whats the difference between depression and bi-polar?

Answer 1

Hi Fiona:

Bipolar and Depression are similiar because Depression is also a part of Bipolar.

The difference between them is that Depression you only have depression and nothing else (so to speak). With Bipolar the key element that is missing from manic depression is the Mania portion.

Mania is when you are so way more than happy. You have feelings of granduer, invincibility, risky behavior
spending sprees (severe), promiscious sex and more. You are on top of the world and nothing can/will go wrong (so you think).

The cycle of Bipolar is being in the emotional "normal range" and suddenly finding yourself in Mania for days, weeks, or months. Then suddenly for no reason you plummet into Manic Depression and this also can last for days, weeks, or months, then you end up back in the emotional normal range and must pick up the pieces that this cycle of Bipolar has caused.

I hope this helps.

Be safe and be well

Answer 2

If someone experiences a pattern of depressive symptoms, we call it Depression; if these same symptoms recur throughout your life, we call that recurrent depression.

If your life is characterized by depressive and manic states, then we call that Bipolar disorder. A depressive phase is labeled "Bipolar Depression."

Significantly, there is no evidence that these two depressions are any different from one another, either biochemically or physiologically. We label them differently, to suggest that the epidemiology of both are different, and to suggest different treatments.

"Suggest" is the important word. Sometimes a doctor might say, "antidepressants aren't indicated for bipolar depression." and the FDA makes a distinction between depression meds (e.g., SSRIs) and bipolar depression treatments (Lamictal, Seroquel)--even though there's no clear difference between the symptoms. The difference in treatments comes from the labeling: Lamictal was tested on bipolar patients and not depressed patients; Zoloft was tested in depressed patients and not bipolar patients.

Unfortunately, because of the absence of good science, people often stake a philosophical position. For example, if a pain medication is tested in car accident victims, would it also help with bicycle accident victims? So some say, "pain is pain, regardless of the origin or how you define it--and depression is depression, regardless of whether the sufferer is bipolar or not."

Or the contrary position: "bipolar depression is different than regular depression, because if you over-treat bipolar depression, you run the risk of inducing mania."

Hence the division between the disorders and their treatments. When we say Lamictal has an indication for bipolar depression, we are implying efficacy and safety (i.e., no switch into mania) for bipolar depression. SSRIs don't have enough data on bipolar depression, even though a) we might reasonably expect them to work anyway; b) absence of safety data doesn't automatically mean it isn't safe. As a point of fact, there is not much evidence that SSRIs do induce mania, and this topic is hotly debated.

The important point for patients is not to get caught up in the distinction with respect to treatments. You and your doctor may decide a treatment is right for you, even if it is not indicated for that specific condition. The important point is that you and your doctor discuss the expectations and the risks of the maneuver.

Answer 3

In depression the mood is sad and in bi-polar, the mood keeps swinging from extreme happiness to extreme despair. Bi-polar was earlier called manic depression. Depression is also called unipolar depression. See www.about.com and type Depression for more details.

Answer 4

there are two types of depression : uni-polar and bi-polar. Bi-polar is sometimes referred to as manic depression. Bi-polar depression is characterised by massives mood highs followed by massive lows, whereas uni-polar depression (often just called depression) is just a constant low with no mood swings.

Answer 5

Depression is a mood disorder characterized by a persistent sad or empty feeling, irritability and a loss of interest in everyday activity or lost of interest in the things that "usually" you enjoy doing.

Bi-polar disorder is a condition where there is an episode of low mood (depression) or elated mood (mania), separated with normal moods and functioning.

usually people with bi polar disorder started with an episode of mania marked by inflated self esteem; euphoria and grandiose mood. Over activity and decreased need for sleep. after which it is followed by a depressed mood. after the depression subsides it goes in the cycle of manic-depressive moods.

Answer 6

In layman's terms, they are very different.

Depression is a constant feeling of gloomy doom, sadness and a lack of self-worth and pointlessness.

Bi-polar, which is the same as Manic Depression, is an oscillation between the low extreme of regular old Depression and Euphoria, sometimes in amazingly short cycles of time.

Answer 7

There's afine line between the two-bipolar now also commonly known as manic depression has elements of mood swings, rage and anger, also impulsive.Depression can be feelings of hopelessness, despair,especially if it is clinical depression.
People with bipolar often have more sleeplessness, can be more impulsive and would need medication to treat moodswings.
Bipolar is triggered off primarily by being depressed but the cause,symptoms and treatment would differ.

Answer 8

depression is more like the same down feeling and emptyness as bi-polar is more so you mood changes very often i have bi-polar i secretly think everyone does a little lol is just mood swings

Answer 9

I even have been stricken by placed up partum melancholy for the previous twelve months when I gave delivery to a splash one boy. i could no longer end questioning approximately how my husband loves him better than me and how issues may well be better if he wasn't born in any respect. as a effect, I stayed removed from him by way of fact I knew that i might do something i will experience sorry approximately for something of my existence. basically approximately rapidly I went to a therapist and convince them that i choose help. between different issues, i've got tried organic supplements and different e book to handle melancholy yet no longer something works like the melancholy loose technique. So now i'm proud to assert i'm between the happiest mom interior the international. My husband loves us the two very lots and that i thank the Lord for the blessing he gave us. melancholy loose technique?

Answer 10

depression is u feel down, bi polar is you go from down to happy, kinda like mood swings