Depression or Biopolar?

Question

Bi-polar or Depression???
My doctor has given me a refferal to go talk to somebody to get to the bottom of my anxiety but she thinks I possibly could be bipolar or depressed! Reading my symptoms what would be your opinion!
My symptons include: mood swings, issolating myself away from my friends ( dont go out ), tight chested alot of the time depending on where i am .. even at work after 5 yrs , Start crying for no reasons, agitated so easily, appitite changes (eating nothing to eating alot) and lastly sleeping habits ( sleeping lots to not sleeping at all )
Please no stupid responses!!
Thxs in advance

Answer 1

I'm not a physican, however, I do suffer from and depression and am currently being tested to see if I'm bi-polar so I do know a few things.
First of all, you need to define your mood swings. Do you have days were you are so depressed you don't want to live and then suddenly one day you snap out of your depression and feel like you could take on the world? That is the definition of bi-polar.
If your mood swings aren't that pronouced then you probably aren't bi-polar. However, it possible to have mood swings while being depressed. From the symptoms you describe and from what my own research has provided, it sounds like you have depression with anxiety disorder.
But, like I said I'm not a physician and you really should find a specialist and be evaluated. It was the best thing I ever did.

Answer 2

Hello, I should let you know that first of all, I am NOT a doctor. However, I have had the privilege of living with someone for over 5 years that was extremely bi-polar. From the symptoms that you have listed I would lean more towards depression. Yes, Bi-polar does have some if not a bit of all of those symptoms. From my experience though a bi-polar person will not isolate themselves from friends, but rather will try and manipulate everyone they are in contact with. They want everyone to know how bad there life is and demand support from all. People with Bi-polar often even condemn the ones they truly love, if they think they can gain an emotional edge on someone. She would do things like wake up at 3 in the morning and start painting the bedroom. But those times were few and far between. Most of the time she just weaved a huge web of lies and drama.... Trying to make everyone think she was doing so good with everything around her "including her husband" holding her back.
Try this to help you before you dive into the multi-drug world used to help these matters.
Sit down in a quiet place. Relax. Make sure you are calm and comfortable. On a piece of paper draw a line down the middle. On the left side make a list of everything in your life that you are unhappy with. Then on the right side, make a list of everything in your life that you are happy with. Hang this on your Fridge. Try to fix one problem at a time.. Also, try to improve on something you like one at a time.
And always remember... You must be happy with the inside, before you will ever be happy with the outside.
Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Just so you know I've been there, Depression can cover a lot of other things as well such as bipolar, O.C.D (Obsessive compulsive disorder, personality disorder, to name a few so your doctor is not trying to lead you astray. I know it won't be easy but you must try to communicate your feeling to anyone and every one who will listen, get a hobby something you really enjoy doing, the more you just sit around the deeper you will go, imagine you are in a deep dark hole but you can see light above you so start to climb out of the hole bit by bit day by day until you can stand at the top in bright sun shine. this does not happen over night but when you get there promise yourself that you will never go down that hole again. Good luck and try a smile. James:-)

Answer 4

Not bipolar. And please listen to me.... STAY AWAY FROM PSYCHIATRISTS! Those medications and their diagnoses will destroy your life. You could lose your drivers licence.

I told my mother to F off and she called the police. They locked me up in a mental hospital and told me that I had:
bio-schizo...
body dismorphic disorder
borderline personality disorder
bipolar disorder
and schizophrenia

There is NOTHING wrong with me. I don't get depressed... I don't go manic, I sleep fine.

They want to give me injections for the rest of my life and they took away my drivers licence. The nurses locked me in a little room and beat the hell out of me. I cannot sue them because I have no money and no lawyer or judge would ever believe me.
Trust me.... see a psychologist if you have to but NEVER a psychiatrist. They WILL ruin your life.

http://antipsychiatry.org

Answer 5

if you were bi polar you would have phases of depression and mania you dont discribe bouts of mania apart from mood swings I would say you sound more like depression but i am not an expert. S o u really need to wait till u see a proffesional

Answer 6

My son suffers from bi-polar, my mother suffered from depression in the late 80's early 90's. your symptoms are more similar to my mother than my son, however each indivudual suffers different symptoms, I would take your doctors advice and see a professional who deals with these issues so you can get the help you need. Good luck!

Answer 7

It sounds to me like depression with an anxiety disorder. Bi-polar disorder is a possibility, but in general, it sounds more like depression and anxiety.

Good luck.

Answer 8

you have excatly what i have clincel depperassion,bi-polar is manic deperression, i did not see you any were that you get high that is what manic is they get high and lows you and gets the bottom lows that we are afraid to go out but with the meds i take,effexor,zoloft,topmax,i have been free of it for 10 year i wish you all the luck and god blessing

Answer 9

Hi Kimberly,
Bottom line is: There's no easy answer. Can I recommend a free counseling service to you? go to peaceplusprogramdotcom
Take care,
Vince

Answer 10

i am here when u need someone [e-mail]. cuz i'm bipolar. it could be you are either but hang in there. go to www.adaa.org, www.anxietyandfears.com, and also www.socialanxietysupport.com. try breatthing. go to www.holisticonline.com. for advice. go to beliefnet.com it can help.