That is just the thing I am not unhappy really.
But when I do I feel blue once in a while.
Or if I do it is because something terrible happened. But Other than that I am fine. I do not want to kill myself because I have some much to live for. I value my life so much that I protect it. Depression happens once in a while for me. But it is rare when I feel that broken heart feeling for no reason.
So I am not sure how they are going to treat me. Maybe I just need a mood stablizer. But trust me when I get that depress feeling I just want it to go away. LOL

Thanks I am doing well I just have to work on fixing my moods

...I started Lamitcal 5 days ago and promptly had a meltdown --- I am ok today...I knew what to do ( call DR, when I couldn't get a hold of him, called pharmacist and took a Xanax which I am extremely cautious with)BUT....being diagonosed with clinical depression since 94, I am wondering this...can being BI Polar be "situational"?

Yep, I am depressed, might lose the house and all belongings, husband unemployed and looking desparate for work ----now, mind you, my doctor says I have a "mood disorder" (new DR) but didn't tell me what it was last week --- the medication is for epilepsy and bi polar...but after all these years why am I now on bi polar meds??? Did get a diagnosis for REM RLS sleep disorder with a side order of periodic limb movement in 2000 --- which took care of some of the real lows of depression...

Will I keep trying meds...

Yep, had I quit, I wouldn't have found the Requip that works....

With all the medications out there ---and sure, I had a doozy of a meltdown yesterday ----I don't want to give up....but I do my homework on whatever I take...like joining this group, so I guess you should say I am "pro-active" in my treatment. Thanks for being here, guys! E.

keep trying the meds the medicine for epilepsy they found not only helps with seizures but it helps those with bipolar to calm down. My cousin told me about it. She has Bipolar 2 which is more severe than mine. if you are diagnosed with depression you should get screened for bipolar disorder to make sure you only have depression. My family has it so that means I might as well have it too. And I was recently diagnosed.

Do not give up on the meds

Fevah

Dear Elizabeth,



You might have what some psychiatrists call Soft Bipolar.
Mari


http://www.psycheducation.org/depres...osis.html#soft

# When not depressed, mood and energy are a bit higher than average, all the time ("hyperthymic personality").
# When depressed, symptoms are "atypical": extremely low energy and activity; excessive sleep (e.g. more than 10 hours a day); mood is highly reactive to the actions and actions of others; and (the weakest such sign) appetite is more likely to be increased than decreased. Some experts think that carbohydrate craving and night eating are variants of this appetite effect.

THIS IS ME!
WHOA!

# When not depressed, mood and energy are a bit higher than average, all the time ("hyperthymic personality").
# When depressed, symptoms are "atypical": extremely low energy and activity; excessive sleep (e.g. more than 10 hours a day); mood is highly reactive to the actions and actions of others; and (the weakest such sign) appetite is more likely to be increased than decreased. Some experts think that carbohydrate craving and night eating are variants of this appetite effect.

I have experience this all during 2006. I have lots of energy it seems but then there are days where I feel balanced. But it only takes a few seconds for me to be torn apart then the tears and yelling comes in. It is so easy for me to get worked up. Today I got worked up because I could not find something in my room. I thought someone has taken it out of my room. But it was in my mothers car the whole time. So I cleaned my room and everything looks great. But now I feel sad depressed. It is so odd how something as silly as that make me feel so horrible.

Fevah

mood stabilizers are great! Like I said lamictal works great for me.
You have to start on a really low dose and titrate up slowly to minimize the risk of side effects.
So it will take a few/many weeks to really get to therapuetic levels.
There are other anti convulsants meds out there used for epilepsy and mood disorders.
depakote
trileptal
tegretol
topamax
neuronton which turned out to not be a very good stabilizer...
and then lamictal...maybe there are others too.
bizi

I will be honest with you, IM not a big fan of these anymore, because after 11 years, it comes naturally to remember these things. However, I would look into getting a mood chart, I believe you can find them on the internet, or even some books like "Bipolar Survival Guide". At first it may seem daunting, but after a bit of getting used to it, you will begin to see trends in your moods, you will begin to notice if it was caused by someting, or if it just came on by itself. It will not only help you see the trends in your moods, but you can bring it to your doctor, and this will help him/her to see what is going on with you. I mean its nice to sit in front of your doctor and say you have ups and downs, or just downs, but the mood chart will shed some light and help your doctor understand better. After a bit, you won't even need to keep one, you will realize the trends and be able to tell your doctor exactly what is going on. So initially I highly recommend doing a mood char.

I just got my mood chart recently It came in the mail! I even have to weigh myself twice a month. It is a great chart!
I love it

Hi,
Also look at an online chart at www.moodtracker.com

I made my own mood chart for years and years. Having it at the appointment made things easier.

The other even more important benefit of a mood tracker is that over time you can look back and see progress and see what worked for you. You have a record of every thing you have been doing and feeling

Mari