Although bipolar depression and unipolar depression (or Major Depressive Disorder) may appear similar, they both have drastically different symptoms. Some symptoms of major depression may not also be bipolar depression symptoms, and vice versa. With bipolar depression, individuals often experience periods of depression & extreme mood swings. Also, with bipolar depression, there is always the chance it could be mixed with bipolar mania–which is called a mixed episode. Here is more information about the difference between bipolar depression and unipolar depression:
If the onset of depression always seems to surprise you, here are seven signs that your mood is headed south. #1) Withdrawing from social interaction Regardless of whether you are naturally introverted or extroverted, if you find yourself struggling to socialize, bipolar depression could be on the horizon. Make note of ‘red flag’ behaviors such...
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I’ve found that there are two kinds of bipolar depression. Here are the signs of an angry and irritated downswing. It’s easy to spot what we consider traditional depression symptoms: crying, lack of movement, sadness, silence, brain fog, slumped body, lack of desire, fear, hopelessness, helplessness and an overall worry that life is not worth...
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Bipolar depression disrupts and devastates lives, and tends to dominate the course of a person’s illness. Yet, it’s still difficult to diagnose and treat. It is the manic phase of bipolar disorder that attracts—no, demands—attention. But those who have the illness, or love someone who does, know it is depression that most disrupts and devastates lives—and dominates...
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When you are in the midst of a depressive episode, mania can call to you like a Siren. Its song is alluring, promising you freedom and joy. But chasing the melody of mania is sure to lead to disaster and wreckage. I hate bipolar depression so much, I often think of taking a substance that...
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If bipolar disorder is a coin, its two sides are depression and mania. And, if you want to lead a stable life where you’re able to work and have long lasting relationships, both sides have to be managed. Bipolar disorder is a coin. It has two sides of equal weight and size. Think of it...
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Worry serves us no good––it consumes our thoughts to the point where we have trouble thinking of anything else. So it’s time we took it on, and stopped letting worry perpetuate in our minds. If there’s one thing I can say about worry, I would tell you not to do it. I once saw a...
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Emerging from the dark depths of bipolar depression is daunting, and it’s hard to see a way out. Let hope shine a light in the darkness. One morning about ten years ago, I woke up feeling absolutely terrible. Little did I know that would be day one of a year-long bipolar depressive episode. My head...
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Don’t lose hope and give up on yourself if your depression is relentless. Hopelessness is not the path out of depression––it’s what keeps you anchored in the emotion. It’s ok to feel hopeless when bipolar depression is relentless. What else are we supposed to feel? But, we can’t live in this emotion. It isn’t the...
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Depression and gut health have more in common than we may think––low serotonin may play a part in causing both depression and stomach problems. May 6, 2019, NEW YORK—For people with depression, gastrointestinal distress is a common additional burden, and a new study suggests that for some, the two conditions arise from the same glitch...
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Hopelessness can’t flourish if we work alongside our medication to redirect our thinking towards hope instead. For the last year or so, I’ve been going through what I would say has been the second-most challenging situation in my work life that I’ve ever been through in the church that I pastor. As some of you...
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Adapting to time changes—traveling across time zones, or Daylight Saving Time (DST)—can be challenging with bipolar. Here’s how to adjust to the change: Ben Franklin first mentioned what we now call Daylight Saving Time in a 1784 essay, somewhat satirically proposing an idea to conserve candles in the early morning hours. While DST has been...
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When you’re having trouble finishing tasks or meeting deadlines, it’s not your to-do list you need to check, it’s your bipolar stability. Sometimes I find writing difficult in the most basic sense: the act of stringing words together to form a sentence can become impossible for me. My mind is so scattered that by the...
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The depressive episodes of bipolar disorder can be just as much of a nightmare as the manic ones. But, with depression, it feels like you’re falling into a black hole. One morning about ten years ago, I woke up feeling absolutely terrible. My head hurt, and I ached all over. I did not want to...
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For many with bipolar, depressive episodes involve isolating oneself. Knowing the signs can help you find ways of overcoming this challenging symptom. This is Anja Burcak with bp Magazine’s bphope Vlog. Today, I will be speaking about bipolar depression and isolation. One of the main problems with my depressive episodes is the act of withdrawing from...
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If you are struggling with a depressive episode and you feel you should talk to your employer about it, there are a few important things to consider. Hi friends! This is Linea Johnson with bp Magazine’s bphope Vlog, here to talk to you about talking to your employer about depression. First of all, from a legal...
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The first experimental study examining the use of multiple platforms shows a link between time spent on social media and increased depression and loneliness. November 8, 2018, Philadelphia, PA—The link between the two has been talked about for years, but a causal connection had never been proven. For the first time, University of Pennsylvania...
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When you feel lost in the depths of bipolar depression, focusing on your senses can help you hang on when hit with waves of negative thinking. This summer, I had a month of bipolar depression so oppressive it was like running a marathon underwater. I kept having these really vivid, precise self-destructive thoughts pop into...
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While mania may often be more associated with over-the-top shopping, it can also be important to watch how bipolar depression can affect your spending. The story I tell myself about money is that I’m not good with it, but the truth is that I’m afraid of it. Most people who live with bipolar disorder have...
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A new study shows that a manic episode before bipolar depression does not impact the degree of change in depressive symptoms. August 15, 2018, BERKELEY, CA—The presence of a manic episode before depression in people with bipolar disorder doesn’t significantly predict response to antidepressants, a new study suggests. American researchers, noting a previous study suggested...
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While bipolar depression can make employment incredibly difficult, some simple tips can help you make it through every work day with success. I’m going to share something personal with you. About a year ago, I got a new job, and I love it! It is everything I have worked hard to become. Then, about six...
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A depressive episode is serious. Knowing the subtle signs that an episode is imminent or in progress can help you make the best treatment decisions. Most people can remember the famous line from the Disney movie, Snow White: “Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” This line has taken on...
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While constant life changes may feel like a way to find stability and happiness, ultimately these achievements come from within and following a treatment plan. Finding stability with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder can be quite an undertaking to say the least. Stability for me has been very elusive, and only recently have I...
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Manic or hypomanic episodes can be brutal for those with bipolar disorder, but learning what to do immediately after can help minimize the damage If you’re like me and you have bipolar disorder, then you will have experienced at least one manic or hypomanic episode. And what’s pretty clear for those of us who have...
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