you really need a doctor to make that call.
Its depression with a big twist I guess you could say

Unfortunately, it takes a lot of different doctor's opinions before they decide that you're bipolar. If you look on www.webmd.com you might learn more about the disorder and if you fit the criteria.

My bipolar is depression only but I know it's bipolar and not major depression because of the kind of meds I'm on. I've been on every anti-depressant there is and they all make me so anxious I can't function. Only the mood stabilizers work such as Seroquel and Thorazine which are currently working for me. Diagnosing can be tricky that's why it's important to get a pdoc.

BP doest affect everyone a little differant.

I'd recommend www.nami.org -- very down to earth language and talk about the various dx, etc. And a ton of information in genereal.

If it looks at all possible, scedule an appt with a pdoc and have a candid talk. Good luck

The thing is that I am clinically depressed, but I have days that I feel great, ready to conquer the world, and then days like today, where I just feel hopeless. I am eating like a crazy person, all I want to do is sleep. All I want to do is cry. I get these ideas that I am going to stick to my goals, but then I barley last a week.

This is an overview:

Bipolar disorder - Also known as manic depression, an illness that can cause extreme shifts in thoughts, energy, mood, and behavior; a person's mood may swing between "highs" (mania) and "lows" (depression); in between mood swings, a person may have few or no symptoms.

Bipolar I disorder (BP I) - The most common type of bipolar disorder. This condition is associated with one or more manic or mixed episodes. It may also include one or more major depressive episodes.

Different Kinds of Bipolar

Bipolar II disorder (BP II) - A type of bipolar disorder. This condition is associated with one or more major depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy - A type of talk therapy that helps people identify and change unhelpful ways of thinking.

Cyclothymia - A mood disorder in which a person may have repeated periods of mild depression and periods of normal or slightly elevated mood.

Hypomania - A milder version of mania.

Major depressive episode - A specific disorder of feeling extreme sadness, usually for two weeks or more, that may include symptoms such as hopelessness, loss of appetite, sleep disruption, anxiety, low energy, poor concentration, inability to feel pleasure, and thoughts of suicide.

Maintenance therapy - The use of treatment to prevent or delay the symptoms of a medical condition from returning.

Mania - An excited mood that may result in mental and physical hyperactivity, disorganized thoughts, and erratic behavior; symptoms may include an extreme feeling of well being, irritability, racing thoughts, less need for sleep, rapid speech, impulsiveness, recklessness, and in severe cases, psychosis and hallucinations.

Manic-depression - Another name for bipolar disorder.

Mixed states - An episode in which symptoms of both mania and depression are present.

Mood chart - A chart for recording your emotions over time, as well as important events in your life.

Mood disorder - A mental illness associated with a disturbed mood, such as bipolar disorder and major depression.

Bipolar Disorder

There is a tendency to romanticize bipolar disorder. Many artists, musicians, and writers have suffered from its mood swings. But in truth, many lives are ruined by this disease; and without effective treatment, the illness is associated with an increased risk of suicide.1

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a serious brain disease that causes extreme shifts in mood, energy, and functioning. It affects approximately 5.7 million adult Americansabout 2.6 percent of the population.2 Men and women are equally likely to develop this disabling illness. The disorder typically emerges in adolescence or early adulthood, but in some cases appears in childhood.3 Cycles, or episodes, of depression, mania, or "mixed" manic and depressive symptoms typically recur and may become more frequent, often disrupting work, school, family, and social life.

Depression: Symptoms include a persistent sad mood; loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed; significant change in appetite or body weight; difficulty sleeping or oversleeping; physical slowing or agitation; loss of energy; feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt; difficulty thinking or concentrating; and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Mania: Abnormally and persistently elevated (high) mood or irritability accompanied by at least three of the following symptoms: overly-inflated self-esteem; decreased need for sleep; increased talkativeness; racing thoughts; distractibility; increased goal-directed activity such as shopping; physical agitation; and excessive involvement in risky behaviors or activities.

"Mixed" state: Symptoms of mania and depression are present at the same time. The symptom picture frequently includes agitation, trouble sleeping, significant change in appetite, psychosis, and suicidal thinking. Depressed mood accompanies manic activation.