What is the main difference between Bi Polar & Depression?

Question

I usually spend around a week w/ depression, then I feel very good for a day. However, I never get irrational during my up swings. Also, during the worst stages of my depression, the back of my head and my eye sockets feel tight, like those muscles are tensed

Answer 1

Bipolar and depression are both mood disorders. Depression is defined as the inability to experience happiness and joy, which manifests itself with both physical and psychological symptoms. For example, physical symptoms are fatigue, increase or decrease in weight, proloned sleeping...etc. Psychologial symptoms include: feelings of hopelessness, helplessness and worthlessness.

On the opposite side of mood disorders is mania. Mania is a mood disorder which usually manifests itself as an elevated feeling. Manic patients are very animated. Their actions involve great risk physically or otherwise. For example, manic people will go to the top of a building and walk on the ledge, totally obvious that if they fall they will die. In other instances, they will empty their bank accounts and go to casinoes and gamble all their money away. They sometimes will engage in unsafe sex with absolute strangers.

Bipolar is a mood disorder wherein the patient suffers from periods of depression and periods of mania. Mood disorders lie on a spectrum, with depression on one end and mania on the opposite end. Hence, people with both are diagnosed with biploar mood disorder. BTW, bipolar is also called "manic-depressive."

Answer 2

Bi-polar is almost like a disease, you have it all your life, it never goes away. You can take medicine to control it but its never completely gone. Depression is usually temporary.

One day you may feel so depressed that you cannot get out of bed, and you do not enjoy the things you used to. Work seems impossible. On another day you may feel great, full of energy and creativity. On days like these, people around you might think that your actions are reckless and out of control.
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong medical condition that can be confusing and unpredictable--but you do not have to be embarrassed. It can be hard for people with the condition and for their families and friends. While there is no cure, the good news is that there are many treatments available to help treat the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Depression is a serious medical illness; it’s not something that you have made up in your head. It’s more than just feeling "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days. It’s feeling "down" and "low" and "hopeless" for weeks at a time.

Answer 3

Bi Polar used to be called manic-depressive. Bi Polar can be a serious medical that requires one or more meds. Happy one minute and crying the next as an example, but it can be much more serious. Depression can also be a chronic condition or something that is shorter in lenght, Bi-Polar does not go away. In some cases depression requires the use of meds also

Answer 4

the difference is that bipolar disorder is when one switches off between a manic state and a depressive state. Depression is just entirely a depressive state. Tell me if you want to me explain more. This is the main difference.

Its a common misconception that someone with bipolar disorder changes his mood within minutes. The length of the moods vary greatly depending on each person.

Answer 5

depression is a constant states of the " blues" for lack of a better word. Bi polar is ups and downs. one minuet your really happy the next your sad or mad. Bi polar is also called manic depressive.

Answer 6

The severe ups and downs that come with bi-polar as opposed to just the low that comes with depression.

Answer 7

bi-polars are up, then down then up then down. My mother is extreme bi-polar. Depression is just depressed. they both suck though, I would not wish them on anybody. bi polars are usually more suicidal than people that are just depressed. and they like their extreme highs so they don't like to take their meds, they really need someone to watch over them all the time.and everytime they start to seem somewhat 'normal' the damn doctors change their meds!!!!!

Answer 8

About the same a dropping a rock and a yo-yo at the same time. The rock will thud on the ground, the yo-yo goes back up.

Answer 9

Bipolar is a lifetime! depression is something you can eventually get over with time proper therapy and medication.

Answer 10

bi polar has more then just depression you can end up kill someone or your self and depression you just kill yourself