Quote:
Originally Posted by b00bles
I'm not 100% sure but I'd place money on it-- you can't have a dual diagnosis of Bipolar depression and major depression.
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That's why I put quotes around them. As far as I know, you can't have a diagnosis of bipolar depression, it's called bipolar disorder, of which frequent depression is a symptom.
Quote:
Originally Posted by b00bles
Lithium isn't the be-all-end-all treatment for BPD, depending on what type, Lithium might even be useless (as well as extremely dangerous.) A lot of times Rapid Cycling BPD type 1 does not respond to lithium, so that'd be setting up someone for some serious failure all around. As far as BPD type II with rapid cycling, it's not even recommended, I've only ever heard of Depakote and Lamictal being used (at least when the diagnosis is known BPD II versus mistaken BPD I)
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Aaaaaaaaaaaand that's why I said "lithium or some other mood stabilizer"... sheesh.
Self-diagnosis, especially with mental disorders is the wrong way to go. If you are having prolonged, protracted bouts of depression, followed by very intense periods of hyperactivity, then that
may be bipolar disorder. It could also just be puberty. The only way, however, to identify that you have a problem is to see a professional and get treatment. My wife is living proof that a mood disorder is *not* the end of the world, and can be overcome with persistence and treatment, but you have to want to get better, and you have to get treatment. There's nothing anyone on this board can give you but encouragement, which isn't going to help you. Go see a professional.