Can I still be depressed if I cycle through short, really high intensity bursts of positive emotion every once in a while?

Yes you can, it is very normal for depression to act like that and it can also have links to manic depression/bi polar but you should talk to your physician about that. Being depressed doesn't always mean you are very low all the time. With me it came in waves and sometimes I would even feel guilty about feeling good when I was depressed.

Of course, you could be depressed and be optimistic. You can feel any emotion and be depressed. You don't have to be down just to feel a certain way.

It's normal to experience sadness and happiness. However, when these feelings get "out of hand", they can negatively affect your life. Personally, I have experienced severe depression mixed with excitement, happiness, and hope many times. It's a very confusing state of mind. In my case, it's a symptom of Bipolar Disorder, but don't worry, having depression and intense bursts of positivity does not automatically mean you have what I have. One example is that your mood might be connected to an hormone imbalance. You can become more aware and comfortable with what you're experiencing. Share the way you feel with a health professional. You might have to shuffle through a few people first, but the relief that comes with identifying and managing (or even fixing) your problem is worth it!

High intensity bursts of positive emotion can consume a lot of your energy and can leave you restless. Don't wind yourself up so much, give yourself a break.

You may be bipolar (this used to be called manic-depressive). People with bipolar disorder go through up-and-down mood cycles that can vary in length from hours to months. The cycles can also vary in intensity. The positive, or "manic" phase, may feel good, but it can also cause dangerous or unwise behaviors because the person can feel invincible or like there are no consequences. It is probably a good idea to see a psychiatrist for an evaluation if you have the symptoms you described.

Yes,it is very possible to still have depression but short bursts of positive energy.I would take a look at it.

Of Course! Depression is an imbalance of hormones in the brain, that doesn't mean you have to be sad and down at all times, it is just that it happens more often then it should and that every once in a while you find something that actually makes you very happy

Yes, you can. I am struggling with depression and I have days when I'm happy; I feel good about myself, I make jokes and laugh, I do things I usually wouldn't do. Depression is not only rain clouds and sad faces. There are also sunny days and endless laugh.

Yes you can be depressed, short high intensity bursts of happiness doesn't mean overall happiness, in fact happiness is not based on short term feelings, it is based on your overall sense of worth and feelings in general.

Of course you can! I don't believe that depression has a pause button. It is something that is and could be with us the rest of our lives. Finding a peace of mind every once in a while is a good thing and it lets us know that just because I'm depressed doesn't mean I can't go hang out with this friend or that friend and have fun while going to the movies or putt putting. I believe deep inside, depression follows us like a black dog and once you come to realization that it's okay to be yourself and to love yourself for who you are regardless what follows you, it's okay to have intense bursts of positive emotion. Find something that makes you happy and never let go of it no matter what anyone else thinks. We've all survived 100% of our worst days and finding that ounce of positive energy can make us feel like it's okay to not be okay at times.

Yes, you can. Depression is full of ups and downs, which include bursts of positive emotion every once in awhile.

I find myself being happy and it's the bursts of happiness that don't get me too lost. Focus on this

That is probably bipolar disorder, not depression. Bipolar disorder is serious, too, and you still need help.

That actually sounds like you are bipolar, not just depressed. A short, high intensity burst of positive emotion can be a manic episode. I think it might be best to seek help from a professional. Hope everything goes well!

I think you can, I'm not an expert so what your experiencing might be a different thing (Like bipolar or something) but what your feeling is valid, whether its depression or not. If you feel depressed sometimes, that counts as something, regardless of the fact that you're not always feeling like that.

Yes, depression can affect anyone at anytime and at any age. If it swings too high to low then it maybe something else

Of course you can. Depression comes in all shapes and sizes and even if you have regular spurts of sadness at random moments it's still considered depression.

Yes, absolutely. Depression isn't necessarily characterized by *constant* sadness. However, these emotional extremes might point to another disorder, such as Bipolar Disorder.

Yes you can. Depression doesn't mean that you're depressed 24/7. Positive feelings are normal from time to time.

Of course. There are lots of different symptoms for depression, which is why depression is such a complex disorder because people experience it all differently. For example, having a cold is pretty much the same for everyone; headache, blocked or runny nose and a cough. Obviously the intensity changes depending on the person but overall it's the same thing. Depression is very different in that one person may not be able to leave their bed but another may be able to go to work and function properly but still suffer with suicidal thoughts. It's different for everyone so for you it's a positive little thing that you can hope for and I'm sure in time the positive bursts will last longer and become more frequent :)

Of course! If you didn't, you'd be more suited to be labelled as bi-polar (it isn't just fast changing emotions but long periods at a time of the same emotion). And there have to be things that make you feel good every once in a while anyway

You might be bipolar so you should go to the doctor and have them see if they could diagnose you with bipolar, and if you do they will be able to give you medication for it.

Absolutely! Sometimes we can get a second wind was emotions, causing euphoria. It's like when you're so happy you cry, or when you're so sad that you smile. We sometimes display extreme emotions in the other direction. Other times, we need to remember that being depressed doesn't mean you're sad all the time, or even down all the time. If you get relief sometimes, that's good! But it doesn't mean that you aren't still struggling the rest of the time. Give yourself credit as the expert on you. You don't have to be depressed 100% of the time to be living with depression.

OF COURSE, you are not required to be sad all the time to have depression. You're allowed to be happy, you can be happy and you deserve to be. However if you are experiencing high intensity bursts of emotion or intense risk taking, or impulsive behavior this may be mania. If you experience these symptoms, this may be bipolar depressive disorder. Bipolar Depression has intense mood swings with extreme lows, and manic highs. Mania is destructive, dangerous and can make some people lose touch with reality. This is very different from being depressed, and then feeling happy and uplifted one day. If you think you may be experiencing this please talk to a therapist, psychiatrist or trusted adult or friend and seek help. You deserve to be safe and supported.