Is it possible to advance from bipolar depression to clinical depression?
March 11, 2009 by How To Treat Depression
Filed under More Depression Answers
Can you answer King Tomala’s question about Depression?:
I used to get bouts of mania here and there. but the past 6 months or a year (not sure) my depression has gotten much worst and i never have those moments of mania where i feel like i can achieve anything. the past 6 months-year EVERY day has been total and absolute powerful clinical depression. I never feel good about ever and everything is a huge task for me.
Depression And Children
I used to get bouts of mania here and there. but the past 6 months or a year (not sure) my depression has gotten much worst and i never have those moments of mania where i feel like i can achieve anything. the past 6 months-year EVERY day has been total and absolute powerful clinical depression. I never feel good about ever and everything is a huge task for me.
Depression And Children
Depression Feedback: I think your depression is just part of the Bipolar. I suffer from Bipolar. It is very important to take your medication & see a psychiatrist regularly, Bipolar needs to be closely monitored. I also keep a mood diary so I can keep a close track on myself. Although I’m on medication I still feel extreme ups & downs sometimes but I go straight to the doctor for a review of my medication, sometimes the dosage is altered, sometimes I am given an extra or alternative medication. I just went through a 4 month depressive period, my anti-depressant was increased, my sedatives reduced & even though I felt lazy & tired & was over sleeping & wanted to isolate from everyone, I still did what I had to do in my day even though I didn’t feel like it, I just pushed through knowing it will soon pass & I did some exercise every day, even if it’s just a 20 minute brisk walk-it helps produce endorphins, the brains natural feel-good chemical. I also pampered myself to make myself feel good- like fragrant bubblebaths by candle light, a new outfit or perfume, do something you enjoy. Don’t let it beat you, see your doctor & talk about putting a plan into action that will help you back on track. Good luck!
Depression Feedback: Just because you used to follow a certain pattern of mania/depression, doesn’t mean it will stay that way. I note that, if you are in the Northern Hemisphere, the amount of daylight would have started dropping off considerably, about 4 months ago, so that may well have something to do with it. My standard posts follow, but have you actually been doing anything to treat your disorder, or just enjoying the mania, and enduring the depression: DEPRESSION: My standard post follows, but antidepressants are unsuitable for young people. See depression treatments, at ezy-build *(below) in section 2, and consult a doctor, to eliminate thyroid problems, etc. as possible contributing factors: also seek a referral to a therapist using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy. It is your decision, and yours alone, as to whether to take any antidepressants offered, but, before you do, read section 1, and check medications out at so you will be on the lookout for side effects, like sexual dysfunction. My strong recommendation, however, is to follow the advice of my doctor, his associate, and also Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP, and Dr. Mercola, as well, at and avoid antidepressants (pages 2V, and 2Z refer, & antidepressant websites: page 2). The reasons why we all share the same view on this are explained in full, as you will find, if you read the whole section. All of their advice, (except prayer, because many people are not religious) I have incorporated into the “core treatments”, including others as options, such as the supplements: Inositol, or SAMe, or herbal remedies, like St. John’s wort. If you are diagnosed with clinical (major) depression, antidepressants may be necessary for a while, which will give the treatments time to become effective. The antidepressants themselves need at least several days, or even weeks to begin becoming effective. It’s a good idea to taper off them slowly, with medical advice, after several months, say, to a couple of years, at most, because they are only effective in the long term for about 30% of people. Because of this, you would be well advised to begin the treatments immediately, and maintain them. I’d just thank your mental health care provider, and pocket the prescription, trying the treatments for a few months, to see if they are sufficient for you, before considering filling it (unless clinically depressed, and having great difficulty functioning, or suicidal, in which case I’d take them). If the amount of daylight you have been exposed to recently has reduced, perhaps due to the change of seasons, see Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) in section 2, at * and, instead of taking 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily; replace 2 of them with cod liver oil supplements for the winter months only! (or, as probably a better alternative to the 2 cod liver oil supplements: 1 teaspoonful of cod liver oil, with a little butter, to ensure its use; I take mine on sourdough rye bread, or toast, covered with fishpaste, and pepper, to mask the strong taste). Consider having your doctor test your vitamin D levels, using the 25 HYDROXYVITAMIN D test. Optimal levels are 50 - 55 ng/ml (115 - 125 nmol/l. It should be above 32 ng/ml. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BIPOLAR DISORDER. See bipolar disorder, at ezy-build * (below) in section 10, and take the quiz, if unsure, and if the results are positive, ensure you get an expert diagnosis from a mental health professional, not doctors, who are much better dealing with physical ailments, and don’t diagnose complex disorders like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder often enough to develop any real expertise. Bipolar disorder usually involves major moodswings, which occur without apparent cause, and often over many months, or a matter of years, rather than days, as with most people (unless rapid cycling). I’d take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements daily, replacing 2 of them with cod liver oil supplements in the winter months. If you decide to use allopathic (modern Western) medicine, I recommend trying Lithium Carbonate, or Lithium Citrate (regular tests are necessary, for these), before trying the other mood stabilisers, but if you aren’t good at taking medications regularly, drinking adequate water, and keeping up your salt intake, something else may suit you better. Always check out anything first at, so you will be aware of the risks, and on the lookout for side effects. (Personally, if I wasn’t bipolar type 1, and didn’t experience hallucinations, or serious delusional states, I know I’d first try the orthomolecular and Omega 3 fish oil supplements, vitamins, minerals, and mostly raw food diet, for several months. I’d aso eat in accordance with my “nutritional type”. Enter that term in the searchbar at ). If not considerably improved, after several months, consult your primary mental health care provider. If bipolar type 1, an antipsychotic medication may also be needed. Everyone should take the Omega 3 supplements, or preferably “krill oil” for its other health benefits: use the searchbar at . Some people refuse medication, using supplements, and a selective, mostly raw food diet (I do not recommended trying this, if bipolar 1, unless you aren’t troubled by hallucinations, or delusional states). Maintain the treatments for the depressive phase, in section 2, at * BIPOLAR: PAGE J. BIPOLAR DISORDER TREATMENT: SUPPLEMENTS. 48 17:41:39 - 27/12/2007
HERBS FOR BIPOLAR(K) TREATING BIPOLAR DISORDER WITH HERBS. 24 17:44:32 - 27/12/2007
VITAMINS FOR BIPOLAR TREATING BIPOLAR DISORDER WITH VITAMINS. 46 00:33:29 - 27/12/2007
MINERALS FOR BIPOLAR TREATING BIPOLAR DISORDER WITH MINERALS.
Depression Feedback: Because Bipolar and Clinical Depression are thought to have a biological basis, it is unlikely for one to manifest into the other. What is likey, however, is that your Bipolar cycles have changed. And its possible that you only experianc the depression stage of it.
Indeed, people have been documented as experiancing only mania or depression but, have a correction diagnosis of Bipolar Depression.
Depression Feedback: No. You are bipolar
Depression Feedback: I’m Bipolar , too. Bipolar symptoms can vary from person to person and from time to time. You can still be considered Bipolar (and, since you’ve been manic before, that diagnosis is almost certainly correct) and only have depressive symptoms.
If you haven’t done so already, you should probably discuss this with your doc.
Good luck to you!
Depression Feedback: They are basically the same thing. “Clinical depression” is a major component of Bipolar Disorder. Some people with BP may experience repeated manic/hypomanic/mixed episodes before a clear-cut major depression develops. Clinical depression and bipolar depression are pretty much the same thing symptom-wise. “Clinical depression” usually refers to full depressive episodes seen in Major Depressive Disorder whereas “bipolar depression” refers to the major depressive episodes that occur in Bipolar Disorder.