What is manic depression and how do you get a diagnosis?

Question

What if all your friends, family and acquaintances say you are a manic depressive but no matter how hard you try to get help your doctor just says its anxiety?

Answer 1

manic depression, also known as bipolar disorder, requires a psychiatric evaluation and that requires a psychiatrist. General practitioners are not equipped or trained in the finer skills of psychiatry, they are lucky if they got a semester in school. So, if you are concerned, see a psychiatrist.

Answer 2

As other people have said, what people think is a mania or depressive illness is usually wrong. It is often also age related. When young adults behave manically it is usually because hormones that would kill an adult are raging around in their system and eventually they stabilise but until they do violent mood swings will happen. If this continues after 18 then it may well be an illness but only if the mood swings are dangerous, putting the person concerned at risk or other people. Despite what some people here have said most GP's are quite good about understanding what is an illness and what is not. Advice would be try and put to one side what family etc say unless any of them are trained in Mental Health the chances are good they do not know whereof they speak. If you think your behaviour can be manic at times then try again with the GP but if, ignoring the pressure from your family you don't think you are then go with the anxiety thing and try a find ways of relaxing, talk to friends who will not judge you as others have done. Almost all people who think they are Bi-Polar are not. Remember that mood swings at different times are actually quite normal. Good Luck, let us know how you get on.

Answer 3

My mom has manic depression. It is where you're either extremely high, or extremely low, with not much emotion in between. The mood swings usually range from days, to weeks to months of feeling one particular way, either manic or depressed. (even though the depression seems to last longer from my experience) You need a good psychologist to help diagnose this problem. There's many out there that don't even really know all there is to know about that disease, so choose a Dr. wisely. Hopefully it is just anxiety, because manic depression can be a very hard disease to live with, if not treated, and if you're not fully aware of all the symptoms. Read up on it. There's a lotta info on the Internet. I had to do a paper once on it, that's where I got all my info. It's an extremely hard thing to describe, but I hope I helped you out some. Good luck!

Answer 4

Well, the Dr is better qualified to know, but that's not always the be-all and end-all, everyone makes mistakes. Manic Depression is characterised by periods of elation whereby the individual is euphoric and implusive. When manic, individuals believe they are infallible, and will do bizarre things such as smoke sixty cigarettes simultaneously, or implusively invest their life savings in some utterly inexplicable business that would never work, especially with no foreplanning. There are also periods of very low mood and depression, whereby the individual experiences almost exactly opposite emotions than when manic. It is also known as biploar disorder, and mania is treated with Lithium.

Of course this is not a label easily given, because it comes with both a stigma, and a very strong drug! If the Dr says you are suffering from anxiety, either he is inexperienced in the field of mental health, or your symptoms are far from that of a manic depressive. Are you sure your family are aware of what manic depression IS?

Answer 5

Manic depression is a term synonomous with Bipolar Disorder, a mood disorder characterized by a cycling of manic highs and deep depression, althout the symptomology of Bipolar disorder encompasses other issues, and can occur with psychotic features.

There are a lot of online screenings, which test the symptoms you have against the diagnostic tools that a psychiatrist would use, but the only true way to get a diagnosis is to schedule a consult with one of those psychiatrists. Many different mental illnesses have symptoms which are similar, so misdiagnosis can occur. A psychiatrist, particularly one with a specialty in your age group/sex, can best evaluate your symptoms, and, just as importantly, discuss treatment options.

Answer 6

Manic depression is a bi-polar disorder which is sometimes
diagnosed as Schizophrenia. Only a Doctor can help you so
please make an appointment since there is medication for this
disorder that must be prescribed. Get the correct diagnosis
first and the best of luck to you.

Answer 7

Does the label really matter? If you are being treated for anxiety and it isn't working, then you need a new treatment.

You should 1) see a psychiatrist or psychologist about getting a better diagnosis 2) see a therapist regularily-- you can't be "cured" through medication alone ...

If your family is refering to mood swings, it is still not necessarily bipolar disorder. Many problems have mood swings as symptoms. You really need a more informed diagnosis.

Answer 8

anxiety and manic depression stem from the same roots. Some doctors are unsympathetic to depressive illnesses.
BUT
you can ask to see another doctor. You certainly have a right to a second opinion.

Answer 9

Ask yourself, How much does this affect my life? forget about the diagnosis for the present, because whatever it is, if it is affecting you greatly then you need help of some kind. Anxiety is a problem which can seriously affect your function in day to day life, I have heard of people having aural hallucinations the works. Perhaps you would be better accepting what the doctor says at present and asking for further help. He may then refer you to your local mental health unit who will assess you and if necessary provide help support and treatment for whatever it is. The important thing here is you feel you have a problem. Good Luck.

Answer 10

Ask your computer just type in Manic Depression and it should come up with something,as i did it the other day,and it gave out what to look for and how to seek help,good luck