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. As major depression features no manic episodes. You could, in theory have been told to of had manic depression and bipolar depression, since they are the same thing. There is often misdiagnosis, but never dual.

And another simple way of putting it is this--major depression (clinical) is actually called unipolar depression. Bipolar, well it's called BIpolar, 2, not 1. Meaning with BPD, you have to phases depressive and then manic. Unipolar only experiences one.

But I must reiterate, Bi-Polar (and mood disorders) aren't really my forte.



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)

And other than Lithium, there are other drugs, carbamazepine and valproate which have the same efficacy, if not more than Lithium...



As far as everything else you said, I completely agree. I didn't read the original post, but I assume you don't have actual episodes of extreme mania because I know what that's like for someone experiencing it and they are so far from depression (constant) it's unreal. My ex is severely bipolar, unbelievably so, and unfortunately he does not believe he is (he has been diagnosed, I've even seen the evaluation) and is not medicated for it. He takes straterra for "ADD" but his episodes of mania are literally insane. I don't know how to explain it. I have a video of him that I think really shows it that I'll post later, perhaps.

__________________
LEGEN
wait for it and
I hope you're not
lactose intolerant
cause the second
half of that word is
D A R Y

Just to clear things up, I have never been diagnosed by a doctor, becuase, as I've said before, I've been way too scared to go to the doctor before. I am probably going to soon if I can though, I'm planning on talking with my mom this week.
Also, I've self-diagnosed myself, and I'm not 100 percent sure these things are exactly what I'm going through, but I was researching different types of depression, and those two were the closest to everything that's been happening to me. I get the symptoms of major depression, where I'm extremely sad and have no interest in things I normally love(these usually last for a week or 2), then I have symptoms of the bipolar depression, where I feel like I'm going totally crazy and everything starts going really fast(this usually lasts about 1-3 hours long, but are in my opinion, worse than the depressed part).
It switches back and forth from these, and the depression over all may last for about a month, sometimes less, sometimes more, and then I have a short break from it, where I'm just normal.
Right now I'm feeling normal and I am so happy, I want to do stuff, so I've been doing shitloads of art to make up for all the time I've "lost" while I was unmotivated. Since I'm not depressed right now, I really want to do something about it, and go to the doctor, while I feel up to it.

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INSANITY IS THE FIRST SIGN OF INSANITY!!!

I was under the impression that bipolar disorder specifically indicates a drastic change in mood (extreme lows followed by extreme highs), such as what you describe. It's easy to match a couple symptoms from this disorder and that, especially if you're researching them online and aren't a doctor, but that doesn't qualify as a diagnosis.

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Manic episode = requirement, so essentially, yes, low-high, but not necessarily low-high, can be high-low and more mania than depression (that's how my ex is) he is primarily manic.

__________________
LEGEN
wait for it and
I hope you're not
lactose intolerant
cause the second
half of that word is
D A R Y

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.

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.

Bipolar depression/disorder is the same thing, I said bipolar depression because that's what the poster used. It's still bipolar depression regardless of which way you look at it. Same as unipolar depression, uni is one depression, bi is two, manic and clinical/major.

Either way, in Bipolar, I've noticed that the people I know who have it are definitely rapid cycling and manic more often than depressed...

__________________
LEGEN
wait for it and
I hope you're not
lactose intolerant
cause the second
half of that word is
D A R Y

There is no diagnosis in the DSM-IV for "bipolar depression". DSM-IV sctn 296 outlines the diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorders, and seperates the difference between types 1 & 2 and NOS. With the most common form of bipolar disorder, type II, you generally have short periods of hypomanic activity followed by long periods of mild to major depression. Bipolar type I still has manic episodes, but the depression cycles are much shorter. NOS includes your rapid cycling (uncommon) and psychotic-biased bipolar. The phrase "manic-depression" is often used to describe bipolar disorder, as it is a symptomatic description, but there is no actual diagnosis for "manic-depressive" in the DSM-IV. Bipolar is called bipolar because you cycle uncontrollably between two extremes of mood conditions - hypomania and depression.

The problem with bipolar disorder is that the diagnostic criteria are so broad that it can encompass a wide variety of problems. Bipolar II, for example, only has 5 diagnostic criteria, and almost all of them are subjective. In much the same way that undisciplined children get diagnosed with ADHD these days, so also do people get themselves labeled as bipolar who simply have behavioral issues. Again, the only way to be sure is to submit to evaluation in a treatment facility, where they will monitor you for a short while and see if you do cycle between uncontrollable and inappropriate mood changes.

I'll say again, I'm not a doctor, but I did attend a "living with bipolar" support group faithfully and I'm full to the gills with bipolar information. The best way to live with and support a bipolar person is to understand their disorder, and so I did what I had to do for my wife. I can't stress it enough though... the only way to effectively deal with a mood disorder is with professional help, and you have to demonstrate that you want the help and are willing to advance your therapy. This person needs to see mental help professionals.

I understand that in the DSM-IV it's not classified as that, the DSM-IV is also not the be all end all for psychiatric diagnosis.

I meant to say that Manic depression is now known as Bipolar Disorder, but bipolar depression is a feature of Bipolar disorder.

__________________
LEGEN
wait for it and
I hope you're not
lactose intolerant
cause the second
half of that word is
D A R Y

DSM-IV is the protocol for mental health diagnosis according to the American Psychiatric Association. In fact, they publish it. The DSM is the authoritative source for all mental-health related diagnosis. It is, literally, the be-all-end-all as far as practicing medical professionals are concerned. Any mental heath diagnosis you get is going to come straight from that book.

As for the other stuff, I'll concede that.

Exactly. American psychiatric association. I know enough about the DSM. You mistake me for an idiot but the DSM isn't the only diagnostic tool for any psychological affliction. I'm not a doubter of the DSM necessarily, I'm just making a point that sometimes the DSMs diagnostic criteria is NOT enough for a real diagnosis and also too much for a real diagnosis. There is a lot of criticism for the DSM -it's not always reliable, there is much debate about the construct validity, there is way too much overlap and too many doctors rely on the patients subjective thoughts just to get them a diagnosis and get them out of the way, rather than using BEHAVIORS to define the problem. And for anyone who doesn't know, your thoughts are not a behavior, what you do as a result of those thoughts is a behavior, it is observable. I guess what I'm saying is that the DSM is relied on too much.

I'm a troublemaker, you know that. I'm pointing out the problems on both ends. I'm on your side though, don't get me wrong. I don't think self diagnosis is the way to go in terms of mental health, I believe that the poster SHOULD seek professional help rather than a diagnosis of Bipolar.

As I said before, I'm well aware of what the DSM is and who publishes it, how it's used and all that jazz. But it's not the ONLY nor is it the most commonly used for diagnostic codes. The ICD is the be all end all (in the US in terms of coverage and care) for worldwide usage. I'm well aware the ICD contains criteria for all diseases and disorders, not only mental health, but it is the most widely used (I also know that the DSM is used in adjunction with it.)

__________________
LEGEN
wait for it and
I hope you're not
lactose intolerant
cause the second
half of that word is
D A R Y