Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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Is there a difference between depression in BD and

iam30113
iam30113
I've been wondering for a while now if there's a difference and if so what makes them different. Better yet, if there is a difference are you able to tell when you're depressed vs depressed due to your cycle?
Community LeaderSunCloudJD
SunCloudJD
The difference is when someone suffers from depression they don't get the highs that are involved with swinging both ways as in bipolar... It's called unipolar disorder
Community LeaderSunCloudJD
SunCloudJD
Depressed vs depression.... Everyone gets depressed in life... That's normalcy... Depression is an illness/disorder
iam30113
iam30113
Just realized part of my title got left off. 'general depression' should have been there. I.e. depression not caused by another MI such as BD
got2breal
got2breal
You can have mixed cycles. Let your doc know what is going on.
Community Leaderacuriousfish
acuriousfish
hi, I think I get what you are asking - how do you tell if you are depressed as part of a bipolar cycle or depressed from another mental illness?

I think the answer is that doctors don't really recognise that difference - if you are depressed and are depressed for reasons other than a situation then it is part of bipolar.

People don't get for example a diagnosis of bipolar AND unipolar depression.

It's an odd situation but we need to remember that because there is no real biology/ causes identified doctors just have to work with symptoms.
iam30113
iam30113
@Fish, that's more of what i meant. But thanks everyone!
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