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Is it depression or bipolar?The wrong diagnosis may lead to disaster. Is it depression or bipolar? Get answers now! The short answer is that the difference between the two lies in the presence or absence of mania. For the person who is suffering, their subjective experience will feel a lot the same. And it will suck!
A "regular" depression and a bipolar depression will feel the same on the inside: - feelings of hoplessness or worthlessness - lethergy or outright exhaustion - no interest in the people, activities and things that once mattered most - changes in appetite, sleep and concentration - zero interest in sex and/or no confidence in one's own sexual appeal - social withdrawal - sometimes teariness or outright crying jags - sometimes decline in personal grooming or hygiene - in extreme cases, an inability to keep getting up and going to work or school, or even get out of bed. How to tell the differenceIs mania present or not? With mania = bipolar! Without mania = depression!Bipolar disorder is characterized by the presence of major depression, AS WELL AS episodes of mania that last for at least one week. So what is mania anyway? The tricky part is that mania can take different forms. Sometimes it can be feeling euphoric or expansive. A manic episode may lead a person to feel highly energized, on top of the world, or like they can do anything (feelings of grandiosity).
To satisfy the clinical criteria, the manic episode must negatively effect the person's life. However, some manic episodes go undiagnosed because the signs overlap with certain symptoms of depression or other conditions, and do not fit into the old time stereotype of the manic-depressive. For example, instead of seeming euphoric or energized, the manic person may be extremely irritable, disorganized or anxious. Why does it matter?It matters a lot because of the difference in treatment options.Some of the most effective treatments for depression are medications such as SSRIs like Lexapro, Prozac and Zoloft. The issues are complex and stil being debated, but it seems that at least sometimes, these medications can trigger mania in a bipolar person and make their condition much worse. The most effective treatments for bipolar are different to the more commonly prescribed SSRIs and include mood stabilizers such as lithium. Don't take chances with your mental health - find out today - is it depression or bipolar? Taking a bipolar test can really help.
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