent to normal brain activities. These situation can be found in poeple suffering from either: unipolar depression, certain bipolar illneses (in a depressive stage), and/or chronic fatigue syndrome.

The reason I’m sharring this personnal information with you is that, the results will show anormalities but won’t give a precise diagnostic. Some psychiatrist do not believe in their effeciency (because they say that any traumatic event will affect the brains functions) and therefore, some insurance compagny do not recognise the procedure as proof.

I personnaly wanted to have the SPECT scan done for me…( because I was tierd of people saying that there was no “proof”, and that I was just making excuses for my fluctuating behavior). The results gave me “physical” proof that my brain was indead functioning in different ways then most people and made me realise I didn’t have to doubt myself anymore (or put up with others comments). I am above average intelligence and would never have guessed that my brain activities were reduced. But it just goes to show how some things can be harder for me to grasp, while others don’t have to work as hard on it.

Some good did come out of it after all, because psychiatrists finaly realised I had bipolar type 2 (with more depressive episodes and a toutch of hypomania), and therefore I was finaly treated with the right medication. I have still yet to find the good combination of medication for me but, I now know that I’m on the rigth track. Also, I now do not feel the need to defend myself when others doubt that I am bipolar. The scan reasured me and helped me get on the recovery track faster (by accepting my condition).

Insurance wise though I may not be of any help to you, because where I live, my health procedures are covered. My disability claim is still “under investigation”, but the SPECT scan proves very clearly that I do have a condition.

I hope that sharing my personal experience helped you in any way.
Good luck

Q: Has anyone out there ever received ECT? (electro shock therapy?)?
Have you ever received this treatment for bipolar/depression? How long was your treatment for? Was it effective? Did you have any side effects and do you still have to take your medication?

Prefer answers from Australia as that is where I am from. Thanks.
I would also like to add that I would prefer serious genuine answers and not those from people who havent the slightest clue of the struggles that depression can bring.

This is a serious question for a serious problem. If you cannot say something useful to me then move on.

A: I wouldn’t try anything, pills is bad enough, wtf would you mess yourself up with that for?? You are depressed for a reason, it means you’re not meeting your own expectations and standards.. so start doing it!

Q: bipolar, depression,,,?
For the past few months i’ve been very down and my friends don’t like talking to me anymore because they say i’m no fun anymore and i’m not “cracking jokes” like i normally do. there are days when i’m very happy but other days i’m very upset and down. All i want to do is cry for no reason…and i just feel like talking to someone but i don’t know who……………..can someone please help me

A: You should really talk to a doctor about how you are feeling. Some of your feelings may be stress related, and some may be hormonal. But you may also be suffering from a bit of depression. Either way, only a doctor can help you to feel better. Please don’t wait. There really is no reason to be so miserable with the medications available today.

Q: Bipolar depression?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080427000140AAmDB2m&pa=FYd1D2bwHTHzJLNkE.M8QXXq5_NendBs6r2W4rlv6A05nA–&paid=asked&msgr_status=

Just to add to it, because I don’t know how to ??
1. What is a G.P?
2. I cannot go to my parents for this.
3. I have been forced to go to phcyciatrists before, because of such and such, but I couldn’t take it, as I say I get agravated, and I can’t talk I just freak out and start fliping like crazy… literly…

PLEASE if anyone can like let me talk to them… like a friend… help me…. and i’ll help you… i dont mind… just i need someone to talk to …. someone give me your email for yahoo pl.z…

A: I’ll be able to gather more insight and therefore assist you with your struggles if you email me

Q: What are the symptoms for bipolar depression?
I am afraid my loved one is suffering from a bipolar disorder. He has recently moved out from home, dropped out of school and is heading south with his life… Could it be bipolar depression? How can I help him if he doesn’t want to be helped?

A: My boyfriend suffers from bipolar disorder and it is a very complex disease. I recommend surfing the net as there is a lot of information to take it. I know when my boyfriend has had episodes he becomes very manic says stuff that even still I can’t believe he has said to me, very hurtful things. It is very hard to explain it all but look around the net for information. It is very important that they have someone supportive by their side…but it can be tough so be strong! My boyfriend also goes through the worst times when the seasons are changing (winter to spring and summer to fall).

Q: How do I help a friend who has bipolar depression?
A friend of mine has been going through some hard times and was recently diagnosed with bipolar depression. This means that some days he is active and able to do lots of things, but other days he doesn’t have the will to get out of bed, much less do anything productive.

Anyway, he recently moved back to the area and is now living kind of close to me (30 mins. driving). He doesn’t have many other friends in the area, and his illness keeps him from getting out very much and meeting new people. So, in many ways I feel as though I am his only source of friendship now. Also, it’s really difficult to stay in touch with him. When he is depressed, he won’t answer e-mails or telephone calls, much less return messages.

In some ways I feel like I can’t do much because if I can’t talk to him and hang out, how can I continue to be friends with him? But I also feel that, as a friend, I should stick with him through the hard times and do my best to help.

What can I do to help my friend?

A: Biopolar disorder is serious business, and can lead to suicide. My uncle had it. My advice is to make sure that your friend is getting the medical help he needs, and that he takes his perscription drugs, if you can. They often don’t like to take the medicine because they like the highs or durring the highs they think they are fine so they don’t take it. Biopolar is not one that is easy to fight on your own.

Just keep doing what you are doing. I would imagine that continued issolation would not be good for your friend. Invite him to things that you go to: parties, holiday events, heck!, take him grocery shopping with you. He’s got to get his groceries sometime. But, the thirty minute drive might make it difficult. An occasional party might be doable though. If nothing else, he will know that you care about him if you keep trying to communicate with him. You may catch him on one of his up days.

Q: What am I supposed to do to help myself with Bipolar Depression?
My mom keeps getting on to me because I am not getting better from depression. She keeps saying that I need to “fight it.” Well, exactly how do I do that? What am I supposed to be doing to help myself get over this? Honestly, I have no idea. My doctors have not told me anything except just to take these medicines.

A: Well for one you do not just get better from depression. We both know that. Your mom needs to understand that you are doing the best you can. I have battled depression almost 10 years and I have wished many times it would just go away but it doesn’t happen like that. What I do is to try and do something I enjoy, an outlet per say. Music is my outlet. I put on songs that take me back to a good time in my life. I wish you the best through this. I know how hard it really is.

Q: I have sleep apnea and bipolar depression. Will correcting the apnea improve the depression?
I have bipolar, although it’s mild I think. I frequently go back and forth between depressed and normal. I also have obstructive sleep apnea and have always had trouble sleeping. I’m having my tonsils out in 3 months to correct the problem. Will alleviating the apnea help stabilize my moods as well?

A: Probably not. Bipolar is caused by an imbalance of norepinephrine. You might get better sleep and that could help you feel better. I would talk to your doctor about your depression. Have you ever been diagnosed with bipolar? Because you need to have had a manic or hypomanic episode to be considered bipolar. I think you might just have depression. Bipolar isn’t between normal and sad, it’s between manic, normal, mixed, and depression. Talk to a doctor and get some professional help.

Q: How do they treat Bipolar I Depression in Teens?
For my psychotic symptoms/mania I’m on Abilify…but it does not help my depression.

I’ve been diagnosed recently with this with fast cycling…

I’ll tell my psychiatrist, but what can she do? I’m 17.
Are there certain medicines that work with Abilify to help Bipolar depression episodes ??

A: Usually Abilify is used with another drug for bipolar disorder. The most common ones are Lithium, Lamictal, and Serequel.

Q: How much does an episode of bipolar depression change a person?
Do the relationships they have ever revert to normal or are they forever altered by this diagnosis? It seems as though a person with this diagnosis becomes a total stranger, while they’re being treated. Please help!

A: Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to your question. But that doesn’t mean that what we do know is always negative. Bipolar disorder is a serious, incurable brain disorder that affects 2.6% of our society, so it is not surprising that you know someone with the disorder. You imply that the person to whom you are referring has become a total stranger while they’re being treated. That is not the norm with bipolar disorder.

In most cases, medication can treat the symptoms of the disorder, while therapy deals with the long-term issues surrounding the person and their disorder. It could be that this person seems like a total stranger because their medication is not optimal for them – they may be on too high a dosage of it, or not be on the right kind. A psychiatrist can make that determination as well as adjust their medication.

As far as reverting to normal, someone with bipolar disorder does not continuallly cycle without a break. In between episodes, with proper treatment, they can be as “normal” as anyone else.

Q: Can depression/bipolar disorder cause a person to molest a kid?
I don’t want any criticism….I know someone who’s molested a child and his psych evaluator suggested he might be suffering from depression. Is it possible that this caused him to do this horrible thing? He was extremely drunk at the time and came clean afterwards to the cops…He is now pending trial, but appears to show absolute disinterest in the whole thing….As for the actual deed…he touched a child inappropriately…
I just don’t want him to use bipolar/depression as an easy out…He is 23yrs old but is very immature..please help

A: Mental Illness does not provide an excuse for abusive behavior towards others, particularly sexual abuse. A person who attempts to molest a child does so because they want to do it and because they lacked the self-control to resist the impulse. The alcohol was probably the biggest factor in lowering your friends inhibitions and self-control enough to act on this, but again, it is not an excuse as no one made him drink and many people drink and don’t act out. Pedophiles, which your friend may or may not be, also have a fixated desire for sexual contact with children, however this diagnosis does not provide an excuse either. The only way psychiatric problems can offer a defense legally for criminal behavior is when it can be demonstrated that the illness caused the person such an impaiment in reality testing that they could not distinguish right from wrong, and this is very difficult to prove as even those with grossly impaired thinking still usually are able to differentiate between right and wrong. Your friend needs to experience the full consequences for his actions-I agree with you.

Q: What’s the cost of treating bipolar depression?
I need to know!! Help.
Is it really expensive? I don’t have that much money at the moment so I’d really appreciate this info.

A: bi-polar disorder is very complex and usually requires more than one med. and meds are expensive. so are psychs. however there are local organizations that help with the cost. in va we have the community services which provide psychs, counselors, and meds n a sliding scale. and always remember that as long as you pay something they will work with you.

Q: What are some online support groups for people with depression/bipolar disorder?
I’ve heard that there are onlne support groups for people who have been diagnosed with a mental illness such as depression or bipolar disorder. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. I think an online group might help me relieve some of my feelings of isolation when I am alone. I know that an in-person type of group might be beneficial as well, but I’d like to start slowly.

A: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=online+depression+support+groups

Q: I need help coping with bipolar depression. Any suggestions?
Im only 14 and i was diagnosed with bipolar disorder earlier this year.
i got raped a couple of weeks ago.
an i feel so bad about it.
i havent been put on any medicine yet
just seeing a psyciatrist cuz i tried to kill myself.
has anyone got anyways i could cope naturally
my mom doesnt want me to take anything
plz help i feeling im losing control of my life.

A: What happened to you was bad but you can definitely come out good from this experience too. But you have to be prepared to help yourself.
How many times have you seen your psychiatrist? It seems strange that after diagnosing you as suffering from Bipolar Disorder he/she has not prescribed any medications yet. Your mom may have her own reasons to believe that you must not be on medications but do try to talk to your doctor by yourselves too to understand whether he/she believes that medications will help. Try to understand how they will help.
Please understand that what happened to you was not your fault. You were not the cause. A sick person has hurt you and committed a crime. That person needs to be punished for that crime. You have a right to feel angry but don’t let anger destroy you. You have your dreams and there are things you want to do and enjoy. You must try to fulfil those dreams. You owe it to yourself.
Your life is very precious to you and to your parents and family and friends. Never ever try to take your own life. That can never be a solution to any problem.

Q: What causes bipolar depression?
Does it get really healed,I have a friend who has been taking Enchorate Chrono tabs plus Fluanxol.He gets sad all of a sudden, is aggressive and very forgetful.Needs help.

A: Bipolar disorder is the brain mis handling neurotransmitters causing episodes of severe depression and episodes of mania.

It is known to have some genetic links, but is not entirely genetic as it can occur with no family history of it. There are some genes that are thought to have some linkage to bipolar. But exactly what causes it is not known.

It does not “get healed”. It is a life long illness that can be treated and kept under control by medication, but it doesn’t go away.

Q: How do I get disability for bipolar and depression?
I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, major depression and uncontrolable anxiety. I have had 4 jobs in less than a year and I keep losing them because I can’t handle the pressure of a work inviroment. I keep getting denied for disability even with the total suport of my shrink. I am at the end of my rope and I can’t cope anymore with the stress of work. anyone know what i could do to get help finacialy for my dissorders?

A: Do you qualify for SSDI or just SSI?

People don’t always get denied the first time, that’s a myth. There a book they have that lists everything SSA considers automatically disabling. Here’s the link http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm

Obviously, you don’t meet a listing so YOU have to prove how your SYMPTOMS keep you from working and caring for yourself. If they feel they need more information, you’ll be evaluated by Voc Rehab to see if you can do other work. They don’t care how many disorders you have.

Here’s a link to their process http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify5.htm

If you keep reapplying, stop. Follow the process and file an appeal, eventually you’ll get to the hearing level. Do everything they ask you to do and keep all appointments.

It sometimes takes years to be approved and some people never do get approved. Try your local welfare office or community mental health center. Good luck.

Q: how do I get free help if I think I have bipolar depression?

A: http://www.DBSAlliance.org

They have lots of information and free counseling for you.

Q: Medications for Bipolar, Depression, and Anxiety?
I would like to hear from people that have been diagnosed with bipolar, anxiety, and depression and your opinions of what medications have worked best for you (and what has not worked). Preferably adults in the age range of 40 to 65. Also any comments about Zyprexa are welcome.

A: Uh, yeh, to the two non-bipolars answering above.

Zyprexa is a good acute med, but because of the odds that it will drive your sugar level up and pack on 50 pounds, it’s not such a good maintenance med.

Lamictal and Lithium have worked well for me. It’s a good combo where Lamictal deals well with most of the depression and Lithium handles the hypo/manic stuff that Lamictal doesn’t really touch. It also augment’s Lamictal’s antidepressant qualities. Seroquel is an AP like Zyprexa. It too has a potential to elevate sugar serum levels, but not as high as Zyprexa. At low doses it is a good sleep meds and anxiolytic. It is sedating! Often a low dose at night will deal with next day anxiety. I’m 44. That’s what’s working for me.

A great website for crazy med info is http://www.crazymeds.org . There are write ups in English on most bipolar meds that include links to manufacturer Patient Info (PI) sheets as well as to some studies. The talk board is dedicated to meds and their are a lot of knowledgeable bipolars on it.

Q: Can herbal teas that are made to relax you interact with anxiety, depression, bipolar meds?
Ive been wondering this for a long long time now. I take meds for all of that. Right now I’m going off of the anxiety meds and probabley the depression meds but sometimes at night I feel really anxious and need something to calm me down so I drink teas that are for sleep or relaxation. I’m pretty paranoid about all of this, pills, what mixes with what etc.
So I was wondering. Is it dangerous? Can I over sedate?

A: To some extent, it depends on the quirks of your personal metabolism. I once had a bad reaction between a drug I was taking and peppermint tea. The combination triggered an episode of vertigo that went on for hours (I was fine with either one alone). I don’t know if that’s happened to anyone else, but it definitely caused me some grief. I also had a very nasty reaction to St. John’s wort and I know others with the same complaint.

“Herbal” does not equal “safe.” Some of the nastiest poisons on the planet are derived from plants. There’s no testing requirement, so no one knows for certain how various herbs interact with various drugs, even ignoring the quirks of individual metabolisms.

Be sure to tell your doctor(s) about all the drugs you’re taking, including OTC remedies, herbals and vitamins. Maybe your personal metabolism can handle them and maybe it will have problems. All you can do is keep track of things and monitor yourself for odd symptoms.

Q: Do you have symptoms of bipolar, anxiety, depression?
Well I just wanted to let you know things that I’ve been observing and doing for the past year that has helped me so much with bipolar, depression, anxiety. Seriously, I can’t even sleep for days without my heavy loads of medication, but these ways of doing things really helps with all of this. At first I thought it wouldn’t help then, I just tried and found it really helped. Here are some things that naturally helps that you can do on your own.

First of all never call your self sick or label yourself. Just treat yourself for your symptoms, like a cold in a way. Notice your symptoms, like when you notice a cough, treat it, but don’t obsess over it, and you’ll notice improvement the best. Remember things can always be worse so make the most of what you can as you try to improve your situation.

The body works by chemical reactions and foods are chemicals consumed to help the body carry on things that the body needs to do. So it’s important to get all nutrients needed. Take half a multi-vitamin a day, try taking vitamin b-stress complex daily, and take omega 3-6-9 supplements which is proven to help with nourishing the brain.Take it for a few weeks and you’ll notice the difference.

It is also very important to get sunlight daily which helps boost the mood. Exercise helps boost the mood and and take care of excess energy. It helps with better sleep at night.

Make sure you sleep and wake up at a regular schedule. Sleep is very important to help the mind heal and to be in a good mood. Get 8hrs of sleep each night. No more than ten because too much sleep can make you feel groggy.

Another thing is try to change any negative or stressful thought you have to an optimistic one. Even if it doesn’t feel like you believe it, tell yourself you believe it. I once was told everything is love, atleast some sort of love, and everything else is your own perception. Jealousy, hate anger, resentment takes away calmness from people, and a sense of peace in ones’ mind is important. it’s also important to have a general love for humanity.

Also stay away from stimulating things, no hair spray, markers, chocolate, tea, coffee, horror flicks. Anything that causes that high or rushed feeling causes stress on the body.

Hope this helps you guys, message me if you have any questions or wanna talk

A: that is good advice!

Q: Medication Regime for Bipolar, Anxiety, and Depression?
I would like to hear from people that have been diagnosed with bipolar, anxiety, and depression and your opinions of what medications have worked best for you (and what has not worked). Preferably adults in the age range of 40 to 65. Also any comments about Zyprexa are welcome.
I moved it to mental health. Sorry to annoy anyone in the real estate market.

A: I think you have posted in the wrong forum, this should probably be in the Health forum not Renting & Real Estate

Q: Please Read! Do you have symptoms of bipolar, anxiety, depression?
Well I just wanted to let you know things that I’ve been observing and doing for the past year that has helped me so much with bipolar, depression, anxiety. Seriously, I can’t even sleep for days without my heavy loads of medication, but these ways of doing things really helps with all of this. At first I thought it wouldn’t help then, I just tried and found it really helped. Here are some things that naturally helps that you can do on your own.

First of all never call your self sick or label yourself. Just treat yourself for your symptoms, like a cold in a way. Notice your symptoms, like when you notice a cough, treat it, but don’t obsess over it, and you’ll notice improvement the best. Remember things can always be worse so make the most of what you can as you try to improve your situation.

The body works by chemical reactions and foods are chemicals consumed to help the body carry on things that the body needs to do. So it’s important to get all nutrients needed. Take half a multi-vitamin a day, try taking vitamin b-stress complex daily, and take omega 3-6-9 supplements which is proven to help with nourishing the brain.Take it for a few weeks and you’ll notice the difference.

It is also very important to get sunlight daily which helps boost the mood. Exercise helps boost the mood and and take care of excess energy. It helps with better sleep at night.

Make sure you sleep and wake up at a regular schedule. Sleep is very important to help the mind heal and to be in a good mood. Get 8hrs of sleep each night. No more than ten because too much sleep can make you feel groggy.

Another thing is try to change any negative or stressful thought you have to an optimistic one. Even if it doesn’t feel like you believe it, tell yourself you believe it. I once was told everything is love, atleast some sort of love, and everything else is your own perception. Jealousy, hate anger, resentment takes away calmness from people, and a sense of peace in ones’ mind is important. it’s also important to have a general love for humanity.

Also stay away from stimulating things, no hair spray, markers, chocolate, tea, coffee, horror flicks. Anything that causes that high or rushed feeling causes stress on the body.

Hope this helps you guys, message me if you have any questions or wanna talk

A: Hi! That’s a great guideline For Dealing with it! sometimes the stress anger etc gets so high you CANNOT control yourself sometimes. that’s how i am and always will be, BUT if you follow this guideline you can control it so kudos to you! BTW don’t let them give you PAXIL i used to take it, it litteraly made me insane for a while!

Q: What is Bipolar disorder? How is it different from depression/anxiety?
How is Bipolar Disorder different from social anxiety & depression. How do you tell the difference?? What are the different symptoms? How is it diagnosed? Is this disorder treated the same way as anxiety & depression?

A: Hi – Bipolar disorder is different from depression/anxiety in that our mood levels go from very low to very high. it’s called cycling and it can continue for long periods of time, or could disappear in no time and hen leving us change six or seven times in one day.

The low end is the hard part./ I get very depressed and just wantto sit and watch television and let everything else go. One can be completely housebound due to the depression of Bipolar, and then, suddently, in a day or two be out and about, all over town, making new friends, buying things they don’t need, interviewing for jobs they’d love to have, but could never fulflill. A few of us have ended up traveling across the country incognito, then suddenly appearing in the middle of an airport, stark naked.

Just remember, take the smalest dosage of the bipolar meds that you can get by with, learn to role with the ups and dows and find a good doctor. Also, sometimes, it’s difficult to work at a regular job, many of us work at home, or become involved in fine arts, like painting, music, writing, etc. Make the most of it, it could be a lot worse. just learn to undersand bipolar and then begin to anticipate what triggers certain moods.

I do want to add one more imoprtant item and that is the number of completed suicides in bipolar patients is rather high – that’s why it is so important to have a psych and a therapist – one to keep track of your meds and the other to keep aware of how things are going on an everyday level.

good luck,
welcome aboard
good luck,
kathy

Q: Have symptoms of anxiety, depression, bipolar?
Well I just wanted to let you know things that I’ve been observing and doing for the past year that has helped me so much with bipolar, depression, anxiety. Seriously, I can’t even sleep for days without my heavy loads of medication, but these ways of doing things really helps with all of this. At first I thought it wouldn’t help then, I just tried and found it really helped. Here are some things that naturally helps that you can do on your own.

First of all never call your self sick or label yourself. You must accept yourself also. Just treat yourself for your symptoms, like a cold in a way. Notice your symptoms, like when you notice a cough, treat it, but don’t obsess over it, and you’ll notice improvement the best. Remember things can always be worse so make the most of what you can as you try to improve your situation.

To feel better you have to want it and believe you’ll be okay, and once you believe it and want it, you’ll start asking people questions and be interested on your own on how to be stable. You’ll also feel a relief that you will find help soon enough. All the help you need is within yourself and other places out there.

The body works by chemical reactions and foods are chemicals consumed to help the body carry on things that the body needs to do. So it’s important to get all nutrients needed. Take half a multi-vitamin a day, try taking vitamin b-stress complex daily, and take omega 3-6-9 supplements which is proven to help with nourishing the brain.Take it for a few weeks and you’ll notice the difference.

Also, mood problems can occur from hormonal imbalances, like low thyroid levels.
It is also very important to get sunlight daily which helps boost the mood. Exercise helps boost the mood and and take care of excess energy. It helps with better sleep at night.

Make sure you sleep and wake up at a regular schedule. Sleep is very important to help the mind heal and to be in a good mood. Get 8hrs of sleep each night. No more than ten because too much sleep can make you feel groggy.

Another thing is try to change any negative or stressful thought you have to an optimistic one. Even if it doesn’t feel like you believe it, tell yourself you believe it. I once was told everything is love, atleast some sort of love, and everything else is your own perception. Jealousy, hate anger, resentment takes away calmness from people, and a sense of peace in ones’ mind is important. it’s also important to have a general love for humanity.

Also stay away from stimulating things, no hair spray, markers, chocolate, tea, coffee, horror flicks. Anything that causes that high or rushed feeling causes stress on the body.

Here are some great websites for anxiety and bipolar:

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anxiety_self_help.htm

http://www.selftherapy.org/?gclid=CPnvtsDKrpwCFRxNagodJj2Sjw

http://anxieties.com/free.php

http://www.anxietynetwork.com/helphome.html

http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/2008/12/10-bipolar-disorder-self-help-tips/

Hope this helps you guys, message me if you have any questions or wanna talk
I’m diagnosed with bipolar from three different doctors. This information works for anyone

A: Well done on discovering the power of pma!
I used to suffer badly from depression, but after realising that negativity can only affect me if i allow it to, i have changed my life for the better. I ditched my partner(he insulted me so often i almost believed him), and began to realise that I AM a strong, capable, intelligent person, and my life has really improved.
Instead of relying on medication, however, I’ve found that exercise has really boosted my mood and self esteem. I’ve even lost a bit of weight, which is an added bonus!

Q: i need help _bipolar?anxiety?depression? ext.._?
i have posted many articles, seen 3 therpists/psychologists, and searched forever to try to find out a solution. I have gone through lexipro, welbutatain, aderol, ext. So far nothing has helped, i write down everyday whats going on to see if someone can tell me whats wrong so i can persue meds to help.
my question is….. Is there any service or Anyone who can help me through chat or something online? just so i can get more info. and possibly find out a solution.
Tons of people say i have bipolar disorder, but then others say its different because what i have CYCLES too fast. The therapists i see recommend stuff just to see if it’ll work without even listening to me…i don’t have the time to test out 20 medications/ hoping that one will help. One therapist is my dads friend who believes i have bipolar disorder with something else but he doesn’t want to perscribe bipolar meds because he thinks it’ll make me a “zombie”… then others tell me that’s false. So i’m really confused here. I haven’t really gotten to actually talk with someone to explain myself so they can really get an educated idea of whats wrong.

What people have said that’s wrong with me: Bipolar disorder, personality disorder, depression, adhd mixed with depression, anxiety disorder, and some other junk.

I just want to chat with someone online that i can have a disscusion with to see if they have an idea of what i have and what i should do to help myself.

Anything will be GREATLY appreciated as i’m trying to get my life in control before i go off to college (5months away)
.or before i do something EXTREMELY stupid…

~i have punched at least 70 holes in the walls of my house, almost tipped a car (on 2 wheeles), have driven with eyes closed, attempted to start many fights, gone 120mph on highways, skipped 39% of my senior year of high school due to depression/ anger, neglecting many responsibilities, gone anti-social to talkative and back, headakes all the time, lightheaded all the time, broken 3 fingers 2 knuckles from punching things, taken sludgehammer to a bike in anger, walked out of school multiple times from racing thoughts that lead to migranes, cut my arm with a knife, have had times constantly thinking about plain suicide (but cant go through with it as i believe it would be against God’s law) and more…
~ all of that is not anything like me, none of my friends realize anything is wrong, my dad tries to help but nothing yet, my mom believes it can all be fixed if i pray….-.- ive prayed a lot -.-
~ive been this way most of my life but within the last 2 years its been the worst yet. And i just want it all to stop, so far every medicine i have taken hasn’t helped…the welbutatain gives me more control but isn’t near providing a large difference.

sorry for the length/ and the repetition, but thank you for your time.

A: Have you ever been evaluated by a psychologist or a psychiatrist? Sometimes drugs can help if there is a chemical imbalance or a part of the brain is not operating efficiently. Have you had blood work done? Do you have a good primary care physician? He should be able to refer you to someone who can help. Drugs are not always the answer, though. It sounds like you need help from a professional. Good luck!

Q: Recently diagnosed with severe social anxiety & bipolar depression. Can I get disability?
I have been struggling with depression and anxiety issues for as long as I can remember, only I never received treatment until recently. These issues have become so great within the past 2 years that I have been unable to work a steady job or to be able to work at all. The only reason I never sought treatment before was because, when I was underage and was covered by my mother/father’s insurance, they didn’t believe I had any kind of depression issues, just wrote it off as teenage hormones. Once they finally realized that in fact, it wasn’t just hormones, and that I was really having these problems; their insurance no longer covered me (I was over 18 at that point). Ever since, I haven’t had any other kind of insurance and thought, “Well, without insurance I’m just shit out of luck.” Until my friend told me about a clinic that would help me – free of charge. But that was only recently.
So anyways, point being – I was diagnosed (finally) with severe social anxiety/phobia and bipolar depression (manic episodes) and I was wondering if that would qualify enough to get approved for disability, with my clinic testimony?

A: you can try, but alot of times mental disabilities get rejected most of the time. i was lucky with mine…i got approved in less than 3 months. (adhd, schizo-affective, anxiety, depression). they’ll send you to see their psych for an eval since you don’t have a great medical history with it, and if you don’t “Seem” mentally ill, they say you are fine. (quotes because their definition of that is skewed…) good luck if you do…oooh, and,if you do qualify, you’d only get SSI since you haven’t worked the requirement…it’s money, but not enough to ever live on.

Q: Is it possible to avoidant personality disorder, social anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression and ADD?
Honestly, I feel like I have all of these issues and I understand many are intertwined and likely caused by others. I’m seeing a psychologist tomorrow for the first time in my life. Should I just straight out tell them I think I have all these problems or let them ask the questions?

A: If you are worried about all of these things, then the most likely diagnosis is an anxiety disorder of some kind, such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Anxiety and Depression frequently overlap.

Tell the doctor (psychologist) about your symptoms meaning tell them you are worried about them. Let them do the diagnosing-that is what they are trained to do. They should ask specific questions to help them rule in/out a diagnosis.

Good luck and give yourself credit for seeking help.

Q: Name for Young Adult Bipolar/depression/anxiety support team?
I’m thinking of starting a meeting group in my area for people my age who are having a tough time coping with their mental illnesses. its targeting mostly toward people in their late teens, early twenties. what i want to do is go out as a group and discuss things in lounges or go on day trips, or meet up at each others place and play music/jam/talk.

A: Excellent idea,peer support rules!

Q: Please Read, Have symptoms of depression, anxiety, bipolar?
I would appreciate if you read all of this

Well I just wanted to let you know things that I’ve been observing and doing for the past year that has helped me so much with my diagnosis of bipolar which comes with depression and anxiety. Seriously, I can’t even sleep for days without my heavy loads of medication, but these ways of doing things really helps with all of this. At first I thought it wouldn’t help then, I just tried and found it really helped. Here are some things that naturally helps that you can do on your own.

First of all never call your self sick or label yourself. You must accept yourself also. Just treat yourself for your symptoms, like a cold in a way. Notice your symptoms, like when you notice a cough, treat it, but don’t obsess over it, and you’ll notice improvement the best. Remember things can always be worse so make the most of what you can as you try to improve your situation.

To feel better you have to want it and believe you’ll be okay, and once you believe it and want it, you’ll start asking people questions and be interested on your own on how to be stable. You’ll also feel a relief that you will find help soon enough. All the help you need is within yourself and other places out there.

The body works by chemical reactions and foods are chemicals consumed to help the body carry on things that the body needs to do. So it’s important to get all nutrients needed. Take half a multi-vitamin a day, try taking vitamin b-stress complex daily, and take omega 3-6-9 supplements which is proven to help with nourishing the brain.Take it for a few weeks and you’ll notice the difference.

Also, mood problems can occur from hormonal imbalances, like low thyroid levels.
It is also very important to get sunlight daily which helps boost the mood. Exercise helps boost the mood and and take care of excess energy. It helps with better sleep at night.

Make sure you sleep and wake up at a regular schedule. Sleep is very important to help the mind heal and to be in a good mood. Get 8hrs of sleep each night. No more than ten because too much sleep can make you feel groggy.

Another thing is try to change any negative or stressful thought you have to an optimistic one. Even if it doesn’t feel like you believe it, tell yourself you believe it. Also, try not to label as much and just be, just say things are just the way they are, you are the one who puts meanings on things. I once was told everything is love, atleast some sort of love, and everything else is your own perception. Jealousy, hate anger, resentment takes away calmness from people, and a sense of peace in ones’ mind is important. it’s also important to have a general love for humanity.

Also stay away from stimulating things, no hair spray, markers, chocolate, tea, coffee, horror flicks. Anything that causes that high or rushed feeling causes stress on the body.

Here are some great websites for anxiety and bipolar:

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anxiety_…

http://www.selftherapy.org/?gclid=CPnvts…

http://anxieties.com/free.php

http://www.anxietynetwork.com/helphome.h…

http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/20…

Hope this helps you guys, message me if you have any questions or wanna talk

A: Cool. I have bipolar and anxiety too. Great info

Q: Need help? Please Read, Have symptoms of depression, anxiety, bipolar?
I would appreciate if you read all of this

Well I just wanted to let you know things that I’ve been observing and doing for the past year that has helped me so much with my diagnosis of bipolar which comes with depression and anxiety. Seriously, I can’t even sleep for days without my heavy loads of medication, but these ways of doing things really helps with all of this. At first I thought it wouldn’t help then, I just tried and found it really helped. Here are some things that naturally helps that you can do on your own.

First of all never call your self sick or label yourself. You must accept yourself also. Just treat yourself for your symptoms, like a cold in a way. Notice your symptoms, like when you notice a cough, treat it, but don’t obsess over it, and you’ll notice improvement the best. Remember things can always be worse so make the most of what you can as you try to improve your situation.

To feel better you have to want it and believe you’ll be okay, and once you believe it and want it, you’ll start asking people questions and be interested on your own on how to be stable. You’ll also feel a relief that you will find help soon enough. All the help you need is within yourself and other places out there.

The body works by chemical reactions and foods are chemicals consumed to help the body carry on things that the body needs to do. So it’s important to get all nutrients needed. Take half a multi-vitamin a day, try taking vitamin b-stress complex daily, and take omega 3-6-9 supplements which is proven to help with nourishing the brain.Take it for a few weeks and you’ll notice the difference.

Also, mood problems can occur from hormonal imbalances, like low thyroid levels.
It is also very important to get sunlight daily which helps boost the mood. Exercise helps boost the mood and and take care of excess energy. It helps with better sleep at night.

Make sure you sleep and wake up at a regular schedule. Sleep is very important to help the mind heal and to be in a good mood. Get 8hrs of sleep each night. No more than ten because too much sleep can make you feel groggy.

Another thing is try to change any negative or stressful thought you have to an optimistic one. Even if it doesn’t feel like you believe it, tell yourself you believe it. I once was told everything is love, atleast some sort of love, and everything else is your own perception. Jealousy, hate anger, resentment takes away calmness from people, and a sense of peace in ones’ mind is important. it’s also important to have a general love for humanity.

Also stay away from stimulating things, no hair spray, markers, chocolate, tea, coffee, horror flicks. Anything that causes that high or rushed feeling causes stress on the body.

Here are some great websites for anxiety and bipolar:

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anxiety_…

http://www.selftherapy.org/?gclid=CPnvts…

http://anxieties.com/free.php

http://www.anxietynetwork.com/helphome.h…

http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/20…

Hope this helps you guys, message me if you have any questions or wanna talk

A: You just helped a lot of people. This is what I do and I am impressed how well you are in tune with your issue and are facing it without shame or fear. That is the key, isn’t it.
Good for you and I hope you use this as a prop to realize that you have a special gift and that is to use your issue to help others in life, that just might be your calling.
I remain,
Socrates,
Your assistant

Q: I think i have depression/anxiety/bipolar/paranoia?
im 14 and i think i have either depression anxiety or bipolar disorder.
i have been feeling really sad and like my life is going to end because im not good enough, my grades are very low and i find it very hard to concentrate, thankfully i have friends to help me but i find it hard to be with people i get extremely scared of what they think about me and if im doing everything right, im scared im not perfect even though i know no one is perfect. when my friends invite me over theyre house i cant go because im scared ill look too fat or i didnt put enough makeup on. i cant change in the school change rooms because im scared people will call me fat even though im never teased.i always tell my parents in sick so i can stay home because somedays ive just had enough and i think im getting talked about.i find it very difficult to talk ot people escpecially boys. i never eat in public; i go somewhere were no one can see me. i havnt told anyone about this, but i feel like i need to be helped because its really getting to me and theres no way ill work up the guts to tell anyone

A: I agree with JD, and I think you need to get into talk therapy and you may need tranquilizers, at least during the day. It sounds as if you’re socially handicapped and suffer from anxiety. I don’t think this is depression or bipolar disorder. If tranqs or talk therapy don’t help, get to a psychiatrist. You may need more medication.

I’m sorry life is so full of anguish for you. I hope it gets better.

Q: How is someone who has generalized anxiety disorder & depression different from someone who has bipolar?
When I was in the 9th grade I was diagnosed with GAD, but then in the 12th grade my psychologist told me that I either have GAD & depression or bipolar. I haven’t been able to afford to see another psychologist or a psychiatrist since, but I am still wondering. What are the differences? My mother does not think that I have bipolar.

A: The anxiety Depression is neurotic or character Disorders
BiPolarism is a Biochemical Major Mental Illness ususally with psychotic episodes. And is a lifetime Disorder not like depression or anxiety

Q: What are the symptoms for bipolar depression?
I am afraid my loved one is suffering from a bipolar disorder. He has recently moved out from home, dropped out of school and is heading south with his life… Could it be bipolar depression? How can I help him if he doesn’t want to be helped?

A: My boyfriend suffers from bipolar disorder and it is a very complex disease. I recommend surfing the net as there is a lot of information to take it. I know when my boyfriend has had episodes he becomes very manic says stuff that even still I can’t believe he has said to me, very hurtful things. It is very hard to explain it all but look around the net for information. It is very important that they have someone supportive by their side…but it can be tough so be strong! My boyfriend also goes through the worst times when the seasons are changing (winter to spring and summer to fall).

Q: I have been having strange symptoms of bipolar or depression lately, but I now I don’t have depression! Help?
I have been feeling depressed lately, but I checked depression symptoms and I know I don’t have that. However, other times I feel very happy and energized, hyper actually. I thought maybe I have bipolar, but I can’t seem to find accurate symptoms. Please help, my sister thinks its “cute” how I think something is wrong, and I don’t want to talk to my mother unless I am sure something is wrong. My symptoms are that some days I am extremely happy and enjoy life. Other days, like today, I feel depressed and angry. I cried at least three times today, all over small things. Normally I would ignore them, but everything just seemed to boil over the top. Thanks!
This has been happening for almost a year now, not just a day or two, just to add.

A: Hormones. Episodes in Bipolar last for weeks or months, not just a day or two and they are MUCH more extreme than you describe. You are not Bipolar.

EDIT – the episodes last for weeks or months……. depressed for weeks or months then manic for weeks or months……. not just some days happy and some days sad.

You are not Bipolar, you are hormonal.

Q: Bipolar/Depression Symptoms?
I’m pretty sure I suffer from either both or one of the two. I know the symptoms and I’ve done the research. But I just don’t want to believe that I suffer from this. Depression runs in my family, so there is a chance perhaps. Please, can you give me accurate information to determine whether or not I suffer from one or both of these; or give me a site to go to?

A: I am a sufferer of Bi-polar syndrome as well as clinical depression. You should definately go see a psychologist, because the Internet cannot predict your mental health. I’ve tried to search on Yahoo! and Google for you, but it only gave me sites that were related, but only gave information on what the symptoms are. If you know what the symptoms are, and you catch yourself at one of these symptoms, you should go see a psychologist. To this day I still do not want to believe that I have these mental illnesses. My GREAT, great, great, etc, uncle by marriage is Edgar Allan Poe. Believe it or not, at my family reunion I found out from my family that I am, in fact, related to him by marriage, and that depression runs in the family. I want to tell you now, if you have something planned for yourself, and if you do indeed share these mental illnesses, do not let your guard down. I want to change the world, but I won’t let these disorders stand in the way of believing in life. Please seek a psychologist before your depression and bi-polar get worse, because it can, and if you are CONVINCED, then please seek help from one. Depression can escalate into something much worse, trust me, I had to go to a mental hospital for 10 days, and if it wasn’t for my psychologist in the hospital, I would be dead.

Q: What are the symptoms of bipolar and depression?
Please. Help me.

A: Bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) causes serious shifts in a person’s mood, energy, thinking, and behavior – from the highs of mania on one extreme, to the lows of depression on the other. More than just a fleeting good or bad mood, the cycles of bipolar disorder last for days, weeks, or months. And unlike ordinary mood swings, the mood changes of bipolar disorder are so intense that they interfere with your ability to function.

During a manic episode, a person might impulsively quit a job, charge up huge amounts on credit cards, or feel rested after sleeping two hours. During a depressive episode, the same person might be too tired to get out of bed and full of self-loathing and hopelessness over being unemployed and in debt.

The symptoms of bipolar disorder vary widely from person to person, with unpredictable differences in their pattern, severity, and frequency.

Common signs and symptoms of mania include:

* Feeling unusually “high” and optimistic OR extremely irritable
* Unrealistic, grandiose beliefs about one’s abilities or powers
* Sleeping very little, but feeling extremely energetic
* Talking so rapidly that others can’t keep up
* Racing thoughts; jumping quickly from one idea to the next
* Highly distractible, unable to concentrate
* Impaired judgment and impulsiveness
* Acting recklessly without thinking about the consequences
* Delusions and hallucinations (in severe cases)

Common symptoms of bipolar depression include:

* Feeling hopeless, sad, or empty.
* Irritability
* Inability to experience pleasure
* Fatigue or loss of energy
* Physical and mental sluggishness
* Appetite or weight changes
* Sleep problems
* Concentration and memory problems
* Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
* Thoughts of death or suicide

———————————————————————————————

According to the DSM-IV, major depressive disorder (or “depression”) is diagnosed when five or more of the following symptoms of depression are present for most of the day, nearly every day for at least 2 weeks. At least one of the symptoms must be either persistent sad or “empty” feelings or loss of interest in activities.

* Constant sadness
* Irritability
* Hopelessness
* Trouble sleeping
* Low energy or fatigue
* Feeling worthless or guilty for no reason
* Significant weight change
* Difficulty concentrating
* Loss of interest in favorite activities

Q: These symptoms: Bipolar or Depression, or something else?
i spend money all the time on anything & everything…i have been evicted several times because i just can’t stop spending on clothes, shoes, knick knacks, garage sales, flea markets! i kick myself all of the time because i feel, i should have known better…and yet, i continue doing it. i can not seem to keep the house cleaned. i have a hard time organizing, even though i have great ideas about things. i hoard everything, and hate letting anything go.
sometimes, especially lately, i wake up feeling hopeless about things. but then if i go back to sleep, i wake up feeling much better. sometimes, i dont’ even have to go back to sleep. take yesterday, for example…i was at work and wanted to kill anyone who came near me, however, by lunch, i was chatting it up like there was no tomorrow. i am very anxious when talking to people sometimes…i have a hard time talking on the phone..i pretty much avoid it alltogether.
i am distrusting of everyone, including myself. sometimes, i forget what i was talking about…..like i will be talking, then someone asks me a question about what i just said, and i have to ask them what we were just talking about. last, i hardly ever go anywhere…i spend a lot of my time after work either on the computer playing pogo (games) or sleeping. i think more about not being here…how it might be better off, but then i’m ok?

do i have a problem?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApqMle7xqUErHBxpmvfPJiHsy6IX?qid=20060801131314AA8lNfc

A: You have a problem that is too complicated to diagnose on line. The problem is serious enough to screw up your finances and relationships, so it is serious enough to see a professional and find out what you can do to get your life back under control.

See your doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist or consult a psychologist.

Q: Natural Ways to eliminate and/or reduce symptoms of Bipolar, Depression & Extreme PMS moods?
I have been on medications for Bipolar Disorder for about 13 years now and the results have not been too wonderful. As a result of the Bipolar, I also suffer from extreme depression at times and extreme mood swings for a week or two leading up to my cycle. So really there is only about a week or two in the month where I feel able to deal with the world on a complete level. Mind you, I am not crazy. Before having my baby I was a professional in the medical field and have a very functional life. I am just looking for better ways of dealing with these problems. Please share your similar and success stories. Also, has anyone been on a non medicated regimen and how has it worked?

A: I have a friend that is bi-polar, and I called her to get the info. for you. She was having some depression, and side effects from the drugs, so started looking for natural alternatives. My friend found a wellness coach, that really helped her a lot. As far as I know she does not have any depression any more, and doing really well. My friend said that the wellness coach does not charge anything, and she has the sources to find natural alternatives for you, really great products that have changed her life. Hope this helps you as much as it did her.
I will give you the site below.

Q: are these symptoms of depression or bipolar disorder or any other kind of mental disorder?
insomnia at night/exhaustion and lethargy during the day
random and unnecessary obsessions (though not obviously unhealthy)
loss of interest in friends and activities
once straight A student losing interest in schoolwork (college)
not pursuing social activities
outbursts of crying when stress builds up
a normally avid writer not able to write
inability to focus

basically, the person I’m referring to is in their late teens, has a family history of mental disorders, parents just separated after years of a turbulent marriage, and mother is facing financial difficulty and losing their family home. Just wondering if all this can lead to depression or has lead to depression and what she can do about it.

A: Many of the symptoms you mentioned can point to bipolar disorder; however, it could just be situational depression because of what is happening in their life (parents separating, having to lose home, etc.). So, yes, all this could lead to depression or even bipolar depression. Only a doctor (preferably a psychiatrist) can diagnose your friend, however. It sounds like they may need some help. If diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder, they would be put on medication that would help them.

Q: Looking for a complete list of the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?
I put one together from from seven different medical encyclopedias and sources, as I found most individual sources to be incomplete and not including symptoms found in other sources. (I do not claim to know all of them, but I have done ALOT of reading and research, and I think it’s safe to say I’ve covered most of the known symptoms of Bipolar Disorder.

The webpage I’m giving you includes the two types (or intensities) of Bipolar:
Bipolar 1: the symptoms of mania (32 symptoms), depression (27), and some possible symptoms of the mixed episode (24).
Bipolar 2: hypomania (12 features), depression (the same 27 symptoms as Bipolar 1)

Note: you do not have to have all the symptoms to have Bipolar Disorder, I do not know of anyone who has every single one. And I know for a fact that each person’s Bipolar experience is unique.

The webpage also includes Cyclothemia, “the cycling of hypomanic episodes with depression that does not reach major depressive proportions.”

Here’s the link:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcp466nb_5dfxhtxfw&hl=en

I have Bipolar Disorder myself and I’ve done alot of research and reading as well as a newsletter including different topics related to or about Bipolar Disorder or depression in addition mental health humor– for a group of Bipolars at my church. If you would like to talk to someone who understands or recieve more information, or a have a link to my newsletter, feel free to email me through my profile.

I also encourage you to seek out professional medical care, preferably a psychiatrist, one who also uses natural medicine and supplements. Nutrition, vitamins and supplements, diet, exercise, medicine, a good psychiatrist, among other things, can all affect Bipolar Disorder. Email me for a list of 15 tips for people with Bipolar Disorder or depression.

Love and understanding,
Amy
Actually, here I’ll just include the 15 Tips For People With Bipolar Disorder Or Depression Here:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dcp466nb_29csxkftgq&hl=en
And the Bipolar newsletter I did for a while (I hope to take it up again):

http://joyinpain.googlepages.com/
NOTE: I mentioned 7 medical sources from I gathered symptoms of Bipolar Disorder—well I also went to many other websites that had a list of Bipolar symptoms, but those symptoms were already included in my extensive list. (I wrote this note so that you know I looked at much more than seven places when forming my list).

A: Thanks! This list helped me a lot to understand some stuff. I was just recently diagnosed with Bipolar. I didn’t really see any logical reason why the docs and people think I’m bipolar, but now that I know some of the symptoms, I understand why.

Q: What are classic symptoms of bipolar?
I have read that they dont always need to sleep is that a true fact for someone with a bipolar disorder, or can someone have other symptoms including depression, low self esteem and mood fluctuations and be considered bipolar? Thanks for any help

A: The best way to see mental disorders is a series of varying degrees of depression and stress. Mild stress produces an excellent person for creativity and performance. More depression saps the energy and creativity that these people once had as the leave neurosis and become bipolar. There are three levels used to describe Bipolar. Then the imbalance of chemicals made by your own brain plays havoc with the whole control system. The auto brain or lower brain can aggressively access messages that were kept from it earlier. As the depression continues and more and more logic substitutions are made the mind goes into a full psychosis where ideas are disassociated and language decays. The end result of psychosis from severe depression is schizophrenia which has been described as incurable . There are of course are always a few people who have been able to recover mental stability. The greatest learning step required for all levels of depression recovery is to see that society as two groups . Study what you group are in and stay with your own kind to find peace and happiness.

Q: what are physical symptoms of bipolar or clinical depression?
my curious i am asking because I’ve been tested for health related problems such as stomach cramps often and headaches and tiredness, I wake up feeling a little nauseous almost everyday, but dont know whats wrong,
my mother is an alcoholic and places alot of stress on me and I was wondering if the reason they cant find whats wrong with me is because its stress related … so your ‘I could tell you but i wont’ IS NOT HELPING!

A: Chronic stress takes a toll on the body….it isn’t healthy to have high levels of stress hormones surging through your system non-stop…and this in itself can weaken the immune system.

Headaches, stomach ailments, fatigue – with no obvious physical cause -are often associated with depression.

Q: Do you have symptoms of bipolar, anxiety, depression?
Well I just wanted to let you know things that I’ve been observing and doing for the past year that has helped me so much with bipolar, depression, anxiety. Seriously, I can’t even sleep for days without my heavy loads of medication, but these ways of doing things really helps with all of this. At first I thought it wouldn’t help then, I just tried and found it really helped. Here are some things that naturally helps that you can do on your own.

First of all never call your self sick or label yourself. Just treat yourself for your symptoms, like a cold in a way. Notice your symptoms, like when you notice a cough, treat it, but don’t obsess over it, and you’ll notice improvement the best. Remember things can always be worse so make the most of what you can as you try to improve your situation.

The body works by chemical reactions and foods are chemicals consumed to help the body carry on things that the body needs to do. So it’s important to get all nutrients needed. Take half a multi-vitamin a day, try taking vitamin b-stress complex daily, and take omega 3-6-9 supplements which is proven to help with nourishing the brain.Take it for a few weeks and you’ll notice the difference.

It is also very important to get sunlight daily which helps boost the mood. Exercise helps boost the mood and and take care of excess energy. It helps with better sleep at night.

Make sure you sleep and wake up at a regular schedule. Sleep is very important to help the mind heal and to be in a good mood. Get 8hrs of sleep each night. No more than ten because too much sleep can make you feel groggy.

Another thing is try to change any negative or stressful thought you have to an optimistic one. Even if it doesn’t feel like you believe it, tell yourself you believe it. I once was told everything is love, atleast some sort of love, and everything else is your own perception. Jealousy, hate anger, resentment takes away calmness from people, and a sense of peace in ones’ mind is important. it’s also important to have a general love for humanity.

Also stay away from stimulating things, no hair spray, markers, chocolate, tea, coffee, horror flicks. Anything that causes that high or rushed feeling causes stress on the body.

Hope this helps you guys, message me if you have any questions or wanna talk

A: that is good advice!

Q: Does anyone have any advice for natural, inexpensive methods to decrease symptoms of bipolar, and depression?

A: One of the most important things you can do is stop self medicating. No more booze, no 420, no street drugs at all.Once this is accomplished you need to get yourself on a proper healthy diet. Get lots of good sleep every night. Exercise with walking every morning and night. at least a half hour each. Once you do all this. Your body is set. There really is no natural treatment other then lithium. It is a mineral salt. You cannot dose yourself with it. You need to see a doctor. Get on it. Then get blood levels taken till you get stabilized at a therapeutic dose level. The reality is this drug does not help everyone. You may need another drug or a couple of different drugs. These drugs will make you feel “weird” you will get used to them in a while and start feeling better about your self and keeping your world on a level playing field

Q: Please Read! Do you have symptoms of bipolar, anxiety, depression?
I would appreciate if you read this, I believe it will help anyone with these symptoms or anyone that wants to be in a healthy mood

Well I just wanted to let you know things that I’ve been observing and doing for the past year that has helped me so much with bipolar, depression, anxiety. Seriously, I can’t even sleep for days without my heavy loads of medication, but these ways of doing things really helps with all of this. At first I thought it wouldn’t help then, I just tried and found it really helped. Here are some things that naturally helps that you can do on your own.

First of all never call your self sick or label yourself. Just treat yourself for your symptoms, like a cold in a way. Notice your symptoms, like when you notice a cough, treat it, but don’t obsess over it, and you’ll notice improvement the best. Remember things can always be worse so make the most of what you can as you try to improve your situation.

The body works by chemical reactions and foods are chemicals consumed to help the body carry on things that the body needs to do. So it’s important to get all nutrients needed. Take half a multi-vitamin a day, try taking vitamin b-stress complex daily, and take omega 3-6-9 supplements which is proven to help with nourishing the brain.Take it for a few weeks and you’ll notice the difference.

It is also very important to get sunlight daily which helps boost the mood. Exercise helps boost the mood and and take care of excess energy. It helps with better sleep at night.

Make sure you sleep and wake up at a regular schedule. Sleep is very important to help the mind heal and to be in a good mood. Get 8hrs of sleep each night. No more than ten because too much sleep can make you feel groggy.

Another thing is try to change any negative or stressful thought you have to an optimistic one. Even if it doesn’t feel like you believe it, tell yourself you believe it. I once was told everything is love, atleast some sort of love, and everything else is your own perception. Jealousy, hate anger, resentment takes away calmness from people, and a sense of peace in ones’ mind is important. it’s also important to have a general love for humanity.

Also stay away from stimulating things, no hair spray, markers, chocolate, tea, coffee, horror flicks. Anything that causes that high or rushed feeling causes stress on the body.

Hope this helps you guys, message me if you have any questions or wanna talk

A: You seem to be missing the main ingrediant of mental health issues called mal absorption due to gluten intolerance and the hormonal imbalances it causes.

Q: Please Read, Have symptoms of depression, anxiety, bipolar?
I would appreciate if you read all of this

Well I just wanted to let you know things that I’ve been observing and doing for the past year that has helped me so much with my diagnosis of bipolar which comes with depression and anxiety. Seriously, I can’t even sleep for days without my heavy loads of medication, but these ways of doing things really helps with all of this. At first I thought it wouldn’t help then, I just tried and found it really helped. Here are some things that naturally helps that you can do on your own.

First of all never call your self sick or label yourself. You must accept yourself also. Just treat yourself for your symptoms, like a cold in a way. Notice your symptoms, like when you notice a cough, treat it, but don’t obsess over it, and you’ll notice improvement the best. Remember things can always be worse so make the most of what you can as you try to improve your situation.

To feel better you have to want it and believe you’ll be okay, and once you believe it and want it, you’ll start asking people questions and be interested on your own on how to be stable. You’ll also feel a relief that you will find help soon enough. All the help you need is within yourself and other places out there.

The body works by chemical reactions and foods are chemicals consumed to help the body carry on things that the body needs to do. So it’s important to get all nutrients needed. Take half a multi-vitamin a day, try taking vitamin b-stress complex daily, and take omega 3-6-9 supplements which is proven to help with nourishing the brain.Take it for a few weeks and you’ll notice the difference.

Also, mood problems can occur from hormonal imbalances, like low thyroid levels.
It is also very important to get sunlight daily which helps boost the mood. Exercise helps boost the mood and and take care of excess energy. It helps with better sleep at night.

Make sure you sleep and wake up at a regular schedule. Sleep is very important to help the mind heal and to be in a good mood. Get 8hrs of sleep each night. No more than ten because too much sleep can make you feel groggy.

Another thing is try to change any negative or stressful thought you have to an optimistic one. Even if it doesn’t feel like you believe it, tell yourself you believe it. Also, try not to label as much and just be, just say things are just the way they are, you are the one who puts meanings on things. I once was told everything is love, atleast some sort of love, and everything else is your own perception. Jealousy, hate anger, resentment takes away calmness from people, and a sense of peace in ones’ mind is important. it’s also important to have a general love for humanity.

Also stay away from stimulating things, no hair spray, markers, chocolate, tea, coffee, horror flicks. Anything that causes that high or rushed feeling causes stress on the body.

Here are some great websites for anxiety and bipolar:

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anxiety_…

http://www.selftherapy.org/?gclid=CPnvts…

http://anxieties.com/free.php

http://www.anxietynetwork.com/helphome.h…

http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/20…

Hope this helps you guys, message me if you have any questions or wanna talk

A: Cool. I have bipolar and anxiety too. Great info

Q: Need help? Please Read, Have symptoms of depression, anxiety, bipolar?
I would appreciate if you read all of this

Well I just wanted to let you know things that I’ve been observing and doing for the past year that has helped me so much with my diagnosis of bipolar which comes with depression and anxiety. Seriously, I can’t even sleep for days without my heavy loads of medication, but these ways of doing things really helps with all of this. At first I thought it wouldn’t help then, I just tried and found it really helped. Here are some things that naturally helps that you can do on your own.

First of all never call your self sick or label yourself. You must accept yourself also. Just treat yourself for your symptoms, like a cold in a way. Notice your symptoms, like when you notice a cough, treat it, but don’t obsess over it, and you’ll notice improvement the best. Remember things can always be worse so make the most of what you can as you try to improve your situation.

To feel better you have to want it and believe you’ll be okay, and once you believe it and want it, you’ll start asking people questions and be interested on your own on how to be stable. You’ll also feel a relief that you will find help soon enough. All the help you need is within yourself and other places out there.

The body works by chemical reactions and foods are chemicals consumed to help the body carry on things that the body needs to do. So it’s important to get all nutrients needed. Take half a multi-vitamin a day, try taking vitamin b-stress complex daily, and take omega 3-6-9 supplements which is proven to help with nourishing the brain.Take it for a few weeks and you’ll notice the difference.

Also, mood problems can occur from hormonal imbalances, like low thyroid levels.
It is also very important to get sunlight daily which helps boost the mood. Exercise helps boost the mood and and take care of excess energy. It helps with better sleep at night.

Make sure you sleep and wake up at a regular schedule. Sleep is very important to help the mind heal and to be in a good mood. Get 8hrs of sleep each night. No more than ten because too much sleep can make you feel groggy.

Another thing is try to change any negative or stressful thought you have to an optimistic one. Even if it doesn’t feel like you believe it, tell yourself you believe it. I once was told everything is love, atleast some sort of love, and everything else is your own perception. Jealousy, hate anger, resentment takes away calmness from people, and a sense of peace in ones’ mind is important. it’s also important to have a general love for humanity.

Also stay away from stimulating things, no hair spray, markers, chocolate, tea, coffee, horror flicks. Anything that causes that high or rushed feeling causes stress on the body.

Here are some great websites for anxiety and bipolar:

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anxiety_…

http://www.selftherapy.org/?gclid=CPnvts…

http://anxieties.com/free.php

http://www.anxietynetwork.com/helphome.h…

http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/20…

Hope this helps you guys, message me if you have any questions or wanna talk

A: You just helped a lot of people. This is what I do and I am impressed how well you are in tune with your issue and are facing it without shame or fear. That is the key, isn’t it.
Good for you and I hope you use this as a prop to realize that you have a special gift and that is to use your issue to help others in life, that just might be your calling.
I remain,
Socrates,
Your assistant

Q: Is there alternative treatment 4 bipolar depression other than antipsychotics as they dibilitate me?

A: there are different way of treating EVERYTHING. you should talk to your dr. about alternative types of healing.

Q: Bipolar/Depression/Psychosis treatment and weight gain?
I am seeing the doctor on Monday for what I believe is going to be diagnosed as bipolar disorder, depression, or psychosis. I’ve been doing a lot of reading about the medications used to treat these illnesses and they all talk about weight gain. I’m freaked out by this, so much that I’m thinking of not going to the doctor at all. Isn’t there another way to treat my awful mental problems without gaining weight?!

A: some of these do cause weight gain. not all.
my anti-depressive drug made me LOSE 45 pounds in 2 months. seriously.

talk to your doc about this fear – he or she does have several drugs to choose from.

Q: What does seeking treatment for depression/bipolar disorder disqualify you for?
I am pretty sure I have moderate depression and/or bipolar disorder, and would seek treatment ASAP except that my father told me if i did, i would instantly be restricted from alot of things by the government. For me, this would be handgun purchasing and ownership, and getting a private pilot’s license. I wonder if, after stuff like the Virginia Tech shooting, the systems will see my mental health issue (which has never presented outwardly or inwardly dangerous) being treated, and now the system will give red flags that prevent me from purchasing another handgun next month, and i hate to feel like i should wait to seek treatment until after i get that next handgun (which i have been wanting to get for a year). I also am considering getting a private pilot’s license this spring, as my father has an airplane. I do not feel my set of mental health issues should affect these things, but if i go into treatment for them, will they? If so, i can seek OTC treatments and self-help stuff.

A: The only handicap you have is the flying. Certain medications are forbidden to be taken and be a pilot at the same time. You can beat this problem by talking with your Pshrink when you start to take pilot training. He can change your medications to something you can fly with. I was an Air Force pilot with bipolar disorder.

Q: treatment resistant depression/bipolar?
what is the solution?? has anyone had any kind of unconventional treatment such as ECT, vagal nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, etc?? do these treatments work? or is it just meds that help??

A: Consult with a psychiatrist.

TMS is in the experimental stages. ECT has limited results and I know nothing of vagal nerve stimulation but your doctor might.

There are plenty of helpful natural remedies such as the B vitamins, exercise to release endorphins and dopamine, healthy diet.

Q: what happens when depression/bipolar goes on without treatment?

A: My sister is bipolar and border line schitzo, and when she goes off her medication she is so different. She becomes severly depressed and irritable. We can be at the store and if she thinks someone looked at her the wrong way she’s all over them. With the schitzo part she starts to hear voices and sees her nightmares living around her. It’s really tough. When she gets off her meds we have to put her in the hospital until her medications have stabalized her enough to be on her own again, which is usually at least 4 weeks.

A person with any type of mental illness should continue with treatment unless a doctor tells them to stop.

Q: Is there increasing evidence that treatment-resistant depression is actually type 2 bipolar disorder, because?
. . . the mania phase of type 2 bipolar disorder is much less severe (called hypomania, not full-blown mania), and a phase of hypomania may not even be seen as any type of disorder but rather be simply seen as the person being more “active”, “energetic”, or “hyper” than other people.

A: No, that is not a widely recognized theory I have ever heard about. I am not familiar with any evidence that treatment resistant depression would necessarily be bipolar disorder either. If such evidence exists, it is very obscure and not well supported.

You are right that type 2 Bipolar Affective Disorder involves hypomania rather than mania, but the critical piece is that the hypomania is still a clinical impairment. If there was depression, but no clinically significant mania or hypomania issues, the diagnosis would be depression, not bipolar. Remember that depression is not usually constant, but present in depressive episodes, which wax and wane over time. It also does not always manifest in the same way in the same people, so some could appear “high energy” while still being depressed (although this would not be the more stereotypical presentation, of course).

Q: How is mental illness such as bipolar/manic depression + depression in general treated in egypt?
According to someone w/ a psychology degree in egypt, acceptance and understanding of mental disorders is a fairly new phenomenon. I’d like to know what kind of treatment people w/ bipolar receive in egypt since I find those w/ the “disease” fascinating individuals (tend to be musicians and artists…and to the potential uninformed person who wants to go off on multiple personalities and schizophrenia, it’s medically not the same as manic depression/bipolar. You’ll find that fact pointed out in a beginning psychology text book). Also, if recognition of mental illness isn’t as prevalent since the acceptance of mental sicknesses are kind of new, is there a severely high rate of suicide or other destructive behaviors? And with the lack of availability of jobs preventing ppl. from marrying at the time they would like to marry (and probably being a major factor in ppl. feeling sexually repressed and possibly upset often because of it), are depression rates high? If so, what is done4 it

A: I agree, it is really only just being acknowledged as a treatable condition in many countries, including Egypt.
Regarding Egypt,one problem faced is the difficulty of obtaining a correct diagnosis.
Most Egyptian people can not afford to seek a medical referral to a consulting specialist diagnostician in this area.
Many in fact cannot afford basic medical care,so this type of condition if recognised, becomes a low priority for committing money to.
There are among some, cultural issues to be considered.
More pronounced conditions also go untreated, not just because of the families financial situation and lack of treatment centres.
But also because any “illness” that is considered to weaken a person’s character, such as bipolar /manic depression, would be a form of discredit to the whole family.
Especially if the patient was male.
Up until very recently this was also the attitude of Western cultures,including America ,Europe and Australia.
Many would send the affected family member away to distant relatives to be cared for.
Or have them institutionalised.
It was a relatively common practice to lock the individual away from the eyes of even close friends and neighbours.
Denial by the individual is likely to play a very big part in the lack of those diagnosed and treated .
If at all possible, a normal “front” is played out with excuses made for the severe episodes.
This is still prevalent in the West,and is unlikely to change much at all in Egypt and other countries whose public health care system is deficiant in so many areas,such as education and availability by all to treatment.
Until education enlightens the inherent fear of any problem affecting our way of behaviours, those with these types of conditions will sadly continue to go untreated .

Q: Does any one know anything about lithium in bipolar treatment?
I have my precription but for some reason I’m so afraud to take it. I have been treated for depression but after years without succcess I’ve been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Why an I scared? And can anyone relate?

A: Lithium has a long and successful history and a friend of mine used it so I could see the good results. Be careful because the dosage is critical. Don’t ever take too much. I did hear that damping down bipolar does the same thing to creativity so its a choice you need to take.

Q: If I enlist, can the military find out if I have depression?
Ive been recieving treatment for my bipolar/depression disorders for years now, if I join the military and I dont tell them I have these issues is there any way they can find out? Do they test you for these mental conditions?

A: as long as you have no cuts they will never know unless you tell them to be honest the military can cause a lot of depression they will test your stress levels there are quite a few suicides every year if you feel you can over come it Ive seen people with bipolar disorder make it if you seen the guys I worked with you would know there is no test for mental conditions military also gives you a sense of pride too

d. Current mood disorders including, but not limited to, major depression (296.2–3), bipolar (296.4–7), affective
psychoses (296.8–9), depressive not otherwise specified (311), are disqualifying.
(1) History of mood disorders requiring outpatient care for longer than 6 months by a physician or other mental
health professional (V65.40), or inpatient treatment in a hospital or residential facility is disqualifying.
(2) History of symptoms consistent with a mood disorder of a repeated nature that impairs school, social, or work
efficiency is disqualifying.

Q: Strange Mental Discomfort for Bipolar Patients After Treatment?
I have spoken to a doctor…I just want other feedback.
Has anyone out there felt uncomfortable after being treated for bipolar disorder? Like being depressed was getting to be the “normal you” before treatment, and now that you’re being treated you don’t feel like “yourself”. I don’t want to go back to depression, but I noticed this feeling. Anyone out there have anything like this?

A: My best friend is a physician. In fact, she was formerly a pharmacist and in both of these roles she has always lamented that many patients will not remain on a steady regimen of the appropriate medication for a bipolar disorder. The dread of taking pills for treatment even if it is hypertension is just all too common. I am of the understanding that you should expect to stay on the medication for a long period of time. Good luck and I hope you have found the right treatment plan for you.

Q: Is Pot a Medicinal treatment for Bipolar symptoms?
A certain entertainment figure said they used Pot to treat their Bipolar symtoms. Seems to me that it would make the situation worse. And having read what others have defined Bipolar disorder to be (manic depression etc.) I cannot help but wonder.

A: Man, I’ve had friends that smoked pot for a long time. They generally start acting more bipolar.

Q: Help for chronic severe bipolar depression when all the meds and ECT fail?
Asking this question again – I have exhausted all my treatment options for bipolar disorder – have honestly tried over 2 dozen meds, alone and in combinations, and ECT (electroshock) and they have all failed or made me worse or I am allergic to the meds etc. ( this is over a period of 15 years – not short term med trials). I have severe depression in the morning nearly every day, and for the entire day about half the time and I just can’t take it anymore – my situation clearly became hopeless when my last ditch effort, ECT, failed. I rarely get mania anymore, just horrific agitated depression, the anguish so severe I literally want to claw my face off or slash my chest open with a knife, for hours most days, and often, all day. If I still had fingernails, I would have clawed my face off a long time ago. I don’t know what to do anymore – I have been on the edge of death for years. I have hung on and hung on, trying medication after medication, and now there is (realistically, this is not the depression talking) no hope of any significant relief.

So, since medication options aren’t there anymore, I am wondering if ACT (assertive community treatment) can help with this? My county workers have not run into psychiatric cases like mine, they swear up and down that most patients do get at least some relief from meds, but I am in a tiny, rural county, and am hoping that someone here has gone thru this, or has a relative who has, and can give me some advice. I’m thinking about going inpatient at mayo clinic, but I already tried the university of MN and that was a total failure, and my regular psychiatrist thought the university was better for psychiatry than mayo clinic. It would be hard for me to get to mayo clinic anyway, it is a 4 hour drive, and I can’t find any treatment online I haven’t already tried either, other than “out there” treatments that are very unlikely to help and experimental, like vagus nerve stimulation – weird crap.

Anyhow, I have had the finest psychiatric care there is, and it has utterly failed, I lost my faith in God a few years back, just have nothing left for me except a loving husband, 4 great kitties, and a home I love in rural Minnesota with beautiful maple trees and a lovely pond full of wood ducks and chirping frogs in the backyard, in other words, I have a LOT to live for. But I need to die, because I can’t stand the anguish anymore. It is unspeakable pain, and I feel this way for NO REASON, just endlessly live in agony, due to untreatable bipolar disorder. What can I do to live when I hurt so much, with no relief in sight?

background: I don’t have any personality disorders, already see a therapist regularly, have a social worker and a home worker, see a psychiatrist regularly, am not a substance abuser, excercise a lot, have an excellent diet (we have a huge garden and eat a lot of venison), use a light box, keep busy with hobbies, according to my varying energy level – all that healthy stuff. This is just ghastly, severe bipolar disorder that is ( apparently) untreatable. I do also have a severe sexual abuse history, which I have gotten plenty of therapy for. My workers know I have serious problems, but I play them down slightly, since I do not want to be involuntarily committed – it is hard to get help when you have severe mental illness, believe me. An involuntary commitment would not help me – what i need is a medication that would cut down the despair, and apparently, it doesn’t exist – otherwise, if it worked, I would take it. Please no religion stuff – my husband prays for me all the time, but that isn’t going to make me suddenly find my faith again – a person can’t “make” themselves believe. Great for you that your faith helped you, and I sincerely mean that, but it didn’t help me, tried that already. The question is, is there a way to endure daily agony from bipolar depression that is unending, and I will never get relief for it? Anyone been there, endlessly, and still alive? or have a relative like this? I mean, this is EVERY DAY, except for in May and June, pretty much (strong seasonal pattern, there). Thanks for anything that might help!
lamictal was worthless, antidepressants made me worse, so I have been off them for a long time, and I use a light box a lot in the winter, and took a vitamin D supplement, too – all that standard stuff has been tried, and some helps a bit, but only maybe 10%. Not enough to make life bearable.
oh, and I forgot, lithium only helped me with mania, which I very rarely get anymore, so it’s not worth taking it anymore, and I ended up with weirdo, scary side effects after a few years of lithium.

A: i’m pretty much in the same boat; though i refused ect, and my psych docs and even medical docs tried to talk me into it. i take lamictal that keeps me out of deep suicidal depression, though the idea hardly ever leaves my mind. i do know a few of the triggers that push me into despair, and i hide away from them as much as possible. my world is quite small, and as much as i hate it, it’s the only way i can keep half way stable.

the most disappointing thing for me is when i do have a mild manic episode that lasts for a few weeks or more and i want so bad to tell myself it’s over and i can function as a normal person. i’m usually blindsided when i crash, but when someone in my support system reminds me my life doesn’t work that way, i crash hard. too hard sometimes and i find myself hiding from my support system too.

i’m sorry i don’t have an answer for you, just wanted to let you know you are not alone. i just try not to think about how useless i am, and i keep working on the self destructive habits (not doing anything for diabetes, smoking, etc.) so i can go without my people feeling like i deliberately left them.

Q: manic depression/bipolar and anxiety?
I’m fifteen years old. When I was 13 I was under treatment for Depression, I got on Prozac and everything was fine. Then I relapsed and was considered suffering from manic depression and was put on Effexor. Then it turned out I was Bipolar and I was given Lithum. And now I’ve been told that I apparently suffer from anxiety . I’m put again on Prozac. Does this make any sense?

A: NO!!!!

Q: does natural bipolar treatment work ?wait am i even bipolar?
Ok, so heres the deal.
my psyciatrist lets just call him dr.quack cuz thats basically what he is, youll read why.
he says im bipolar when i first come to see him. now my counselor is ending my counseling and she says dr.quack doesnt have me listed as bipolar… if not then why the hell am i on the meds for it?!?! and then shes all like… well ill have to check.

ok this is why he thinks im bipolar… i have a bad attitute problem (i was a very spoiled brat when i was a kid >.> and still am <.< also i have a bad anger problem (theres many of them around here) and when i get constantly harassed and put down like no other yeah im gonna feel like crap and worthless, and i dont get happy often so when i do get happy i get hyper.

Now my dr put my on depression pills at first >.> when you give a bipolar person depression pills they get more depressed. needless to say i had a really really hard day and i cut my self, i went to the hospital. then my dr told me how stupid i am WELL WTF you put me on crap pills for the diagnosis you gave me.. when he first evaluated me he said i had sever social anxiety order as well but like 2 months later i tried to get into a program that would give me hope for an education (homeschooling) he told my mum not do do it because i didnt have S.A.D ok so hes flipping all my diagnosis’s around… if today im supposedly not bipolar, S.A.D why am i on a anti depressent (makes me more depressed) S.A.D meds ANNNND ehm im not sure how to spell this schizophrenia. im not getting this… if i am bipolar what works for it… and i mean NATURAL hearbs and stuff taken on a daily basis, because i do not like having to consult every 6 months with a man who can barely speak english or make a descision about my mental health!! that and i dont like the things man made drugs are doing to me. so if you know any herbal meds or supplements, strange teas or weird bath salt crap. any ways. dont judge me for what ive said the typos ive made..

BOTTOM LINE I WANT ADVICE NOT PEOPLE GOING OFF ON ME BECAUSE OF WHAT I THINK…IF YOU DONT HAVE ANY THING NICE OR SOMETHING NOT RUDE TO SAY KEEP IT TO YOUR DA** SELF I WANT HELP NOT A LECTURE!!!!

thank you… for those you are the helping type dont mind the above message im just sick of people syaing mean judgmental or just plain stupid things in response to my questions…

thank you for reading this, have a nice day and double thank you for those who can help =^.^=

A: Hey buddy, i’m so sorry you’re on this toxic sludge …….. it sounds to me like you are suffering from an intolerant reaction to the meds they have you on mate …….. change physicians ….. get an appointment with a naturopath or nutritionally oriented physician so that you can be fully assessed and the anxiety and stress and brain frizz can be resolved from the source.

In the meantime eat more foods rich in calcium and magnesium such as fresh fish …. not the tinned variety …… fish is surely brilliant for healthy neural and heart functioning and for bolstering your immunity levels ……. leafy and green vegies too ….. i just love the green vegies mate …. way easier to digset too …… leafy and green vegies ….. broccolli, kale, chard, buk choy, collard greens, celery ………… rich in both calcium and magnesium.

Without sufficient calcium you will suffer insomnia, headaches and migraines, irritability and moodiness, terrible terrible mood swings and brain chatter and brain frizz, achy bones, digestive upsets such as bloating and cramping and constipation, even horrible violent dreams …… calcium is essential for healthy bones, teeth and heart health and works in tandem with magnesium (known as the antistress mineral)…… lack of magnesium will give you migraines and headaches, nervous and twitching and muscular issues and will also cause lower back aches and bad digestion ……. and contribute to high blood pressure ….. increasing your daily intake of foods rich in both such as leafy and green vegies, brocolli, kale, spinach, fresh fish such as tuna and salmon and organic nuts and seeds such as almonds, brazil nuts and sunflower seeds will dramatically increase your feeling of well being and peace of mind.

Eat more green vegies mate, another thing they’ll do is encourage the production of hydrochloric acid in your tummy and help resolve any issues you may have with constipation and bloating.

Get 10 – 15 mins daily of safe sun exposure too …….. everything hinges on sufficient supplies of vitamin D in your body …….. if you can’t do that take a homepathic vitamin D3 liquid supplement …… go to your local health food store or herbal dispensary and ask for their guidance as to which vitamin D3 drops would be the easiest for your body to assimilate …… pharmaceutical grade or practitioner only quality are the best you can buy…… calcium relies on vitamin D for effective assimilation.

A little extra effort sure but anything worth having is worth the extra effort ….. i reckon calmness and peace of mind is worth a few bowls of green vegies a day.

believe it mate, i’ve been where you are now ……. they misdiagnosed me with bipolar / schizophrenia years ago and near fried my brain before i had my epiphany …… that i felt the worst i ever had in my life ….. they had me on vast amounts of Effexor, Xyprexia, valium …. gaaah, toxic sludge all of it ….. i got reassessed and detoxed off the meds and went to a naturopath who diagnosed me with coeliac (intolerance to barley oats wheat and rye) and lactose intolerance (intolerance to milk and dairy) and severe soy intolerance and processed sugar ….. i went into denial for about 12 months and then finally i gradually started to sift slowly through eliminating the foods and chemicals that were making me soooo sick ……… please consider getting a reassessment from a naturopath.

oh, drink loads of water too and try to cut right back on the caffeine, sodas, pop and soft drinks and alcohol if you drink any cos they’ll all dehydrate you terribly and rob you of your precious B complex of vitamins …… processed sugar will also rob you of your B complex and deplete calcium stores and stress your system.

take care of you

peace baby
♥

Q: Help with treatment resistant depression?
I have moderate depression that never fully gets better. Some days are worse than others, and lately I feel tearful and sad and lonely. Depression and Bipolar run in my family (both parents). Basically, I have low self esteem, there are very few things that I enjoy and I feel rotten 90% of the time.

I have a wonderful doctor who I have been in long-term therapy with. But somehow, although I can see areas where I have made progress, my MOOD never seems to improve significantly. We’ve tried many different medications but I am very sensitive to side effects. There was one medication, Celexa, that helped me immensely but I can’t stay on it because it makes me gain a lot of weight and causes sexual side effects that I can’t tolerate.

What should I do? I’m scared that I’ll be living with depression forever. I’m interested in trying Lamictal. Could this be helpful? What should my first choice be?

A: Well…maybe it;s the medication…maybe it’s the doctor and maybe, it’s you.

I find it odd that you have moderate depression and with years of counseling and different meds, you see no improvement. I hate that for you.

I will agree with you about Celexa. That made me gain 60 pounds that has been hell taking off.

What about Cymbalta? I have several friends who’ve taken it..they swear by it in terms of mood stabilization AND they say they’ve lost weight on the stuff.

I can only speak from my own personal experience. Sometimes, we put way too much emphasis on the meds. We expect them to chemically turn those emotional corners for us. Sometimes they do and sometimes, we just gain weight. I was once in your shoes…not overly depressed or to the point of needing hospitalization, but I wasn’t happy either…kind of stuck in that miserable middle. I tried all the drugs, too disappointed every day that I woke up despondent.

It was frustrating.

I had a conversation with someone who once asked me why I was depressed. Naturally, my first response was to explain that there was a genetic predisposition in my family. I then explained how life was a struggle and I couldn’t find happiness in anyone or anything–then he asked me the damndest question. He asked if then what was I getting out of being depressed, that kept me depressed. My immediate reaction was to get pissed off because he wasn;t enlightened enough to understand the depth of my malady. Then I thought about it for a while and realized how convenient my depression had become.

It was a great excuse not to deal with much, cope with much, to avoid people and places and things. I had grown dependent on not feeling good and allowed that to become my crutch.

I too had low self esteem and even that became a great excuse not to have friends, a social life…a boyfriend…a great job.

I started working on myself instead of only for the hour I saw my therapist each week. I realized that very often–not always–but sometimes, being happy is a conscious decision. We can change our feelings, by changing our perspective.

I realized after that, that I didn’t need meds. I was coping because I was trying. And it was working.

I’m not implying this is the case with you, but sometimes we perpetuate our own myths. Depression is horrible. It’s claimed lives and it’s certainly claimed quality of life too, but I do think (I am proof) that sometimes we have much more control over our seratonin than we think.

I guess it all has to get to a point where we just get damned tired of being sick and tired.

Q: What are the symptoms for bipolar depression?
I am afraid my loved one is suffering from a bipolar disorder. He has recently moved out from home, dropped out of school and is heading south with his life… Could it be bipolar depression? How can I help him if he doesn’t want to be helped?

A: My boyfriend suffers from bipolar disorder and it is a very complex disease. I recommend surfing the net as there is a lot of information to take it. I know when my boyfriend has had episodes he becomes very manic says stuff that even still I can’t believe he has said to me, very hurtful things. It is very hard to explain it all but look around the net for information. It is very important that they have someone supportive by their side…but it can be tough so be strong! My boyfriend also goes through the worst times when the seasons are changing (winter to spring and summer to fall).

Q: Bipolar/Depression Symptoms?
I’m pretty sure I suffer from either both or one of the two. I know the symptoms and I’ve done the research. But I just don’t want to believe that I suffer from this. Depression runs in my family, so there is a chance perhaps. Please, can you give me accurate information to determine whether or not I suffer from one or both of these; or give me a site to go to?

A: I am a sufferer of Bi-polar syndrome as well as clinical depression. You should definately go see a psychologist, because the Internet cannot predict your mental health. I’ve tried to search on Yahoo! and Google for you, but it only gave me sites that were related, but only gave information on what the symptoms are. If you know what the symptoms are, and you catch yourself at one of these symptoms, you should go see a psychologist. To this day I still do not want to believe that I have these mental illnesses. My GREAT, great, great, etc, uncle by marriage is Edgar Allan Poe. Believe it or not, at my family reunion I found out from my family that I am, in fact, related to him by marriage, and that depression runs in the family. I want to tell you now, if you have something planned for yourself, and if you do indeed share these mental illnesses, do not let your guard down. I want to change the world, but I won’t let these disorders stand in the way of believing in life. Please seek a psychologist before your depression and bi-polar get worse, because it can, and if you are CONVINCED, then please seek help from one. Depression can escalate into something much worse, trust me, I had to go to a mental hospital for 10 days, and if it wasn’t for my psychologist in the hospital, I would be dead.

Q: What are the symptoms of bipolar and depression?
Please. Help me.

A: Bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) causes serious shifts in a person’s mood, energy, thinking, and behavior – from the highs of mania on one extreme, to the lows of depression on the other. More than just a fleeting good or bad mood, the cycles of bipolar disorder last for days, weeks, or months. And unlike ordinary mood swings, the mood changes of bipolar disorder are so intense that they interfere with your ability to function.

During a manic episode, a person might impulsively quit a job, charge up huge amounts on credit cards, or feel rested after sleeping two hours. During a depressive episode, the same person might be too tired to get out of bed and full of self-loathing and hopelessness over being unemployed and in debt.

The symptoms of bipolar disorder vary widely from person to person, with unpredictable differences in their pattern, severity, and frequency.

Common signs and symptoms of mania include:

* Feeling unusually “high” and optimistic OR extremely irritable
* Unrealistic, grandiose beliefs about one’s abilities or powers
* Sleeping very little, but feeling extremely energetic
* Talking so rapidly that others can’t keep up
* Racing thoughts; jumping quickly from one idea to the next
* Highly distractible, unable to concentrate
* Impaired judgment and impulsiveness
* Acting recklessly without thinking about the consequences
* Delusions and hallucinations (in severe cases)

Common symptoms of bipolar depression include:

* Feeling hopeless, sad, or empty.
* Irritability
* Inability to experience pleasure
* Fatigue or loss of energy
* Physical and mental sluggishness
* Appetite or weight changes
* Sleep problems
* Concentration and memory problems
* Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
* Thoughts of death or suicide

———————————————————————————————

According to the DSM-IV, major depressive disorder (or “depression”) is diagnosed when five or more of the following symptoms of depression are present for most of the day, nearly every day for at least 2 weeks. At least one of the symptoms must be either persistent sad or “empty” feelings or loss of interest in activities.

* Constant sadness
* Irritability
* Hopelessness
* Trouble sleeping
* Low energy or fatigue
* Feeling worthless or guilty for no reason
* Significant weight change
* Difficulty concentrating
* Loss of interest in favorite activities

Q: I have been having strange symptoms of bipolar or depression lately, but I now I don’t have depression! Help?
I have been feeling depressed lately, but I checked depression symptoms and I know I don’t have that. However, other times I feel very happy and energized, hyper actually. I thought maybe I have bipolar, but I can’t seem to find accurate symptoms. Please help, my sister thinks its “cute” how I think something is wrong, and I don’t want to talk to my mother unless I am sure something is wrong. My symptoms are that some days I am extremely happy and enjoy life. Other days, like today, I feel depressed and angry. I cried at least three times today, all over small things. Normally I would ignore them, but everything just seemed to boil over the top. Thanks!
This has been happening for almost a year now, not just a day or two, just to add.

A: Hormones. Episodes in Bipolar last for weeks or months, not just a day or two and they are MUCH more extreme than you describe. You are not Bipolar.

EDIT – the episodes last for weeks or months……. depressed for weeks or months then manic for weeks or months……. not just some days happy and some days sad.

You are not Bipolar, you are hormonal.

Q: What are the most common symptoms of Bipolar Disorder? (In relation to depression.)?
What differentiates depression from Bipolar Disorder? I would really appreciate professional views! I could Google it, but I want a straight comparison; perhaps even from somebody that has/is still experiencing either of these. How did you come to recognize that you had Bipolar Disorder/depression? Any other information will be greatly appreciated.

Just curious. Thank you.

A: The difference between depression and bipolar is that we cycle between depression and mania. Read on for examples.

Here are some of my personal examples of the extremes. My moods generally last for a couple of months then there is a short period of being normal before I start to swing the other way

The low – Do not care about anything, stop showering, stop cleaning house, crying a lot, sleeping 14 hours a day, want to die but don’t have the energy to plan it, hating yourself for every little bad thing you have ever done….. feeling guilty about everything you have done while manic, knowing that everyone else hates you too. I feel like my mind has stopped working, thoughts are dulled, can’t read….. just lay there like a dead lump of nothing.

The High – these are symptoms as listed online followed by my examples

* FEELING EXTREMELY HAPPY OR IRITABLE* Like you just won the lottery or like your boss just cut your pay in half so he could give his daughter a raise but the feelings go on and on for weeks or months.

*INFLATED SELF ESTEEM* Believe that everyone loves you, everyone knows how smart, funny, pretty, sexy, you are. Think you are so good you can do anything.

* REDUCED NEED FOR SLEEP* 2 to 3 hours of sleep a night for weeks or months and you are never tired.

* TALK FASTER AND MORE THAN USUAL* Ramble on and on but the talk may be disjointed because thoughts are going by so fast you can’t get them out fast enough. It’s called pressured speech.

* BE MORE ACTIVE THAN USUAL* Needing to run 10 miles a day when you never used to even jog. Taking up 5 new hobbies.

* RACING THOUGHTS* Can be seen as confusion. It’s very confusing because your thought go by so fast and you have no control over them it’s like having 10 people all shouting at you at the same time.

* BE EASILY DISTRACTED BY SIGHTS AND SOUNDS* Ohhhh bright and shiny things. Because you have ceased to even try to listen to your own thoughts.

* ACT IMPULSIVELY, DO RECKLESS THINGS, REDUCED INHIBITION, SPENDING SPREES* Spending the mortgage money on furniture, buying 25 books about penguins because wouldn’t it be cute if they could be a colony,* DRIVE RECKLESSLY* 120 mph down back roads with the radio blaring and not really paying attention to the road because of all the bright shiny things, *GET INTO FOOLISH BUSINESS VENTURES* cashing out your 401k to invest in a worm farm or going deep into debt so you can gamble because you know you will win, *HAVE FREQUENT, INDISCRIMINATE, OR UNSAFE SEX* like sex with strangers (without a condom) or with your sisters husband or your husbands sister. Suddenly decide you are bisexual because the opportunity for twice as much sex is there…… Oh my I didn’t know I was into BDSM before… tie me up and flog me baby.

I am Bipolar 1 and while the other types of bipolar may not be as bad they are still much more extreme than the online symptoms portray. The above are things I have one while manic and that’s just a few of them.

Q: what are physical symptoms of bipolar or clinical depression?
my curious i am asking because I’ve been tested for health related problems such as stomach cramps often and headaches and tiredness, I wake up feeling a little nauseous almost everyday, but dont know whats wrong,
my mother is an alcoholic and places alot of stress on me and I was wondering if the reason they cant find whats wrong with me is because its stress related … so your ‘I could tell you but i wont’ IS NOT HELPING!

A: Chronic stress takes a toll on the body….it isn’t healthy to have high levels of stress hormones surging through your system non-stop…and this in itself can weaken the immune system.

Headaches, stomach ailments, fatigue – with no obvious physical cause -are often associated with depression.

Q: Do you have symptoms of bipolar, anxiety, depression?
Well I just wanted to let you know things that I’ve been observing and doing for the past year that has helped me so much with bipolar, depression, anxiety. Seriously, I can’t even sleep for days without my heavy loads of medication, but these ways of doing things really helps with all of this. At first I thought it wouldn’t help then, I just tried and found it really helped. Here are some things that naturally helps that you can do on your own.

First of all never call your self sick or label yourself. Just treat yourself for your symptoms, like a cold in a way. Notice your symptoms, like when you notice a cough, treat it, but don’t obsess over it, and you’ll notice improvement the best. Remember things can always be worse so make the most of what you can as you try to improve your situation.

The body works by chemical reactions and foods are chemicals consumed to help the body carry on things that the body needs to do. So it’s important to get all nutrients needed. Take half a multi-vitamin a day, try taking vitamin b-stress complex daily, and take omega 3-6-9 supplements which is proven to help with nourishing the brain.Take it for a few weeks and you’ll notice the difference.

It is also very important to get sunlight daily which helps boost the mood. Exercise helps boost the mood and and take care of excess energy. It helps with better sleep at night.

Make sure you sleep and wake up at a regular schedule. Sleep is very important to help the mind heal and to be in a good mood. Get 8hrs of sleep each night. No more than ten because too much sleep can make you feel groggy.

Another thing is try to change any negative or stressful thought you have to an optimistic one. Even if it doesn’t feel like you believe it, tell yourself you believe it. I once was told everything is love, atleast some sort of love, and everything else is your own perception. Jealousy, hate anger, resentment takes away calmness from people, and a sense of peace in ones’ mind is important. it’s also important to have a general love for humanity.

Also stay away from stimulating things, no hair spray, markers, chocolate, tea, coffee, horror flicks. Anything that causes that high or rushed feeling causes stress on the body.

Hope this helps you guys, message me if you have any questions or wanna talk

A: that is good advice!

Q: Please Read! Do you have symptoms of bipolar, anxiety, depression?
I would appreciate if you read this, I believe it will help anyone with these symptoms or anyone that wants to be in a healthy mood

Well I just wanted to let you know things that I’ve been observing and doing for the past year that has helped me so much with bipolar, depression, anxiety. Seriously, I can’t even sleep for days without my heavy loads of medication, but these ways of doing things really helps with all of this. At first I thought it wouldn’t help then, I just tried and found it really helped. Here are some things that naturally helps that you can do on your own.

First of all never call your self sick or label yourself. Just treat yourself for your symptoms, like a cold in a way. Notice your symptoms, like when you notice a cough, treat it, but don’t obsess over it, and you’ll notice improvement the best. Remember things can always be worse so make the most of what you can as you try to improve your situation.

The body works by chemical reactions and foods are chemicals consumed to help the body carry on things that the body needs to do. So it’s important to get all nutrients needed. Take half a multi-vitamin a day, try taking vitamin b-stress complex daily, and take omega 3-6-9 supplements which is proven to help with nourishing the brain.Take it for a few weeks and you’ll notice the difference.

It is also very important to get sunlight daily which helps boost the mood. Exercise helps boost the mood and and take care of excess energy. It helps with better sleep at night.

Make sure you sleep and wake up at a regular schedule. Sleep is very important to help the mind heal and to be in a good mood. Get 8hrs of sleep each night. No more than ten because too much sleep can make you feel groggy.

Another thing is try to change any negative or stressful thought you have to an optimistic one. Even if it doesn’t feel like you believe it, tell yourself you believe it. I once was told everything is love, atleast some sort of love, and everything else is your own perception. Jealousy, hate anger, resentment takes away calmness from people, and a sense of peace in ones’ mind is important. it’s also important to have a general love for humanity.

Also stay away from stimulating things, no hair spray, markers, chocolate, tea, coffee, horror flicks. Anything that causes that high or rushed feeling causes stress on the body.

Hope this helps you guys, message me if you have any questions or wanna talk

A: You seem to be missing the main ingrediant of mental health issues called mal absorption due to gluten intolerance and the hormonal imbalances it causes.

Q: Have symptoms of anxiety, depression, bipolar?
Well I just wanted to let you know things that I’ve been observing and doing for the past year that has helped me so much with bipolar, depression, anxiety. Seriously, I can’t even sleep for days without my heavy loads of medication, but these ways of doing things really helps with all of this. At first I thought it wouldn’t help then, I just tried and found it really helped. Here are some things that naturally helps that you can do on your own.

First of all never call your self sick or label yourself. You must accept yourself also. Just treat yourself for your symptoms, like a cold in a way. Notice your symptoms, like when you notice a cough, treat it, but don’t obsess over it, and you’ll notice improvement the best. Remember things can always be worse so make the most of what you can as you try to improve your situation.

To feel better you have to want it and believe you’ll be okay, and once you believe it and want it, you’ll start asking people questions and be interested on your own on how to be stable. You’ll also feel a relief that you will find help soon enough. All the help you need is within yourself and other places out there.

The body works by chemical reactions and foods are chemicals consumed to help the body carry on things that the body needs to do. So it’s important to get all nutrients needed. Take half a multi-vitamin a day, try taking vitamin b-stress complex daily, and take omega 3-6-9 supplements which is proven to help with nourishing the brain.Take it for a few weeks and you’ll notice the difference.

Also, mood problems can occur from hormonal imbalances, like low thyroid levels.
It is also very important to get sunlight daily which helps boost the mood. Exercise helps boost the mood and and take care of excess energy. It helps with better sleep at night.

Make sure you sleep and wake up at a regular schedule. Sleep is very important to help the mind heal and to be in a good mood. Get 8hrs of sleep each night. No more than ten because too much sleep can make you feel groggy.

Another thing is try to change any negative or stressful thought you have to an optimistic one. Even if it doesn’t feel like you believe it, tell yourself you believe it. I once was told everything is love, atleast some sort of love, and everything else is your own perception. Jealousy, hate anger, resentment takes away calmness from people, and a sense of peace in ones’ mind is important. it’s also important to have a general love for humanity.

Also stay away from stimulating things, no hair spray, markers, chocolate, tea, coffee, horror flicks. Anything that causes that high or rushed feeling causes stress on the body.

Here are some great websites for anxiety and bipolar:

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anxiety_self_help.htm

http://www.selftherapy.org/?gclid=CPnvtsDKrpwCFRxNagodJj2Sjw

http://anxieties.com/free.php

http://www.anxietynetwork.com/helphome.html

http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/2008/12/10-bipolar-disorder-self-help-tips/

Hope this helps you guys, message me if you have any questions or wanna talk
I’m diagnosed with bipolar from three different doctors. This information works for anyone

A: Well done on discovering the power of pma!
I used to suffer badly from depression, but after realising that negativity can only affect me if i allow it to, i have changed my life for the better. I ditched my partner(he insulted me so often i almost believed him), and began to realise that I AM a strong, capable, intelligent person, and my life has really improved.
Instead of relying on medication, however, I’ve found that exercise has really boosted my mood and self esteem. I’ve even lost a bit of weight, which is an added bonus!

Q: Does anyone have any advice for natural, inexpensive methods to decrease symptoms of bipolar, and depression?

A: One of the most important things you can do is stop self medicating. No more booze, no 420, no street drugs at all.Once this is accomplished you need to get yourself on a proper healthy diet. Get lots of good sleep every night. Exercise with walking every morning and night. at least a half hour each. Once you do all this. Your body is set. There really is no natural treatment other then lithium. It is a mineral salt. You cannot dose yourself with it. You need to see a doctor. Get on it. Then get blood levels taken till you get stabilized at a therapeutic dose level. The reality is this drug does not help everyone. You may need another drug or a couple of different drugs. These drugs will make you feel “weird” you will get used to them in a while and start feeling better about your self and keeping your world on a level playing field

Q: Natural Ways to eliminate and/or reduce symptoms of Bipolar, Depression & Extreme PMS moods?
I have been on medications for Bipolar Disorder for about 13 years now and the results have not been too wonderful. As a result of the Bipolar, I also suffer from extreme depression at times and extreme mood swings for a week or two leading up to my cycle. So really there is only about a week or two in the month where I feel able to deal with the world on a complete level. Mind you, I am not crazy. Before having my baby I was a professional in the medical field and have a very functional life. I am just looking for better ways of dealing with these problems. Please share your similar and success stories. Also, has anyone been on a non medicated regimen and how has it worked?

A: I have a friend that is bi-polar, and I called her to get the info. for you. She was having some depression, and side effects from the drugs, so started looking for natural alternatives. My friend found a wellness coach, that really helped her a lot. As far as I know she does not have any depression any more, and doing really well. My friend said that the wellness coach does not charge anything, and she has the sources to find natural alternatives for you, really great products that have changed her life. Hope this helps you as much as it did her.
I will give you the site below.

Q: are these symptoms of depression or bipolar disorder or any other kind of mental disorder?
insomnia at night/exhaustion and lethargy during the day
random and unnecessary obsessions (though not obviously unhealthy)
loss of interest in friends and activities
once straight A student losing interest in schoolwork (college)
not pursuing social activities
outbursts of crying when stress builds up
a normally avid writer not able to write
inability to focus

basically, the person I’m referring to is in their late teens, has a family history of mental disorders, parents just separated after years of a turbulent marriage, and mother is facing financial difficulty and losing their family home. Just wondering if all this can lead to depression or has lead to depression and what she can do about it.

A: Many of the symptoms you mentioned can point to bipolar disorder; however, it could just be situational depression because of what is happening in their life (parents separating, having to lose home, etc.). So, yes, all this could lead to depression or even bipolar depression. Only a doctor (preferably a psychiatrist) can diagnose your friend, however. It sounds like they may need some help. If diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder, they would be put on medication that would help them.

Q: What is the response time for Lamictal 25 mg tablets for mild, depressive bipolar symptoms?
I’ve tried many medications over the years with no positive results for anxiety and depression symptoms. I’m now trying this medication in the hope that it will work in a positive manner very soon like maybe in a week or two.

A: I’m on it for depression and mood swings, and it works very well for me. No side effects at all. It should start working in 2-3 weeks. Good luck!

Q: NEED HELP? Have symptoms of anxiety, depression, bipolar?
I would appreciate if you read all of this

Well I just wanted to let you know things that I’ve been observing and doing for the past year that has helped me so much with my diagnosis of bipolar which comes with depression and anxiety. Seriously, I can’t even sleep for days without my heavy loads of medication, but these ways of doing things really helps with all of this. At first I thought it wouldn’t help then, I just tried and found it really helped. Here are some things that naturally helps that you can do on your own.

First of all never call your self sick or label yourself. You must accept yourself also. Just treat yourself for your symptoms, like a cold in a way. Notice your symptoms, like when you notice a cough, treat it, but don’t obsess over it, and you’ll notice improvement the best. Remember things can always be worse so make the most of what you can as you try to improve your situation.

To feel better you have to want it and believe you’ll be okay, and once you believe it and want it, you’ll start asking people questions and be interested on your own on how to be stable. You’ll also feel a relief that you will find help soon enough. All the help you need is within yourself and other places out there.

The body works by chemical reactions and foods are chemicals consumed to help the body carry on things that the body needs to do. So it’s important to get all nutrients needed. Take half a multi-vitamin a day, try taking vitamin b-stress complex daily, and take omega 3-6-9 supplements which is proven to help with nourishing the brain.Take it for a few weeks and you’ll notice the difference.

Also, mood problems can occur from hormonal imbalances, like low thyroid levels.
It is also very important to get sunlight daily which helps boost the mood. Exercise helps boost the mood and and take care of excess energy. It helps with better sleep at night.

Make sure you sleep and wake up at a regular schedule. Sleep is very important to help the mind heal and to be in a good mood. Get 8hrs of sleep each night. No more than ten because too much sleep can make you feel groggy.

Another thing is try to change any negative or stressful thought you have to an optimistic one. Even if it doesn’t feel like you believe it, tell yourself you believe it. Also, try not to label as much and just be, just say things are just the way they are, you are the one who puts meanings on things. I once was told everything is love, atleast some sort of love, and everything else is your own perception. Jealousy, hate anger, resentment takes away calmness from people, and a sense of peace in ones’ mind is important. it’s also important to have a general love for humanity.

Also stay away from stimulating things, no hair spray, markers, chocolate, tea, coffee, horror flicks. Anything that causes that high or rushed feeling causes stress on the body.

Here are some great websites for anxiety and bipolar:

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anxiety_…

http://www.selftherapy.org/?gclid=CPnvts…

http://anxieties.com/free.php

http://www.anxietynetwork.com/helphome.h…

http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/20…

Hope this helps you guys, message me if you have any questions or wanna talk

A: This is very good information, thank you

Q: Please Read, Have symptoms of depression, anxiety, bipolar?
I would appreciate if you read all of this

Well I just wanted to let you know things that I’ve been observing and doing for the past year that has helped me so much with my diagnosis of bipolar which comes with depression and anxiety. Seriously, I can’t even sleep for days without my heavy loads of medication, but these ways of doing things really helps with all of this. At first I thought it wouldn’t help then, I just tried and found it really helped. Here are some things that naturally helps that you can do on your own.

First of all never call your self sick or label yourself. You must accept yourself also. Just treat yourself for your symptoms, like a cold in a way. Notice your symptoms, like when you notice a cough, treat it, but don’t obsess over it, and you’ll notice improvement the best. Remember things can always be worse so make the most of what you can as you try to improve your situation.

To feel better you have to want it and believe you’ll be okay, and once you believe it and want it, you’ll start asking people questions and be interested on your own on how to be stable. You’ll also feel a relief that you will find help soon enough. All the help you need is within yourself and other places out there.

The body works by chemical reactions and foods are chemicals consumed to help the body carry on things that the body needs to do. So it’s important to get all nutrients needed. Take half a multi-vitamin a day, try taking vitamin b-stress complex daily, and take omega 3-6-9 supplements which is proven to help with nourishing the brain.Take it for a few weeks and you’ll notice the difference.

Also, mood problems can occur from hormonal imbalances, like low thyroid levels.
It is also very important to get sunlight daily which helps boost the mood. Exercise helps boost the mood and and take care of excess energy. It helps with better sleep at night.

Make sure you sleep and wake up at a regular schedule. Sleep is very important to help the mind heal and to be in a good mood. Get 8hrs of sleep each night. No more than ten because too much sleep can make you feel groggy.

Another thing is try to change any negative or stressful thought you have to an optimistic one. Even if it doesn’t feel like you believe it, tell yourself you believe it. Also, try not to label as much and just be, just say things are just the way they are, you are the one who puts meanings on things. I once was told everything is love, atleast some sort of love, and everything else is your own perception. Jealousy, hate anger, resentment takes away calmness from people, and a sense of peace in ones’ mind is important. it’s also important to have a general love for humanity.

Also stay away from stimulating things, no hair spray, markers, chocolate, tea, coffee, horror flicks. Anything that causes that high or rushed feeling causes stress on the body.

Here are some great websites for anxiety and bipolar:

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anxiety_…

http://www.selftherapy.org/?gclid=CPnvts…

http://anxieties.com/free.php

http://www.anxietynetwork.com/helphome.h…

http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/20…

Hope this helps you guys, message me if you have any questions or wanna talk

A: Cool. I have bipolar and anxiety too. Great info

Q: What is the colour of bipolar / manic depression?
what colour is used for bipolar / manic depression – for example on ribbons etc etc??

Also is there a universal symbol for bipolar?? I saw one that looks kinda like a capital P but with the round part in the middle – do you know what it means??

Thanks

A: That would be a silver ribbon. It covers all genres of mental illness, as well as children with diabeties (I don’t know why diabeties is lumped into that category, but oh well).

As for a universal symbol, can’t say I’ve ever heard of one, sorry.

Q: Bipolar (manic depression) How do you handle the depressive rocketing out into mania?
My roommate has become a “Rocket Man” with manic behavior and I am stuck here with his mania. As I am bipolar myself, I am aware of the symptoms, but don’t know how to handle this guy.

A: Mania can be a very dangerous phase, and as for trying to control someone there – it is difficult.

Clearly if they are a friend then you need to watch out for them and try too stop them doing anything too dangerous or stupid.

Perhaps you can then talk when they are feeling better and ask them when it happens next time what they would like you to do for them.

Q: How many people with bipolar/manic-depression are on answers to night?
Wanted to see who has been staying awake all night, that way I’ll have someone to chat with. The more research I read on manic-depression the more I learn to appreciate my illness and you the excellent talents that come with it. There has been a correlation found between manic-depression, intelligence, and creativity. Something to be proud of; we are all wonderful and talanted people.
Does anyone feel like chatting tonight?

A: My mother and mother in law are both bipolar. Currently waiting on tests that are supposed to say that I am as well. One big manic depressive family

Q: what is a good site to us for research on manic bipolar depression?
what is a good site to us for research on manic bipolar depression

A: http://health.yahoo.com/mentalhealth-overview/bipolar-disorder-topic-overview/healthwise–ty1019.html

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/complete-index.shtml

Q: How is mental illness such as bipolar/manic depression + depression in general treated in egypt?
According to someone w/ a psychology degree in egypt, acceptance and understanding of mental disorders is a fairly new phenomenon. I’d like to know what kind of treatment people w/ bipolar receive in egypt since I find those w/ the “disease” fascinating individuals (tend to be musicians and artists…and to the potential uninformed person who wants to go off on multiple personalities and schizophrenia, it’s medically not the same as manic depression/bipolar. You’ll find that fact pointed out in a beginning psychology text book). Also, if recognition of mental illness isn’t as prevalent since the acceptance of mental sicknesses are kind of new, is there a severely high rate of suicide or other destructive behaviors? And with the lack of availability of jobs preventing ppl. from marrying at the time they would like to marry (and probably being a major factor in ppl. feeling sexually repressed and possibly upset often because of it), are depression rates high? If so, what is done4 it

A: I agree, it is really only just being acknowledged as a treatable condition in many countries, including Egypt.
Regarding Egypt,one problem faced is the difficulty of obtaining a correct diagnosis.
Most Egyptian people can not afford to seek a medical referral to a consulting specialist diagnostician in this area.
Many in fact cannot afford basic medical care,so this type of condition if recognised, becomes a low priority for committing money to.
There are among some, cultural issues to be considered.
More pronounced conditions also go untreated, not just because of the families financial situation and lack of treatment centres.
But also because any “illness” that is considered to weaken a person’s character, such as bipolar /manic depression, would be a form of discredit to the whole family.
Especially if the patient was male.
Up until very recently this was also the attitude of Western cultures,including America ,Europe and Australia.
Many would send the affected family member away to distant relatives to be cared for.
Or have them institutionalised.
It was a relatively common practice to lock the individual away from the eyes of even close friends and neighbours.
Denial by the individual is likely to play a very big part in the lack of those diagnosed and treated .
If at all possible, a normal “front” is played out with excuses made for the severe episodes.
This is still prevalent in the West,and is unlikely to change much at all in Egypt and other countries whose public health care system is deficiant in so many areas,such as education and availability by all to treatment.
Until education enlightens the inherent fear of any problem affecting our way of behaviours, those with these types of conditions will sadly continue to go untreated .

Q: Can you give me factual medical information on bipolar manic depression?
I was diagnosed with this. I take medication to keep at a stable medium mood. But at times my moods drop into severe depression and even suicidal modes. Last night was the first night that every two minutes I delt with a different mood. Happy, crying, panic attacks, self destructive, suicidal, worthlessness, and a medium stable clear headed mood. Every two minutes was a change. I know my stress levels have increased due to factors in my life. When in a stable medium mood I almost feel “normal”. In times like these I think maybe I need to be locked away in a psych facility long term with no people contact and be isolated. My mind runs rapid. My chest feel like it will explode at times. I cant breath. Then I feel worthless and hopeless and unloved and cry. Too much for one person to handle. I take medication. Should I take more? Or a different kind? I am going today back to the doctor for a check up on the bipolar. Do you have any helpful info to help me deal with this battle?

A: It hard to tell everything from what little you wrote, but it seems you have a few more problems than just bipolar, maybe some paranoia and schizophrenia. You say you take medication. Do you take it regularly everyday like the doctor prescribed, or do you miss a lot of doses? Most psych meds are meant to be taken continuously, even on days that you feel good. Don’t stop without asking your doctor first. Maybe you should check into a mental health facility for an extended stay, like 6 months to a year. Don’t think of it as a bad thing or being “locked away”. The doctors are there to help you get control of your life. They can monitor your meds daily and see what works best for you. You can’t do that by yourself. From what you wrote, it sounds like you are a danger to yourself and possibly others. Ask a family member to help you find a good facility close by. Don’t wait until its too late.

Q: What is it like having bipolar (manic depression)?
Tell me what your depression is about for instance what issue in your life is keeping you depressed? Do you believe you can’t change this issue but you think someone else could?

Also what are you high about? What other issue that is not a depression but is something that others don’t have in their lives that which you are manic over?

A: People with Bipolar Disorder go through long periods of deep depression followed by long periods of mania or elevated mood, long period meaning weeks or months or years…..

This is what it is like to have Bipolar disorder:

Depression – too tired to get out of bed, shower, even to brush my teeth. Cry all the time, sleep 16 hours a day. Feelings of self loathing and guilt that drive me to think of suicide but I’m to tired to even think about how to go about killing myself……. this can last from a couple of weeks to a couple of years.

Mania – Way too happy! PARTY GIRL! love drink and drugs. Talk really fast and pressured because my thoughts are going faster than my mouth can keep up with. Hypersexual – like I sleep with strangers and guys I just met on the internet or I masturbate 10 times a day. I once became bisexual because there were twice as many people to sleep with. Spending sprees….. I once spent my mortgage money on african violets, yep, $1500 on African violets (then I got depressed and let them all die). Quit my job because I wanted my vacation pay for lottery tickets and I was so convinced I would win that I started shopping and writing bad checks because I’d be rich as soon as the numbers were drawn. Only sleep 2 or maybe 3 hours a night for months on end and never feel tired. This can last for months

I also have mixed states when I am depressed and manic at the same time which are truly the worst… By body and mind are depressed but there is this undercurrent of energy running all the time….. I’m highly emotional but the emotions tend to be negative (guilt and anger) I have intrusive thoughts and urges to mutilate myself (like wanting to stick my hands in the garbage disposal or cooking them on the BBQ). This is when I am most suseptible to suicide because I am depressed, wanting to hurt myself, and I have the mental energy to plan and carry it out.

There are not issues that cause depression or mania or any of the other Bipolar symptoms….. it is strictly because of changing chemistry in the brain. The changes happen completely randomly and have no “issies” triggering them. Most people’s brains are very good at regulating the levels of chemicals in their brains…. Thos with Bipolar do not have that regulation so our brains chemical levels swing all over the place…..

Q: Are manic depression and Bipolar disorder really the same thing?
I was diagnosed with Manic Depression about three years ago. I stopped taking the meds after six months because I didn’t like what they do to me.

I have been having difficulty with my MD a lot lately–it’s been worse. Mood swings for no causes whatsoever. I was googling some alternatives to prescribed medication for Manic Depression and everything that came up was Bipolar disorder.

I knew that the two were similar–but are they really the same thing?

A: Yes, they are two names for the same disorder. Manic Depression is the old name for what is now called Bipolar Disorder. Professionals chose to discard the name “Manic Depression” or “Manic-Depressive Disorder” in favor of Bipolar Disorder because it is more accurate. Not all forms of bipolar cause manic episodes – bipolar II does not have manic features, but instead the patient suffers from “hypomanic” or “sub-manic” episodes. Cyclothymia also has these hypomanic features, as well as less profound depressive episodes. Because of the different varieties of the disorder, the name “Manic Depression” was misleading and inaccurate, so it was changed to Bipolar Disorder.

Hope that helps clear things up!

Q: What is the difference between Bipolar, manic depression, and?
boarderline personality disorder? How does one determine if they have one of these disorders or if they are just suffering from depression and anxiety?

A: Bipolar and Manic depression are the same thing.BPD is a personality disorder.

Q: I am bipolar (manic depression) and am taking lamictal and just started to take Invega for depression.?
I have reworded a question I asked last week to make it a bit more clearer. Unfortunately I was unable to get any good answers because I probably did not explain exactly what my condition is.

Has anyone that is bipolar (manic depression) ever been on the combo of Lamictal for manic depression and Invega which helps with depression that creeps up while on Lamictal?

A: The invega is not for depression but as an antipsychotic for bipolar disorder.It will pevent you going into mania if lamictal cannot control the mood swings

Q: What is the difference between Bipolar Disorder and Manic Depression?
Every time I search for facts on Manic Depression, I get stuff on Bipolar Disorder instead, so is it the same thing?

A: I believe mental health professionals no longer use the term manic-depression, now it is officially called bipolar disorder.

Occasionally the DSM changes the names of certain disorders. For example there is no longer such a thing as ADD, now there is only ADHD with or without hyperactivity.

However, once a certain name has been used for so long, the name kinda sticks.

Q: HELP! Does anyone know a natural medication for bipolar/manic-depression or any natural ways to cope?
Even though I’ve been in hell all my life I know there is light here and at the end of the tunnel. I know all things can change and become better from the inside in a natural way. I feel that to get a prescription from a psychiatrist is no different than hitting yourself in the head with a hammer. I won’t know ’till I try, but I don’t want to risk it. It’s too scary and dangerous. If anyone out there knows of any natural way of going about something this terrible, please help me! Thank you!

A: The meds have side-effects and can have long-term harm, but untreated bipolar has long-term harm too. Like a lower life expectancy, probably all that stress and negative emotions working on your heart and all that. Also, there is considerable evidence that untreated bipolar progresses, causing brain damage. Treating it seems to help reverse or at least stop the brain damage. There are brain scans and autopsies showing this. Try bipolarworld.net for more, click on Dr. Phelps (ask the doctor) for more info.

I can tell you from personal experience, natural treatments will not be enough. The reason the psychiatrists tell people with bipolar that they need to be on meds is because it is true. Doctors tell diabetics they may avoid drugs if diet and exercise work, and they encourage them to try, docs do not say that for bipolar. Because it won’t work!! It will help, but it is not enuf.

Here are my bipolar treatment tips:

#1 You need to take the meds as prescribed. You can’t miss. A lot of people forget from time to time, and the pills can’t work if you forget to take them. There are pill boxes with little alarms on them. If your symptoms are getting bad, you need to call up your psychiatrist for a med adjustment. You may never get complete relief, but you will need to try things maybe for a few YEARS to be sure you can’t tweak things to a really good place for you.

#2 You probably will need the support of a counselor all your life. You have to learn to cope with stress better than most people, because stress makes the bipolar symptoms a lot worse. You will also have to make big efforts to keep a good social support network. To avoid burning through people, make sure you apologize sincerely and often if you go off on them or ignore them due to symptoms. You may want to join a support group with other people with mood disorders, they will give you a break and take it less personally when you relapse. Get some books on reducing stress. Over time, work your life into a low-stress direction.

#3 You need to keep a routine. Get up and go to bed at the same time each day. Sleeping in makes depression worse, staying up all night makes mania worse. Never take a swing shift type job.

If your depression seems to be more of a problem in the winter, try to get more sun. You could have seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, or your depression could have a seasonal component, meaning you can get depressed other times of the year, but you tend to have more trouble in the winter. A light box is really good if you can afford one (about $300 online, don’t get it at a local store, they will charge more for a light less than 1/2 as bright). Since I will always have a mood disorder, I have put in extra windows, keep the drapes mounted so they don’t cover them, make sure I spend a lot of time in southern exposure rooms, painted the walls peach and yellow, mostly. I even have a skylight, although that was here when I moved in (and I LOVE it, it helps a lot!!!!!)

If anxiety is a component of your depression, try turning the heat up in the house or dressing much more warmly. It is hard to feel anxiety when you are too warm. I was able to cut out ativan use altogether by using this trick. Saved me big $$ too, because pills cost way more than heat. Hot baths work too, and in a pinch, like at work/school, you can try running hot water over your hands. Also, if anxiety is a primary problem, avoid caffeine like the plague. I personally use a lot of caffeine, because the depression is much more of a problem than the anxiety. Can’t win for losing! Also, some cold remedies can cause anxiety and mania, and lack of control. Look for the “agitation in children” warning on the box. Adult bipolar folks can get problems too. Other drugs can trigger mania, too, like steroids (given at surgery I think).

Try meditation tapes like progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery. They may seem silly at first, but they work!! They help reduce stress, which makes depression worse.
Go out with friends, and if you don’t have any, find a club to join and MAKE yourself go until you actually look forward to it. Isolation makes depression worse. I go to a social club for people with severe mental illness, because I’m ashamed of my disability and don’t want to deal with the “what do you do for a living” question.

Exercise at least 1/2 hour a day, and anytime you feel really hyper or depressed. Exercise is a great mood stabilizer and cuts down on anxiety a lot.

If your mania makes it hard for you to sleep, here are some good “sleep hygeine” tips so you can sleep better. Like go to bed and get up about the same time each day, even weekends. Don’t use your bedroom to watch TV and read and use the computer and all that-just use the room as a bedroom normally would be used. Don’t do stuff that pumps you up right before bed, like exercising and using the computer. (sooooooooooo hard!) You want to use that last hour to wind down-Take a bath? Make the bedroom really dark, cover up the clock radio, even so the light doesn’t shine at you. If you live in the rackety city, use a noise generator (makes wave sounds and the like) to cover up the city sounds. Avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening.

Put a lot of colorful things around the house, happy type things, and keep the blinds open and let the sun in. Get yourself some flowers. Put on some nice clothes. Make a list of things that make you happy. Here’s some things on my list: A basket full of fluffy kittens, bread fresh from the oven, Fireworks popping on a warm summer evening, The first fireflies of the season, the scent of Jergen’s cherry almond lotion, The crisp sound of a saltine cracker breaking, fresh sheets on the bed, flicking a topwater lure out onto the morning-still lake water, etc. Use all your senses and read that list when you are breaking down.

Work on time management if being overwhelmed and late for things and too much to do is getting to you. Cut back on other responsibilities temporarily so you can spend more restorative time with friends and family. Ask for help when you are really having symptoms. You have to learn to be humble here, if you need help, you need help. Try your best to be really, really organized, so when you ditz out from cognitive problems, it will be OK.

Make sure friends will intervene if you are manic, or you will bankrupt yourself or get a sexually transmitted disease or something awful like that.

You got a significant other? Extra physical touch is very helpful. Most people in the US or UK are touch deprived, so hold hands more, hug more, give shoulder rubs, etc. A pet is good to cuddle with, too, if your home situation allows you to get one. (I’m an animal lover, don’t get one if you can’t commit to it for 15 years)

If your bipolar is severe (poorly controlled by meds) then consider asking for help from social services. My county offers classes and there is also a consumer run drop in center, which is a fun club for people with mental illnesses run by people with mental illnesses. We play cards and pictionary and do crafts and take trips places, etc. The drop in center has helped me more than anything else, except the pills. Social support-so important!!

Go to bipolarworld.net and read all of Dr. Phelp’s (Ask the Doctor) stuff, including the links to his site. You can learn a lot from him, he’s a bipolar specialist.

I hope some of these tips have helped!!

Q: What are healthy ways dealing with manic depression bipolar? What are steps to healing and acceptance?

A: 1) Educating yourself on the subject
2) Attending a regular support group (NAMI)
3) Medications when necessary
4) Talk Therapy
5) Gaining support and understanding from your friends and family
6) Knowing that tomorrow is another day and you’ll feel better even if you think everything’s hopeless today.
7) Helping others that have medical problems that are worse than yours

Q: Any words of advice or comfort for the husband of a Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression) sufferer?
I have been married to my wife Josie for just over 7 months. She suffers from Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression), though only really suffers the “manic” cycles. She is currently displaying her trigger symptoms, which are “suspicious thoughts” where she thinks she is in some kind of spy story. Although I thought I’d be able to be strong for her, I’ve found myself very scared and worried.
I am obviously encouraging her to keep the specialist up to date, especially while she is aware of it, in the hope that they can suggest medication etc to stop it ballooning into anything as serious as she has suffered in years gone by.
Just wondered if there was anyone out there with any words of wisdom?
Thanks in advance for your time.
Martin
You may have to forgive my spelling here, but my wife’s medication is Lithium and Olanzapine. The latter has been increased in dose recently, as she is also taking beta-blockers to combat recent migraines.

A: I really feel for you, my husband has bi-polar and we have been married for 17 years.
I found a great book that has helped me to understand the illness a little better, if you can get a copy, it is well worth the read. “Loving Someone with Bi-Polar Disorder” helping & understanding your partner, By Julie A Fast and John D Preston, PSY.D.

Staying on meds and taking at the right time and right dose does not always keep someone with bi-polar stable, it will help flaten out the mood swings but not stop them altogether. If that is the case for your wife, you should both sit down with her doctor and work out a plan of action for when the cycle starts to change.

Q: How should I approach interacting with a person with bipolar or manic depression?
I’ve come across an individual who has bipolar disorder. It seems like this person has some serious issues and is trying to demand a fair amount from me, which I’m really resisting. I just don’t think it’s my place to get involved in the issues. I don’t have the training or skills.

However, I wonder, in general, how I might interact with this person to help while not getting sucked in to the problem.

A: Are you sure he has bipolar disorder or Borderline personality disorder ? Sometimes the symptoms can have overlap. The biggest issue in case of bipolars is managing their mood swings , their anger and rage. You must win his trust and ensure that even in worst of episodes he can be controlled by you. Also observe if he is exhibiting any signs of excessive spending , gambling or in depressive state suicidal attempts or suicidal ideation. Basically ensure that he does not cause any harm to himself or anyone around the society.

Q: What are some online support groups for people with depression/bipolar disorder?
I’ve heard that there are onlne support groups for people who have been diagnosed with a mental illness such as depression or bipolar disorder. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. I think an online group might help me relieve some of my feelings of isolation when I am alone. I know that an in-person type of group might be beneficial as well, but I’d like to start slowly.

A: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=online+depression+support+groups

Q: How many people do you think have bipolar disorder/depression and aren’t aware of it?
i think some celebrities might have it-
britney spears, amy winehouse, naomi campbell, etc.
i am sure there are others-
but i am not psychologist-
but how many people do you think actually have bipolar disorder/depression and go undiagnosed?

A: I believe many people have bipolar and arent properly diagnosed with it. Since my son was diagnosed in September of last year, I now know all the symptoms of bipolar and I concur with you 100 percent that Britney Spears is bipolar. I believe she had a manic episode lasting over a year and a physcotic break which entailed her shaving her hair, etc. I believe Britney is Bipolar I with manic tendencies. Amy Winehouse, on the other hand, I think may be Bipolar II with depressive tendencies. From everything I learnt and read over the past months 2 million people having bipolar and many, many more not diagnosed.

Q: can depression be treated with weed? what about bipolar disorder or hypomania?
I used to smoke weed for about three years, but I quit for religious purposes, and now I’m wondering if weed treats things like depression, bipolar disorder, and hypomania? I may be inheriting bipolar disorder or hypomania, time will tell, and I’m a bit depressed. anyways can these things be treated with weed?

A: You know?Your depression could be a consequence of your weed smoking…You could probably feel better but would be just for a little period.In time you could be even more seriosly depressed.
I truly believe,and this is only my opinion,you can come out of you state of depression if you really want that.
I wish you all the best.

Q: Is it possible to have a diagnosis of Cyclothymia, Depression AND Bipolar disorder?
My GP wrote a report on me stating that I had all three conditions at the same time. I don’t believe it’s possible to have even two of them at once. I believe Cyclothymia is a less severe form of Bipolar, and Depression when combined with hypomania is a symptom of Cyclothymia, not a disorder in itself.

A: Cyclothymia is in fact a mild form of bipolar. I have known people to go from having Cyclothymia disorder to progress onto having bipolar. Depression is part of bipolar so can not be classed as a separate disorder. hypo-mania is also a sign of bipolar type 2 disorder. You could have what they call bipolar “NOS” (not otherwise specified. this is when you don’t come under any of the other types such as bipolar l bipolar ll or Cyclothymic disorders. take care good luck

Q: Can Bipolar Disorder or Depression be inherited from parents?
As much as I hate so say it, my girlfriend shows symptoms of bipolar disorder, or depression; I really can’t tell the two apart. Her mother has diagnosed bipolar disorder, and so does her grandmother. I was wondering if that kind of thing can be passed down genetically.

A: Yes it definitely can be passed down.

Q: Can depression/bipolar disorder cause a person to molest a kid?
I don’t want any criticism….I know someone who’s molested a child and his psych evaluator suggested he might be suffering from depression. Is it possible that this caused him to do this horrible thing? He was extremely drunk at the time and came clean afterwards to the cops…He is now pending trial, but appears to show absolute disinterest in the whole thing….As for the actual deed…he touched a child inappropriately…
I just don’t want him to use bipolar/depression as an easy out…He is 23yrs old but is very immature..please help

A: Mental Illness does not provide an excuse for abusive behavior towards others, particularly sexual abuse. A person who attempts to molest a child does so because they want to do it and because they lacked the self-control to resist the impulse. The alcohol was probably the biggest factor in lowering your friends inhibitions and self-control enough to act on this, but again, it is not an excuse as no one made him drink and many people drink and don’t act out. Pedophiles, which your friend may or may not be, also have a fixated desire for sexual contact with children, however this diagnosis does not provide an excuse either. The only way psychiatric problems can offer a defense legally for criminal behavior is when it can be demonstrated that the illness caused the person such an impaiment in reality testing that they could not distinguish right from wrong, and this is very difficult to prove as even those with grossly impaired thinking still usually are able to differentiate between right and wrong. Your friend needs to experience the full consequences for his actions-I agree with you.

Q: Is attempting or committing suicide because of depression/bipolar disorder justifiable? Why?
There are several general issues pertaining to my asking this question:

ASIDE FROM religious perspectives,
(1) is depression unforgivably selfish? Why?
(2) is attempting/committing suicide immoral? Why?
(3) is euthanasia (in the traditional sense of termination of life due to ‘biological’ illnesses) immoral? Why?
(4) are the principles of suicide and euthanasia the same? Why?

Lastly,
(5) is depression/bipolar disorder as ‘legitimate’ a disease as, i.e., cancer? Why?

I am curious about the general consensus of the answers to these questions. Please explain your answer thoroughly so your train of thought is sufficiently conveyed. Thanks!
Crap, sorry, I posted this question like 3-4 times. Stupid internet.

Additional note: I am not considering suicide, just taking a survey on the matter. I’m fine! =)
Apologies for dictating that the answer had to be from non-religious perspective. I wrote that because I have already explored that perspective concerning my question. In retrospect, I shouldn’t have restricted it like that because that’s part of the answers of many people.

A: As a person whi suffers from depression, I tink I have more right that anyone else to answer these.

1) No. Depression cannot be helped. People have this awful habit of thinking that people with depression can get over it, they’re just overdramatizing and don’t want to. Not the case! Do you think we LIKE feeling like sh!t every day of our lives? No. No, we really, really don’t. Every day is hard, every day is a struggle just to do the simple things… I don’t think developing a mental disorder you have absolutely no control over is selfish.

2) I think that there are many cases in which Suicide can be seen as a justifiable cause. Many people with depression just don’t see any “light” at the end of their tunnel. Where a normal person can see that the sadness will eventually end, and that there are many things worth seeing it to the next day for, Depression clouds a persons judgement and just fails in letting them see these simple facts that people without the disorder take for granted.

3) No, I don’t thing euthanasia is immoral. Euthanasia is not murder. It is someone who is sick or dying themselves requesting that another person assist them in taking their own lives. Many people who have committed euthanasia say that the person they assisted wanted it because they were bound to die of a very painful, humiliating and undignified terminal disease and that they would have rather died on their own terms than let the disease absolutely cripple them, and let their family see them in such a undignified way, the last way people may ever see them… the last way people will remember them… I see nothing wrong with this…

4) No. Suicide is when a person does it themselves. Euthanasia is assisted, and usually the person is very physically ill to want to commit euthanasia.

5) YES!! There is so much stigma surrounding mental disorders. People assume that because they can physically see the damage they cause, they don’t physically “exist”. They think because it affects he persons brain functions, the person is “thinking them up”. Not true. Most mental disorders are just as much physiological as a disease like Cancer. Many chemicals inside the brain are imbalanced, causing devastating effects on the persons mood and personality, causing mental disorders. I think people need tobe educated more about them..

Q: what is the difference between bipolar depression and bipolar disorder?
what is the difference between bipolar depression and bipolar disoder?

A: Bipolar disorder (previously known as manic depression) is a diagnostic category describing a class of mood disorders where the person experiences states or episodes of depression and/or mania, hypomania, and/or mixed states. Left untreated, it is a severely disabling psychiatric condition. The difference between bipolar disorder and unipolar disorder (also called major depression) – for the purpose of this introduction – is that bipolar disorder involves “energized” or “activated” mood states in addition to depressed mood states. The duration and intensity of mood states varies widely among people with the illness. Fluctuating from one mood state to another is called “cycling” or having mood swings. Mood swings cause impairment not only in one’s mood, but also in one’s energy level, sleep pattern, activity level, social rhythms and thinking abilities. Many people become fully disabled – for significant periods of time – and during this time have great difficulty functioning.

bipolar depression is listed as the same.

Q: What is the difference between bipolar depression + bipolar disorder?
Please…

A: There is no difference. “Bipolar depression” is simply the depressive phase of bipolar disorder. “Unipolar depression” is major depressive disorder that does not include the manic, hypomanic or mixed episodes that occur in bipolar disorder.

Q: Is there a correlation between ADD and Bipolar Disorder/Depression?
I was diagnosed with ADD in 5th grade. Because my family was ‘lower income’ and didnt want help from the state, I stoped taking medication for this condition in 7th grade. I struggled a bit through high school, both socially and with school work. I was a ‘cutter’ at one point as well. I took a ’self assessment’ in our textbooks and it said that I likely had Bipolar Disorder(the one that is depressed most of the time, and only ‘manic’ some of the time)
I graduated four years ago, went to college a little and dropped out because I didnt have the disipline to keep going. I dont seem to have any ‘drive’ anymore. All of my goal from high school seem so out of reach. I am sleepy all the time, and that isnt cool because I have a husband and a daughter now.
Does this sound like Depression, Bipolar Disorder, or ADD? or something else?
Also: I am afraid to get this checked out because I have heard that they just start putting you on meds, and that sometimes you wind up feeling worse than before you started. Is this true?

A: Most people who have ADD or ADHD have other disorders…it’s highly likely that you have depression with your ADD. Remember, you don’t “grow out” of ADD…you just grow into it.

I have ADHD…so I know all about the starting things and not finishing them…the feelings of failure, the fatigue from depression, etc.

The myth is “Medication will make it worse”, everyone is different…but medication can be life changing in a positive way.

Please, don’t listen to all the myths…you’ll only cheat yourself and your family out of a peaceful, normal life. Love yourself and get a proper diagnosis and some medication for the ADD. You may do so well on it you won’t need an anti depressant!

This has been my experience…I’ve done wonderfully on Adderall. I, too, thought medication was a bad thing…I wasted a lot of years not getting a proper diagnosis.

I’m not saying that medication is a “cure-all”, but it certainly has a made a positive difference in my life. I’m still disorganized as hell and moody.

I’ve often wondered if I’m Bipolar…my son was recently diagnosed. He didn’t cut himself but he was always peeling his skin off his hands and drawing on himself. I won’t go into to all of it…I could write a book on here! I just feel your pain and wish you the best of luck.

Please feel free to post some more questions…I’m glad to help!

Q: What are the most common symptoms of Bipolar Disorder? (In relation to depression.)?
What differentiates depression from Bipolar Disorder? I would really appreciate professional views! I could Google it, but I want a straight comparison; perhaps even from somebody that has/is still experiencing either of these. How did you come to recognize that you had Bipolar Disorder/depression? Any other information will be greatly appreciated.

Just curious. Thank you.

A: The difference between depression and bipolar is that we cycle between depression and mania. Read on for examples.

Here are some of my personal examples of the extremes. My moods generally last for a couple of months then there is a short period of being normal before I start to swing the other way

The low – Do not care about anything, stop showering, stop cleaning house, crying a lot, sleeping 14 hours a day, want to die but don’t have the energy to plan it, hating yourself for every little bad thing you have ever done….. feeling guilty about everything you have done while manic, knowing that everyone else hates you too. I feel like my mind has stopped working, thoughts are dulled, can’t read….. just lay there like a dead lump of nothing.

The High – these are symptoms as listed online followed by my examples

* FEELING EXTREMELY HAPPY OR IRITABLE* Like you just won the lottery or like your boss just cut your pay in half so he could give his daughter a raise but the feelings go on and on for weeks or months.

*INFLATED SELF ESTEEM* Believe that everyone loves you, everyone knows how smart, funny, pretty, sexy, you are. Think you are so good you can do anything.

* REDUCED NEED FOR SLEEP* 2 to 3 hours of sleep a night for weeks or months and you are never tired.

* TALK FASTER AND MORE THAN USUAL* Ramble on and on but the talk may be disjointed because thoughts are going by so fast you can’t get them out fast enough. It’s called pressured speech.

* BE MORE ACTIVE THAN USUAL* Needing to run 10 miles a day when you never used to even jog. Taking up 5 new hobbies.

* RACING THOUGHTS* Can be seen as confusion. It’s very confusing because your thought go by so fast and you have no control over them it’s like having 10 people all shouting at you at the same time.

* BE EASILY DISTRACTED BY SIGHTS AND SOUNDS* Ohhhh bright and shiny things. Because you have ceased to even try to listen to your own thoughts.

* ACT IMPULSIVELY, DO RECKLESS THINGS, REDUCED INHIBITION, SPENDING SPREES* Spending the mortgage money on furniture, buying 25 books about penguins because wouldn’t it be cute if they could be a colony,* DRIVE RECKLESSLY* 120 mph down back roads with the radio blaring and not really paying attention to the road because of all the bright shiny things, *GET INTO FOOLISH BUSINESS VENTURES* cashing out your 401k to invest in a worm farm or going deep into debt so you can gamble because you know you will win, *HAVE FREQUENT, INDISCRIMINATE, OR UNSAFE SEX* like sex with strangers (without a condom) or with your sisters husband or your husbands sister. Suddenly decide you are bisexual because the opportunity for twice as much sex is there…… Oh my I didn’t know I was into BDSM before… tie me up and flog me baby.

I am Bipolar 1 and while the other types of bipolar may not be as bad they are still much more extreme than the online symptoms portray. The above are things I have one while manic and that’s just a few of them.

Q: Is it possible to have borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder & major depression at the same time?
My mother passed Bipolar disorder onto all 3 of her daughters (including myself) and I’ve been in counciling twice for major depression. I also have a serious concern about Borderline personality disorder. I have many of the symptoms of all three and I’m worried about them and my inablity to get medication.

A: Yes,it’s possible…I already had a bad period like this, when I was younger…

Q: Are manic depression and Bipolar disorder really the same thing?
I was diagnosed with Manic Depression about three years ago. I stopped taking the meds after six months because I didn’t like what they do to me.

I have been having difficulty with my MD a lot lately–it’s been worse. Mood swings for no causes whatsoever. I was googling some alternatives to prescribed medication for Manic Depression and everything that came up was Bipolar disorder.

I knew that the two were similar–but are they really the same thing?

A: Yes, they are two names for the same disorder. Manic Depression is the old name for what is now called Bipolar Disorder. Professionals chose to discard the name “Manic Depression” or “Manic-Depressive Disorder” in favor of Bipolar Disorder because it is more accurate. Not all forms of bipolar cause manic episodes – bipolar II does not have manic features, but instead the patient suffers from “hypomanic” or “sub-manic” episodes. Cyclothymia also has these hypomanic features, as well as less profound depressive episodes. Because of the different varieties of the disorder, the name “Manic Depression” was misleading and inaccurate, so it was changed to Bipolar Disorder.

Hope that helps clear things up!

Q: Can you get Medical Marijuanna in Michigan For Depression and/or Bipolar Disorder?
I was wondering if depression or Bipolar Disorder is a qualifying disorder and or disease for medical marijuanna? Can anyone help me out here?

A: I wouldn’t get my hopes up. Medical marijuana is reserved for those who are suffering in great pain from a terminal illness. It is also used to help reduce the side effects during chemotherapy. I hope you ae doing OK.

Q: What would a psychologist perscribe a 14 year old girl for major depression, bipolar disorder, ADD and OCD?
Just wondering im going in for my phsyciactric evaluation to see if there is anything else that is wrong with me………..

I also have a Sleeping disorted what can they perscribe?

A: Fortunately, many medicines can treat several of those disorders at the same time. You’d probably go on an anti-depressant such as Zoloft (or any of the myriad of others), a mood stabilizer and something for the ADD. It’s possible that taking medicines can correct your sleeping disorder as well. Be sure you mention it at the evaluation, but likely you can over come that without medication (the sleeping problem).

Q: Bipolar Depression?
I am writing a paper on men who suffer from Bipolar Depression. Does anyone have any insight on the subject or know of any professional journals online or off that can be helpful to my research? Thanks!

A: I reproduce the first page of a relevant website containing 10 entries. There are many more pages after and contain lots of entries on the matter. I hope this helps you in drawing up your essay.

Bipolar Disorder Information – Health Results Articles
Community
Other Resources

Symptoms

Treatments

Medications
Yahoo! Groups

Ask a Question

Read Q & A
National Mental Health Association

National Institute of Mental Health

Internet Mental Health

Yahoo! Shortcut – About
WEB RESULTSbipolar depression
Information about bipolar depression, depression treatment, and facts about bipolar disorder … bipolar disorder has a unique pattern of mood cycles, …www.psychologyinfo.com/depression/bipolar.htm – 37k – Cached
Depression Causes, Symptoms, Signs, Treatment and Diagnosis on …
Feeling depressed? Learn depression symptoms, treatment, medications, causes, statistics, facts, signs and types (manic [bipolar], major [clinical], postpartum)www.medicinenet.com/depression/article.htm – 56k – Cached
Bipolar Disorder — Manic-Depression
Offers links to different facts on the disorder.www.psycom.net/depression.central.bipolar.html – 31k – Cached
Bipolar depression – WebMD
Learn about bipolar depression, a symptom of bipolar disorder. … Your Guide to Understanding Depression. Guide: 5 Forms of Bipolar Disorder …www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/depression-symptoms – 98k – Cached
Bipolar Disease and Manic Depression
Get facts on manic depression and bipolar disease. Learn about bipolar disorder symptoms and treatment. Also learn causes of anxiety disorderswww.everydayhealth.com/emotional-health/bipolar/index.aspx – 69k
What is Bipolar Disorder? (Manic Depression)
Bipolar disorder (manic depression) can cause extreme shifts in moods. … with bipolar disorder (sometimes called manic depression), these feelings can be extreme: …www.bipolar.com/what_is_bipolar/what_is_bipolar.html – 20k – Cached
Bipolar disorder – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
User-edited article about bipolar disorder, a condition of recurring mood disorders ranging from debilitating depression to manic depressive episodes.
Quick Links: Signs and symptoms – Classification – Depressive phase
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder – 179k – Cached
Bipolar Depression – News and Information-Causes, Symptoms, and …
… Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments of Bipolar Depression.-Bipolar Affective Disorder, Manic Depression … Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) …www.bipolardepressioninfo.com – 31k – Cached
bipolar depression
Information and FAQ about bipolar depression … bipolar disorder has a unique pattern of mood cycles, combining … More information about Bipolar Depression …www.psychologyinfo.com/depression/bipolar_depression.html – 14k – Cached
MedlinePlus: Bipolar Disorder
Getting the Treatment You Need(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) … How It Works and How It Can Help(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) …www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bipolardisorder.html

Q: Bipolar depression?
I have Bipolar and have been steady as a rock for 14 years until last June. Outside circumstances caused me to land in the hospital in Nov. (These were things I could not alter). Ever since I have been having anxiety attacks and feeling very bad at night. I feel good when I get up but its like when dark hits it hits me to. I just realized that this is when the depression hits and haven’t talked to my psych about it yet. See him in 2 weeks, anybody else had this reaction.

A: I’ve never really been stable long-term, but I do feel much worse in the evenings and at night. You may try splitting up your dosages of pills throughout the day. Also, eating right and exercising more will help. sleeping is important. Don’t sleep during the day.
Just a thought.
But you should be able to hold out until your psych appointment. If someone like me (with less experience of stability) can tough it out, someone with your experience and stead-fasteness surely can too. I have faith in that. ^_^

Q: bipolar depression…?
Is there anyone out there who has a family member suffering from bipolar depression? How do you cope/deal?

A: My son has bipolar – he’s 18…it’s a VERY hard situation to be in. To watch your loved one struggle with this, it’s a cruel illness…

I belong to a couple of on-line support groups..try these websites out for starters:

www.biploarconnect.com
www.realmentalhealth.com

Here’s a yahoo group that’s quite good:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Bipolar_Lovedones/

Best of luck honey…Marilyn

Q: Whats the difference between bipolar 1/2 and Severe bipolar depression with psychotic features?
I understand bipolar 1 and 2, but other than psychosis is there anything else that defines the diagnoses “Severe bipolar depression with psychotic features” from the diagnoses bipolar 1 or bipolar 2?
yeah, im diagnosed bipolar 1 with psychotic features. but also read up on this diagnoses of ssevere bipolar depression with psychotic features

A: http://www.cmellc.com/topics/bdfaq.html

Ok.. i did that wrong… http://www.manic-depression.net/bipolarI/

go here after you read the first part of bipolar 1, then keep clicking next article…

Bipolar I Disorder is not a complete diagnosis in and of itself. When someone is diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder, the doctor uses what are called specifiers to give more information about the patient’s current condition. Specifiers describe the mood episode and severity of the illness that the patient is experiencing.

If the person most recently experienced a hypomanic episode, often no further specifiers are given. Hypomania is by definition, a mild manic episode with no psychotic features. Therefore, it would be redundant to specify the severity of the symptoms and the presence of psychotic features. This diagnosis can be further specified to give describe if the person is experiencing rapid cycling, if there is a seasonal pattern to their condition, or if there is an absence of symptoms between episodes.

The first specification tells what kind of episode is the person’s most recent episode. The diagnoses with episode specifiers used to describe the person’s most recent mood episode are:

* Bipolar I Disorder, Single Manic Episode
* Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Hypomanic
* Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Manic
* Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Mixed
* Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Depressed
* Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Unspecified

If the diagnosis is “Bipolar I Disorder, Single Manic Episode,” that means that the person has experienced a manic episode, and they have never had any other manic or depressive episodes. For “Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Unspecified,” the person meets the criteria for the symptoms of either a manic, mixed, hypomanic, or depressed episode with the exception of the duration of the symptoms.

If the person’s diagnosis is “Bipolar I Disorder, Single Manic Episode,” the doctor may further specify the patient’s condition according to whether or not the symptoms meet the criteria for a mixed episode. The doctor may specify if the manic episode began postpartum, meaning after the patient gave birth. The specifiers can also describe the severity of the symptoms and whether or not there are psychotic or catatonic features. The doctor can also use a diagnosis specifier to indicate if the patient is in partial remission or full remission.

With the other diagnoses, they are further specified by severity, presence of psychotic features, presence of catatonic features, whether the symptoms began postpartum, whether there is rapid cycling, if there is an absence of symptoms between episodes, or if there is a seasonal pattern. The diagnosis may also specify if the most recent episode meets the criteria for a mixed episode. These diagnoses can also be specified as being in partial remission or full remission.

Taking a look at all the possible specifiers can give you an idea of how varied each patient’s experience with Bipolar I Disorder can be. You need only compare two possible diagnoses to get an impression of how vast the continuum of bipolar disorder can be. Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Depressed, Severe with Psychotic Features looks very different from Bipolar I Disorder, Single Manic Episode In Full Remission. Patients with those diagnoses both suffer from the same medical condition of bipolar disorder, but according to the specifiers, their symptoms and experiences with the disorder are extremely different. Without specifiers, the diagnosis of “Bipolar I Disorder” fails to convey the exact nature of the patient’s condition.

Bipolar II Disorder, the more common but by no means less severe type of the disorder is “characterized by one or more Major Depressive Episodes accompanied by one hypomanic episode.” This stipulation is used mainly to differentiate it from unipolar depression.

The key difference between Bipolar I and Bipolar II is that Bipolar II has hypomanic but not manic episodes. Also, while those with Bipolar I disorder may experience additional psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, Bipolar II by definition cannot have psychotic features.

The indicators which would lead to a diagnosis of Bipolar II Disorder are:

* One or more Major Depressive Episodes
* At least one Hypomanic Episode
* There has never been a Manic or Mixed Episode
* Another disorder is not responsible for symptoms
* Symptoms cause distress or impair functioning

Symptoms and characteristics of depression include:

* Decreased energy
* Weight loss or gain
* Despair
* Irritability
* Uncontrollable crying

Symptoms and characteristics of hypomania include:

* Grandiosity
* Decreased need for sleep
* Pressured speech
* Racing thoughts
* Distractibility
* Tendency to engage in behavior that could have serious consequences, such as spend

Q: What are the symptoms for bipolar depression?
I am afraid my loved one is suffering from a bipolar disorder. He has recently moved out from home, dropped out of school and is heading south with his life… Could it be bipolar depression? How can I help him if he doesn’t want to be helped?

A: My boyfriend suffers from bipolar disorder and it is a very complex disease. I recommend surfing the net as there is a lot of information to take it. I know when my boyfriend has had episodes he becomes very manic says stuff that even still I can’t believe he has said to me, very hurtful things. It is very hard to explain it all but look around the net for information. It is very important that they have someone supportive by their side…but it can be tough so be strong! My boyfriend also goes through the worst times when the seasons are changing (winter to spring and summer to fall).

Q: What is the difference between depression and bipolar depression?
What is the difference between depression and bipolar depression?

A: bipolar means you cycle from regular depression to mania or hypomania, which are states of extreme happiness and energy and self-confidence. basically the opposite of depression.

Q: Is there any way to fight against the lows of bipolar depression?
I suffer from bipolar depression and very fast mood swings. When I’m out with friends or with family and I suddenly feel really depressed, is there any way to fight it or do I just have to ride it out? I wish I could fight it because I don’t want to ruin everyone else’s evening.

A: I write poetry or listen to music that talks about the state that I am in.. it also helps to read metaphysical books or self help books that talk about people with disorders such as yours.. many spiritual people believe that people with mental disorders are high level souls who want to speed up the learning process in life… so look at your manic-depression as a way of your soul developing quickly.. keep your head up!

Q: How do I help a friend who has bipolar depression?
A friend of mine has been going through some hard times and was recently diagnosed with bipolar depression. This means that some days he is active and able to do lots of things, but other days he doesn’t have the will to get out of bed, much less do anything productive.

Anyway, he recently moved back to the area and is now living kind of close to me (30 mins. driving). He doesn’t have many other friends in the area, and his illness keeps him from getting out very much and meeting new people. So, in many ways I feel as though I am his only source of friendship now. Also, it’s really difficult to stay in touch with him. When he is depressed, he won’t answer e-mails or telephone calls, much less return messages.

In some ways I feel like I can’t do much because if I can’t talk to him and hang out, how can I continue to be friends with him? But I also feel that, as a friend, I should stick with him through the hard times and do my best to help.

What can I do to help my friend?

A: Biopolar disorder is serious business, and can lead to suicide. My uncle had it. My advice is to make sure that your friend is getting the medical help he needs, and that he takes his perscription drugs, if you can. They often don’t like to take the medicine because they like the highs or durring the highs they think they are fine so they don’t take it. Biopolar is not one that is easy to fight on your own.

Just keep doing what you are doing. I would imagine that continued issolation would not be good for your friend. Invite him to things that you go to: parties, holiday events, heck!, take him grocery shopping with you. He’s got to get his groceries sometime. But, the thirty minute drive might make it difficult. An occasional party might be doable though. If nothing else, he will know that you care about him if you keep trying to communicate with him. You may catch him on one of his up days.

Q: I have Bipolar Depression. I take Liithium and have for 20 years. What antidepressant is safe and no weight g.?
I want to ask my psychiatrist for an antidepressant, but don’t want to take one that will make me swing into a mania, or cause weight gain. I am leaning towards Fluoxetine (generic Prozac). Any educated suggestions from others who have Bipolar depression would be appreciated. My appointment with my psychiatrist is this Friday. Thanks in advance.

A: Prozac is kind of stimulating it might not be the best choice for someone with bipolar disorder. Ask your doctor about lexapro, celexa or wellbutrin. Also ask your doctor about Lamictal. It works on depression.

Stay away from Paxil (weight gain) and Effexor. Both paxil and effexor have a discontinuation syndrome when stopping.

Q: Anyone with Bipolar or unipolar Depression find coming home from holidays hard?
I have bipolar depression and have always found that coming home from holidays abroad sends me into a depressive phase of crying and having black thoughts. I feel really anxious about going back to work and like I just can’t cope with life and the UK weather. Is this part of my illness or does everyone feel the same?
RE CAELIAC answer below. I tried a gluten free diet and became so obsessed with it that I ended up anorexic and weighing under 6 stone.

A: Hello Lulu my freind, well what your talking about is not all related to bi polar neccessarily, it’s more related to anxiety. Yes as you know it often only takes a small reason to get depressed majorly as you do with bi polar, i used to cry over sillyish things and get really depressed but a day or a few days or weeks latrer i would be fine.
It is perfectly natural to have anxiety after being away for a period of time, esspecially get depressed after you have been having fun and then comming back to home and work.

Anxiety is normal at a level but many people let anxiety control there lives and emotions by over thinking and worrying about things in the future that never turn out the bad way they expect it too.

I would suggest try doing stuff to stop worrying/thinking as much or getting in your head space as much, like reading a great book or drawing different things you see along the way home, i play guitar and work towards having an awsum band.It is the best thing for me and my condition/illness, mussic seems to heal me and im so happy i got into a mussical instrument because you dont think about anything but puting your fingers on the right notes, it really takes away all anger and anxiety now that i can play much better (not so when i first started a yr ago or so).
So try a new hobby something to get out of thinking too much when your back, also freind when your home you shouldnt rush straight into work if you can.
Have a couple of weeks off and get out and do things in your area, even going for good walks n exercise can release happy endorphines in your brain naturally.
And whatever you do, DONT drink alcohol or take drugs to try and make yourself feel better. it actually make things much much worse shortly after and is only a temporary band aid which makes things way worse.
Aslo talk to people and any freinds you may have, even a total stranger like a sychologist can be great to get all these feelings out.
I really hope you have over come anorexia, it is so sad to see women skinny like that and it is very un healthy.

So it is most important to prevent worrying by doing things to get out of your head space/thinking too much and it is vital to replace those dark thoughts with rational thoughts eg: if you think i cant do anything and it will be totally crappy when im back – replace that with a rational thought or non negative thought like: well i im am capable of doing many things like …blablabla and it won’t be totally crappy, i dont know how it will be but i do know there will be some positives to comming back and when im comfy again there will be many good days aswell it wont be all bad.
See thats rationalisation and being relistic with yourself and also treat yourself much better and dont ever except putting yourself down also challenge those neg thoughts and treat yourself like a best freind.
You wouldnt say any of that mean crap to good freinds so dont say it to yourself and in time your mental health will improve like it has for me, you will be more positive and not harsh on yourself after you have re trained your thought pattern and it will improve your life.
The mind is powerful and of course if you keep thinking or excepting neg thought it will bring your mood and lifestlye down, but when you challenge it and relise you are worth fighting for than you will find a way of over comming many problems in life by using these techniques which work in time.They have for me, i dont even take medication anymore and i know and im aware of my feelings and mood and when i know im not doing aswell i take the neccessary steps to get through by sitting down and relaxing by playing the guitar so im not thinking too much or i force myself to go for a run and also treat myself fair now instead of being so nasty to myself, in time you actually even like yourself a bit and gratful you put in the effort to help yourself.
If you ever want to chat or say hi your welcome to message my by email through QnA, im in Australia but the net is great to talk to weirdos like me you never have to see lol hahaha which means no anxiety.
You will have a good week and get through any lows, after every storm the sun comes out even brighter than before and you appreciate it more so.
bye mate

Q: Is there a difference between Bipolar and Bipolar Depression?
I know about bipolar I and II but my psychiatrist is treating me for bipolar depression and i wanted to know if/how that was different from regular bipolar.

A: Bipolar depression is a subset of Bipolar-ism. It just means one is more inclined to have depressive episodes as opposed to violent or otherwise.

Q: what do they do at bipolar/depression meetings?
I was wondering if anyone knows what they do and exactly what type of activities they have at bipolar/depression meeting? I am a nursig student, and me and two of my classmates went to observe a bipolar/depression meeting but they jacka** running the meeting kicked us out saying they didnt want a lot of students observing. However, when we originally called to ask if it was okay the receptionist told us it was fine. Anyways, does anybody know?
That is fine if they didn’t want us there but it was unfair that they told us it was okay to come but then through 3 of the 9 nursing students out,and this was not for public scrutiny we are future nurse just looking to understand disease processes and be the best nurses we can be.

A: Good Evening,
That is very sweet of you and your friends to want to learn more about this illness.If we had more nurses or premed students that cared as much as your group so many people would be better off when they end up in the emergency room..

In the meetings they talk about the medication they take are not taking. How their life’s are being effected..Some groups talk about changing the cognitive thinking. How this effects them, the family..

But you can go over the persons head to get into the meeting..Find out who the head is of the meetings and explain to them what it is you are trying to do. Another idea is find some work books that a bi-polar would use to do a self help.. this has insight as well into their minds.

Q: what is the difference between bipolar depression and bipolar disorder?
what is the difference between bipolar depression and bipolar disoder?

A: Bipolar disorder (previously known as manic depression) is a diagnostic category describing a class of mood disorders where the person experiences states or episodes of depression and/or mania, hypomania, and/or mixed states. Left untreated, it is a severely disabling psychiatric condition. The difference between bipolar disorder and unipolar disorder (also called major depression) – for the purpose of this introduction – is that bipolar disorder involves “energized” or “activated” mood states in addition to depressed mood states. The duration and intensity of mood states varies widely among people with the illness. Fluctuating from one mood state to another is called “cycling” or having mood swings. Mood swings cause impairment not only in one’s mood, but also in one’s energy level, sleep pattern, activity level, social rhythms and thinking abilities. Many people become fully disabled – for significant periods of time – and during this time have great difficulty functioning.

bipolar depression is listed as the same.

Q: What causes death from Bipolar Depression?
What causes death from Bipolar Depression?
There is this guy who died from bipolar depression! He use to go to my sister’s college! Last week my sister saw him in college and he was talking to his friends and he was fine!

A: Bipolar disorder is almost certainly caused by a combination of genetics and environmental factors. If a close relative has bipolar disorder, your chances of developing the disorder increase dramatically. If you already have bipolar disorder, different stressors can exacerbate the condition.
It should be noted that bipolar is very manageable with medication. Lithium has been used successfully for many years.

Q: what do you know about bipolar depression?
my husband has bipolar depression and i would like to know how to deal with it, we have three kids and i have a part time job outside the house, it is hard for me to work things out!

A: Hi, that must be hard for you all, but you will work through it.
Bipolar depression is basically, at times you are very depressed and other times you are very manic (high and happy). Both of these states are quite serious and I hope your husband is seeing a professional about this and taking medication.
Here is a website with all the facts about Bipolar

http://www.bipolar.com.au/

As a wife, you just have to be supportive. Don’t try to fix him, just be there for him and be his friend because no matter what he says, he needs you right now.
Good luck and keep in good spirits…all will work out in the end