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manic depression

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Q: Why do people with manic depression feel very good and positive about themselves and then opposite?
why and how is this?

is there a way to naturally balance the two sides or is the manic side really the right one?

thanks for your answers ?
why does the depressed side feel the way it does?
why do some feel mostly depressed, instead of manic?
to the first answerer, yes, but could you explain why?

A: Chemical imbalance, I think. Think the term is bipolar.

Q: If I was manic after a drug episode yet later had no depression or manic states would you consider that manic?
actually would you consider it manic/depression or something else?

A: Yes

Q: What can you do for a person with severe Manic Depression?
I’m writing this story. The main character is 18, a high school senior. He’s suffered from manic episodes since he was 14. He goes to a normal school, and on occasion he has an episode. But my question is, if he does have an episode, does he take some sort of medication, and does he go to his doctor? And what can others do to help him?

A: I’ve had bipolar disorder since I was 15 and I’ve been taking a variety of medications, anything from anti-depressents (Zoloft, Cymbalta, ect.) and mood stabilizers (Depakote, Lamictal, Lithium, ect.)

I also see a psychiatrist monthly.

Q: Does Manic depression or just regular depression run in the family?
If my great grandmother was manic depressive what are the chances that i will be or that my children will be?

A: A tendency towards mental illness does run in families, but that’s no guarantee that you’ll get the illness. Most families have a history of mental illness, but comparatively, very few people are mentally ill, which is encouraging.

Keep yourself (and your children, if you have them) healthy: eat well, excercise, get a healthy sleeping pattern. If you’ve had traumatic life experiences, or if you’re feeling stressed, seek counselling. All of these things lessen your risk of mental illness, although nothing can eliminate the risk completely.

Q: Can a person with asperger’s syndrome also suffer from manic depression?
I am diagnosed with asperger’s. However, I have also suffered for years with depression, sometimes it’s reactive, other times it comes from nowhere. My mood swings are swift and extreme, I have periods of mania when I can’t sit still or shut up talking and am generally excitable, but have other periods where all I feel is total despair for no reason and I would be quite happy to go to sleep and never wake up. Generally, I feel that I have no control over my thoughts, I am unable to relax from the moment I wake up, and feel constantly anxious. So, could I have manic depression as well? Or is it all part of asperger’s?

A: It is always dangerous to make these diagnoses yourself…and even more damgerous to expect unqualified people on the internet to diagnose you from one short paragraph.

Seek appropriate medical advice!

Q: What does manic depression look like in a person – which they are in a mania state?
Any experiences with seeing someone going through this state? How do/did you ground them back in reality? Do you have to always seek medical advice or is there a point where it is just manageable? There is this guy I know who is clearly in his manic phrase but I am just wondering how far people with this condition are ‘allowed’ to go into it until they are deemed unsafe to themselves? Is it ok to be a little bit manic but not fully into it or is immediate action taken when the first signs of a manic phrase are begining?

Thanks

A: It’s not easy to judge these things. Do you know your friend’s pattern? Some people just go into a manageable level of mania and don’t go so high that they become a danger to themselves. Others go over the top and if that is this guy’s pattern, it might be necessary to seek help. Usual things to watch for are spending as if the bank was full of your money…. that’s commonly the one that has most lasting repercussions. The hyperactivity is only a problem if the people around can’t cope and can’t find a way to make things OK for everyone. It’s truly problematic when people get ideas that the rest of us see as really off the wall and damage other people’s lives – eg setting fire to things.

You might find it worth reading a book called “An Unquiet Mind” by Kay Redfield Jamison. She’s a psychiatrist who herself suffers from manic-depression and got through her training because of good friends who kept her safe during the manic phases and ensured that the authorities didn’t get to know….. She is now a real expert on the condition, obviously. Her book is autobiographical, and gives lots of good info and understanding.

Q: Is clinical depression, moderatley severe depression and manic depression the same thing?
I was diagnosed by a doctor with moderately severe depression recently. I’m confused, is this the same as the others i’ve mentioned? If not, what are the differences?

A: Hi,

To cut to the chase, BIPOLAR (as you might already suspect) means “two poles” and is simply the new “in” word for Manic Depression where a person cycles between “very big highs” (mania) at one end of the ‘pole’ and “very low Lows” (depression) at the other end of the ‘pole, which is a far wider range than most other peoples – and it lasts for more than a couple of weeks.

Many famous and highly intelligent people have/had manic depression including Sir Winston Churchill, Stephen Fry, Carrie Fisher, Spike Milligan, Ben Stiller, DMX and many others. Managed properly, it can be lived with, and in fact because the “mania” (the highs) are so exhilarating, most manic depressives wouldn’t swap their manic depression for being normal. There are three treatments for Bipolar, and only one of them involves antidepressant drugs.

Normal Depression is a bit different.

I’ve been in fairly hefty senior management positions for around 4 decades and have had up to 500 staff under me at times. I’ve had to deal frequently with many people suffering Depression, so know a little about what you are going through. Depression is far more common than most people think because most people either don’t recognise it or hide it. In fact, I think the stats show that up to one-in-five people suffer from Depression, all over the world. It’s good that you’re getting it out in the open and seeking advice. Just be careful of the myths and here-say, though. A lot of people don’t know what they’re talking about and just seem to make things up as they go along.

Nowadays, I produce videos, and last year made a 35-minute DVD presented by a top UK Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Darryl Britto, who is a personal friend of mine, and who wanted to squash all the myths about depression, because he felt that very few people thoroughly understood what it is all about. In the DVD he includes an explanation of the three main treatments available. It’s purposely in simple layperson’s language and aimed at 4 categories of people.
1) Those with Depression,
2) Those who think they may have Depression,
3) Friends and family of those with Depression, and
4) People training in the healthcare sector.

If interested, you can see a FREE PREVIEW on YouTube at http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce1viJ7zqCU

I also have a Blog at http://business-sage.blogspot.com which has heaps and heaps of useful FREE ADVICE about enhancing your lot in life, which you might be interested in. (Some of it is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.)

Also I’ve include some web links below, many of which are professional bodies connected to Bipolar and Depression with stacks of free information.

I sincerely hope this information might help you, and that I haven’t given you too much text here – but I felt it important to lever you away from (sometimes) harmful here-say, gossip and myths. People suffering Depression are not alone, you know. Depression is treatable in the majority of cases and it’s truly not as bad as people think it is. Armed with the FACTS of what Depression is all about, makes it ten times more easy to handle.

Good luck & Cheers
John E

Q: do i have manic depression or is it mood swings?
none of my relatives have depression or any form of manic depression im 13
somedays i feel as hyper as can be then others i feel like killing myself i cry over the littlest things
sometimes in the same day i change
is it manic depression or just mood swings?

A: The fact that you have noticed this and are seeking advice suggests that what’s going on is not ‘normal’. For many people adolescence is a time of difficulty, but it is important to recognise where there might be problems before they get out of hand/control.
A good way to tell if this is a ‘diagnosable’ problem is its persistence and the extent to which it interferes with you living the life you want to lead. If these feelings of hyperactivity and lowness are flitting and occasional, and most of life is good, then you could put them down to ‘mood swings’. However if you have been feeling high and low for sever weeks and its interfering with your life, it may be sensible to consider whether there is a cause. The cause may be instability in your life, they may be cyclical and changing with menstruation, or possibly you have a psychiatric disorder.
You say you feel like killing yourself. Suicidal thoughts are relatively common in adolescence (perhaps about 1 in 5 people), but if they are recurrent, and if you find yourself making plans, or disturbed by the frequency of the thoughts, then do tell someone if you feel really down. Good people to talk to would be friends, counsellors at school, the doctor, discussion groups online. If you sometimes feel so low that you want to die, but other times feel happy/normal, its possible you have ‘atypical depression’, and exercise, therapy or antidepressants may be beneficial.
The ‘hyperness’ of mania is usually so much that a person is clearly and persistently behaving in a way that is unrecognisable by others, and is associated with putting themselves at risk, acting impulsively, acting ‘madly’. Just feeling hyper is not mania. Even hypomania (less high than mania) is persistent feelings or euphoria, creativity, increased energy, that is clearly recognisable to others as an unusual state. You could be describing states of hypomania which are also characterised by decrease need for sleep, talkativity, increased social interactivity, over-familiarity, distractibility, starting projects without finishing them. Often when people are really hypomanic or manic, they feel irritable (instead of high) and out of control. In contrast, what you describe as hyper sounds normal and pleasant and enjoyable.

In summary, if these feelings are worrying you or getting in the way of life, do think about where they might be coming from and get help from someone you trust or a professional to work through them before they get out of control.

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: Whats the procedure for a diagnosis of manic depression?
Im interested in knowing because my fiance who currently suffers depression and on anti depressants is convinced ( as well as me) that he could be suffering from bipolar disorder but how do we go about explaining this to the GP? (we dont want to ‘tell’ the doctor)

A: Depression – caused by chemical imbalances of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and other important neurotranmitters in the brain which balance emotions is a serious issue. Only a Psychiatrist can accurately diagnose a person with Bipolar and Bipolar Depression. Psychologists state that depression is a unhealthy state which we ‘can’ work through in order to experience greater levels of happiness. Some who daily experience deep chronic depression may require both prescribed medication along with ‘Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy {M.B.C.T.’) provided by Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapists and there are some who experience chronic-but not deeply chronic depression who work well with M.B.C.T. alone. *Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn PhD along with Psychologists Mark Williams, John Teasdale, and Zindel Segal have authored an Excellent self-help book called: “The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness”. Mindfulness, a simple yet powerful way of paying attention to your most difficult emotions and life experiences, can help you break the cycle of chronic unhappiness once and for all, that you may experience greater levels of happiness. In ‘The Mindful Way through Depression’, it is explained why our usual attempts to “think” our way out of a bad mood or “just snap out of it” leads us deeper into the downward spiral of depression. Through very insightful lessons-drawn from both Mindfulness and Cognitive Therapy – Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn PhD and Psychologists- Mark Williams, John Teasdale, and Zindel Segal demonstrate how to sidestep the negative habits that lead to unhappiness and despair, including self-blame and rumination so you can effectively face life’s challenges with much resilience.

Q: Parents, is it possible for adhd symtoms to show up as early as 3 years old? What about manic depression, etc?
Are there any books or something that me and the mother, who is a friend; can get educated on as to what signs or symptoms I should look for. The child’s father is manic depressive and bipolar and I’m wondering is this an inherited trait or disease this child could be showing signs of having, especially with some of the behaviors she exhibits.

A: It’s possible for symptoms to show up as early as 3 yrs old however you won’t find a Dr willing to diagnose until the child reaches 1st grade. My eldest son is diagnosed as having ADD at age 6 and after trying several meds for the past 5 yrs he has seems to be one of lucky ones and has outgrown it. We stopped giving him his ADD meds last year and the teachers could see no difference in him being on it meds and not so we are having him retested. My son’s ADD was caused by the environment we were in (ex was very abusive to me) What you see as behaviors of ADHD and manic depression could be something else entirely like environment. I would suggest the mother talk to her family Dr. and after exploring age appropriate behaviors with her Dr she can ask for the Dr to recommend seeing a specialist. Try that before leaping to assumptions that the child has any disorders. Sometimes the behavior is learned and we project things on our children without knowing we are doing it. Your an awesome friend to care so much about the child and the mother.
Best of luck to you and your friend,
Dutchess
Blessed be

Q: What are some good interview questions for manic depression for the artist temperment?
I am doing a project, and I am not sure what to ask some local artists.

A: What inspires you to create art?
Do you ever experience periods of intense creativity? Are you productive during these times? or do you produce work some time later?
Is there a relationship between your creativity and your illness? How can you tell if or when creative thoughts start to become symptoms?
If you take medication for manic depression, do you experience a ‘flattening’ of emotion and creativity? How does this affect your work?
Would you trade your artistic temperament/ability for stable mental health? (Van Gogh sufferred terribly from what is now thought to hve been manic depression, although prodigious in is output, never sold a painting in his life time and tragically ended his life to escape mental torment)
Would you be a different kind of artist if you didn’t have manic depression?

Hope these help.

Q: How to handle manic depression without meds or therapy?
Is this a bad idea?
I haven’t found meds that work for me yet, and it’s getting very tiring I kinda gave up on them.
The meds DON’T make me feel better…or worse. I am like a zombie, with no feelings at all. This is why I have chosen not to take them.

A: I am going off my meds. I gradually tapered off. last week of tapering. I feel great. I feel it is about finding what really works for you. I found people that have a lot of alternative ideas about mental health. Having a social outlet is very important. It’s hard to be free to grow;) in a vaccum.

please check these out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBBc3fEnwOw&feature=channel
http://www.newlightbeings.com
http://www.realitysandwich.com

http://www.kenwilber.com/multiplex/list

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: Is it cool to have manic depression these days?
Lots of people say they have it, especially celebrities.
How many people genuinely have it, how many people just get incredibly depressed or hyper in phases. Isn’t that just the human condition.

A: There is nothing cool at all about it. I have several dear friends for whom it is a daily struggle. Maintaining that sense of balance and normalcy with or with out medication is rough, and it’s hard to see people you care about go through that.

I think some people feel those ups and downs in their lives, and have a tendency to self-diagnose.

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