Depression
Readers,
Bipolar depression is often described in contrast to unipolar depression...
When you hear people talk about being diagnosed with or treated for depression, they are often referring to unipolar depression. There are important differences between unipolar depression and bipolar depression – differences in how the illness makes people feel and behave, and differences in how they are supported through treatment. In addition to going through low moods or depression, individuals with bipolar disorder also have high moods known as mania during which they may experience increased energy, feelings of euphoria, insomnia (inability to sleep) or impulsive behaviors like shopping sprees or promiscuous sex. Someone with unipolar depression doesnt go through the highs of bipolar depression. Below is a closer look at the symptoms of both depression and mania. If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, its important to visit your counseling center or a mental health professional to get the right diagnosis and treatment.
For a more comprehensive list of symptoms, as well as access to a confidential self evaluation access the source below:
What is bipolar depression like for you? Share one thing you wish people understood better about this mood.
@blitheSun94 Would you like me to hypertext link the resource you provide, so a reader can click onto it directly? I'll only do it with your permission. <3
@ladylazarus1971
Sure! Thanks for your assistance! 😊
@blitheSun94 Done and done. <3
@ladylazarus1971
Much appreciated. 😁
The sheer level of *agitation* that's involved with the depressive episodes in Bipolar Disease is extraordinarily hard to treat. Being so far depressed but full of nervous energy that refuses to go anywhere positive is so defeating.
@ladylazarus1971
Absolutely! The irritability associated with mixed states and depression can have serious consequences. This is a personal battle for me as well. Meditation helps. 😌
@blitheSun94
Can you share how medication helps please
@honestBranch5884
Meditation helps. Is this what you meant, or are you indeed referring to medication?
Thanks!
Thank you so much for this advice. I have a fiancee who is bipolar and has recently got on meds (a year ago). He's usually very irritable and it is my nature to just love up on him, etc. The bit about giving them space helps a lot. It's a rough road and we have a long way to go but this certainly helps.
@patientVillage547
I am so glad to hear you found this helpful. I admire that you're a patient and loving partner. Isolation is one of the most difficult things on a relationship. I hope you will keep us posted on any progress, questions, or concerns. <3
@patientVillage547 It took a while for my partner and I to work out a system of distance and support. Be patient, and remember that love transcends distance always (:
The crying and emptiness are unbearable. Lack of interest in anything is also a huge problem. Even a shower seems like a chore let alone actual chores. I'm so lonely and it's all my fault.
@JustSomeone85 I sympathize with you... And, you know, even on a normal day it's difficult to quiet the voice that says everything is my fault, let alone when I'm on a downswing. But, when I feel I'm more clearheaded I know everything must not be my fault, and I'm willing to bet it must not be all your fault either. Sometimes it's alright to crumble, to be overcome, and to mess up (even very badly). But, whatever has been your fault (and whatever has not been your fault) has put you in your present circumstances, and it is entirely up to you to decide how you will go on from here. However you feel, whatever your situation, be gentle with yourself (: what you are going through is difficult to imagine for a lot of people, and so you and I must be strong! and decide every day to keep going, however it is we got where we are...
@indigoJet762 Thank you for this. I'm having a particuarly bad day and positive vibes are nice.
@JustSomeone85 Anytime, dude. I hope your days get better ^^
The children will detect the mood shift early on and play by themselves as I become more isolative and angry. My sleep will be poor and interrupted by bad dreams. I will change from being the person who has the ideas — is the decision maker — to not being interested in anything at all.
The world appears bleak and a pointless round of social niceties. I will wear my most comfortable, often black clothes, everything else grazes and chafes at my skin.
I become repelled by the proximity of people, acutely aware of interpersonal spaces that have somehow grown closer around me. I will be overwhelmed by the slightest tasks, even imagined tasks. I will see dirt on every surface, weeds all over the garden, and grubby children and feel solely responsible for improving these things.
Physically there is immense fatigue: my muscles scream with pain, an old nephrostomy scar plays up. I ache down to my bone marrow, my joints feel swollen. I become breathless weeding a small patch of garden and have to stop after 2 minutes. I become clumsy and drop things. The exhaustion becomes so complete that eventually I drop into bed fully clothed. Sometimes I will vomit, my digestive processes halted. I will often sleep without being refreshed for up to 18 hours. At times every muscle in my body will tense up and be totally resistant to relaxation. Sweat will pour off me or I will be caught in an attack of shivering unrelated to the ambient temperature. I will shout over and over again in my mind for help, but never get the words past my lips.
Food becomes totally uninteresting or takes on a repulsive flavour, so I will lose weight rapidly during a long depressive phase. Sometimes, I will crave only sweet foods in small quantities. It will often be difficult to bother to drink adequately, which can affect my drug levels and my bowels do not function.
I become unable to concentrate to read a novel for pleasure, for escape. Even a newspaper or magazines become impossible to follow. I start to feel trapped, that the only escape is death. At this point or earlier it becomes a rational decision.
My brain slows right down. I become stuck, unable to answer a simple question, unable to establish eye contact and unable to comprehend what is being asked of me.
I avoid answering the phone or the door. My voice deepens and slows sometimes to the point of slurring. My skin becomes pale and grey in hue. I feel the cold more readily. I will look in the mirror and fail to recognise the person there.
As I begin to slip into a more psychotic state of mind I become unable to recognise something as familiar as the palm of my hand or my children's faces. My sense of space alters and rooms that are familiar appear to have changed dimensions. Simple objects in a room can take on sinister meanings for me.
At this point the world begins to take on a malevolent aspect, which is difficult to describe. Those I love around me become part of a conspiracy to harm me. Their faces will alter and their voices develop a mocking ring. I will hate my husband and other loved ones.
Images just out of my field of vision will be waiting to pounce leaving me in a constant state of vigilance. I have been under the impression that I was rotting under my skin, that my bone marrow is being gnawed away by evil spirits.
Soon the voices and images in my head start telling me what to do.
Stop taking my medications, injure or kill those I love. Destruction. No other way out.
Ultimately they tell me that everything would be better if I killed myself.
I am evil, a burden; I deserve only punishment.
Twisted tales and delusions.
I become passionate about one subject only at these times of deep and intense fear, despair and rage: suicide. The suicidal impulses and images can come at any stage of the illness, even in mania, but are at their most intense and irresistible during psychotic phases.
@blitheSun94
When we become hyper active and on the upper peak people may percieve us as sociable and easy going and friendly or other times agressive and disgusting and threatening...
I have both bi-polar and chronic depression if that is ever possible...my bipolar is mostly 75 depression and about 25 highs or less...
A good thing about bipolar is that when you getthe few highs you then get the opportunity to do some basic things done that otherwise depression empedes you from doing...
I yearn and crave the equillibrium of a normal person without bipolar and the confidence and live loving attidude of a normal person without depression...
But I cannot have that so I struggle on with both my bipolar, my old depression and all the other "garbage" bag tgat I carry with me ecery day...
My throat is "swelling" again as anguish and abxiety come...
When we warn you that we are bipolar please try to understand us and not judge us by our immediate actions, try to reach deeper and understand and have forgiveness for our behaviour...I am always sorry for my bi polar high events...
Be blessed that you do not have bi-polar...
@feelitinyourbones
My depression is about 35-85 percent a day depending on the problems I am experiencing.
I try to go for an hour walk daily in the morning which helps my mood.
I listen to music. I write. I read. I pray. I ride my bike. I force myself to tak to my friends. I go to a Depression Group
at my clinic once a week. I try to do fun things. I mostly isolate and stay at home. I eat too much candy. Life is pretty much boring we do the same things over and over.
@diligentEyes4200
I do have the diagnosis of Bipolar One.
how did you get the energy to get up and walk ? & how did you get yourself to go to groups ? and how did it feel at first ?
@feelitinyourbones
My doctor told me that I should not dream of the things I cannot have because it only makes me sad.
My Bipolar diagnosis is something I inherited from my mother. I used to wish it was not me. I used to wish I was someone else.
But then in time I had to accept it and treat it with meds. Because we are who we are and this illness is just a part of who we are. We are many other things. We are good, kind, honest, loving, caring, empathic, imaginative, beings.
What if you have tried everything and nothing works I have to deal with it every day its not fun but I make it threw. Nights are the worst though @diligentEyes4200
wow this is the exact same for me. very severe depression. i also have 75/25. and i usually only ever hear of people having more manic stages not as much depression. i’m currently going through very bad depression and i just woke up from sleeping all day , i’m trying to take it day by day but it’s getting really hard
I have recently been diagnosed with depression (frankly speaking, it is not so severe, so I was surprised). My doctor prescribed pills for me, but I really don't want to take chemical medications. I read the detailed info about them on Canadian Pharmacy Online site (I always use this source for this purpose) and decided to try something else first. So, thanks for the recomendations and sharing your experience, I'll try them in the hope for a good result.
@blitheSun94
For me it is depression.
@blitheSun94
I have schizoaffective disorder with major depression and manic bipolar with major depression and am on a lot of medication.
@jaedae
My heart goes out to you. I was medicated for two years, although medication was never a long term solution for me due to the side effects. It certainly interrupted a crisis when I needed it and for that I am grateful.
I have mixed bipolar disorder so I experience mixed episodes that cause me to grow increasingly agitated and overwhelmed. Some days are better than others, but I am proud of the fact that I have developed more coping skills than ever before that do not result in me causing harm to myself or someone else. Bipolar Disorder is so tough to live with.
@blitheSun94
In revisiting this thread, I would have to say that the one thing I wish people knew about bipolar depression is not to internalize it.
So often mood disorders impact relationships in negative ways. I find myself having to remind my loved ones that my depression or agitation has little or nothing to do with them.
I think this is difficult for those who are inherent fixers. There's a certain helplessness with this disorder, but there is value in surrounding yourself with those who will keep you company during the storm.
-Blithe
