Sometimes I feel sooooo good It's like I'm living the dream and hot as f%^& and nothing matters and I can't stop laughing for at least an hour. Other time (mostly when I'm alone but more frequently now when I'm in public or at school ) I want to cry and cry (so much that sometimes I have to have a cold shower just to calm down) I feel so useless, I feel like I'm a perfectionist who fails at everything and I will never get ne where but fat old ugly and lonely I should just give up now and get what I deserve. I do a lot of other things in my life by extremes but I don't know if it's really bad enough to be manic depression.

Mood Disorders / Affective Disorders
– Depression, Mania, Bipolar Disorder

The fundamental abnormality of an affective disorder is a disturbance of mood, either depression or mania. Depression is by far the commoner; most patients who have manic symptoms are also prone to depressive episodes but the reverse does not apply. In a few cases depressive and manic symptoms occur simultaneously or in rapid succession (mixed affective state/ bipolar disorder)

CAUSE of Mood Disorders / Affective Disorders — Depression, Mania, Bipolar Disorder
- Genetic Factors have some role in bipolar disorder.

- Environmental factors like

Loss of mother before age 11
3 or more children under 14 living at home
Lack of confiding relationship
Lack of employment etc
are known to play a significant role in mood disorders.

- Physical Illness – A physical illness can be followed by depression, esp. those like cancer, AIDS, and heart diseases etc which carry serious implications. Also mood changes can occur after infectious mononucleosis or influenza and other viral illness.

Depression or mania could be the presenting feature of cerbrovascular disease, neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinsonism and endocrine diseases such as Cushing's syndrome, Addison's Disease, and hypothyroidism.

Mood changes can also be associated with drug therapy, for eg. corticosteroids, beta-adrenoceptor antagonists and other anti-hypertensive drugs. When mood disorder results directly from physical causes they are known as organc affective disorders.

- Personality – Some depressives have personality characteristics which are thought to predispose to the illness. this involves a negative attitude to oneself, the outside world and the future; the term 'cognitive triad' ha been applied to these attitudes.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION
Depression of mood is the primary symptom. There may be a diurnal variation of mood, depression being most distressing early in the morning or at the end of the day.
Loss of pleasure in life (anhedonia)
Loss of interest in oneself and others
Low self esteem
Self blame
Hopelessness
Suicidal thinking
Feeling of guilt and worthlessness
Sleep disturbance (initial insomnia, early morning wakening or hypersomnia)
Poor concentration
Fatigue
Headache and other pains
Anorexia (loss of appetite)
Weight changes
Constipation
Reduced libido
All these symptoms may not be present in any single person and the level of intensity of symptoms vary from person to person.

Mood Disorders / Affective Disorders — Depression, Mania, Bipolar Disorder – HOW DIAGNOSIS IS MADE?

The diagnosis is usually done clinically based on the signs and symptoms.

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT for Depression
Homeopathy offers very good treatment possibilities for depression with good results. There are large number of medicines which can be used and the selection of medicine depends not just on the symptoms but also on the cause. Depression is a manifestation of the disorder and to treat the manifestation it is necessary to find the cause. The success of treatment in such cases often depends on the ability of a homeopath to find the cause. The selection of medicine depends a lot on it. Like all psychological disorders, depressive illness also requires good case study and continuous monitoring by a competent homeopath. One should not try any form of self-medication. In qualified and experienced hands homeopathy offers good prognosis in this condition.

Some of the commonly indicated medicines are anacardium, arsenic-alb, aurum-met, ignatia, acid-phos, pulsatilla, natrum-mur, sepia, antim-crud, naja, nux-vom, stann, psorinum etc. The selection of medicine varies from case to case.

CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT for Depression

Antidepressant drugs, cognitive therapy, and electro convulsive therapy are used.

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? – ACCESSORY MANAGEMENT

Visit a psychotherapist or join a support group where you can talk about your emotions freely.
Be more open with your family and friends – do not hide your feelings, share them.
Try to remain actively involved in some work/job.
Exercise daily – it not only is good for your body, but also for your mind. Exercise is known to increase the level of many neuro-hormones, which bring a feeling of well-being and happiness.
Eat a well balanced and nutritious diet with ample fluids.
Learn some meditation, yoga, or stress relieving exercises. These help a lot in regaining your control over your emotions.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MANIA
Sense of well being evident as elation or ecstasy
Confidence and self-esteem are high
Grandiose ideas without any substance.
Thoughtless and risky behavior
Delusion of being especially gifted or of being well-connected.
Thoughts come rapidly
Speech is fast
Physical activity is increased
Appetite is initially increased but may be decreased later.
Sleep hours are reduced, but this does not cause fatigue.
Promiscuity may occur.

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT Mania
Homeopathy offers many medicines which work in such cases. In experienced hands the long term prognosis is good. Some of the medicines commonly used are belladona, stramonium, varatum-alb, hyoscamus, cuprum-met, nux-vomica, tarentula, syphilinum, lachesis, arsenic, cocaine, coffea, platina etc. There are many more medicines and the selection of medicine varies from case to case. The cause and past history of a person play a significant role in the selection of medicine. All such cases require continuous monitoring by an experienced physician.

CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT for Mania

Neuroleptic drugs like haloperidol or a phenothiazine or lithium carb are some of the drugs that are commonly used.

Electro convulsive therapy is given to resistant cases.

BIPOLAR DISORDER
It is a mood disorder in which depression and manic symptoms occur simultaneously or in quick succession. It was previously known as 'Manic Depressive Psychosis'. Each phase of mania and depression may lat for many months.

BIPOLAR DISORDER – SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Read those of depression and mania above:-

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT for BIPOLAR DISORDER
Homeopathy can help cases with bipolar disorder. Albeit the treatment is more prolonged and difficult than that of unipolar disorder. Most of the medicines used are similar to those used for depression and mania. The treatment usually continues for extended periods as each phase can last for many months. Also there is a tendency of relapse in such patients. But homeopathy does offer a better long term prognosis.
______________________________…

My best advice is you should go and consult a good Homeopathic Practitioner.

Take Care and God Bless you.

For more please read the my answer to this question :- http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AsOLurf_OP4nzkDV0PCjZjzty6IX?qid=20070806102707AAJeGOH&show=7#profile-info-bfc094c9eeff42837771bc3781e40936aa

We are 39 and all our lives, she has had a terrible temper. She goes though periods of anger and depression. She refuses to seek help anymore. One Dr. wanted her on Zyprexa, but she refused it b/c of possible side effects. I am cyclothymic, PTSD, panic disorder w/agorophobia and occasionally still SI. She thinks I need to just deal with life and get over it. I've tried talking to her about Bi-Polar, sending her info in it, etc.. (she meets the criteria by leaps and bounds according to the DSM-IV) but she refuses to listen. She is intelligent and well educated and has had soooo many jobs over the years that she has lost due to her attitude. She's to the point now that she can't even get a job. BTW… It is believed that my father was Bi-Polar too. I am at a loss as to what I can do at this point. I'm at a loss as to what to do anymore. My mom and I can't afford to help her out financially anymore, though mom will buy groceries so the kids have food on the table. Any advice plz???

i think the best thing to tell her is that she truly needs to get her life in check. it sounds like she is stubborn and although she may acnowledge that she has problems she is scared to face them and just wants to hide them, even though they show through. i think it would be best to tell her you care and that you want to see her happy. ask her once more to go get help and tell her just try it out. to take the doctors advice. she has nothing to loose. " though mom will buy groceries so the kids have food on the table." so i assume she has children. tell her that she should do it for her kids, so they can be happy.

Let me tell you which generic answers I am NOT looking for: online support groups, special restrictive diets, traditional antidepressants/therapy, exercise, "miracle cure" drugs and herbs. ALL of these I've tried with limited or no benefits at all.

I'm only looking for input about SEVERE depression that hasn't responded to any traditional methods of treatment. Is there any relief possible? I am 21 years old and I've lived with these problems all my life and I don't wish to continue to do so.
I thought I was clear about what I had asked for, but after reading some answers I think it's necessary to add some details, because many of these answers have no relevance to what I have asked.

I did not ask about your feelings towards religion or God. Furthermore, the quote "If you know God you will never be depressed" is downright offensive. That same person also seems to think I'm "allowing" myself to drown in gloom and that I'm not trying to help myself ?? Preach to someone else.

Another individual was arrogant enough to suggest that I am "choosing" to cling to my depression for drugs or some other reason. Depression is a medical condition, not a conscious decision. I certainly didn't wake up one day and CHOOSE this lifestyle!

I'm a male, and I have already seen several psychiatrists and taken many rx drugs, after all, I did ask about treatment RESISTANT depression. I don't have bipolar.

Thanks for ALL input, but PLEASE, SERIOUS/RELEVANT ANSWERS ONLY

Try Nor-Adrenaline treatment.

I think it`s not cleared with the FDA yet, but in Europe they are using EDRONAX.

Combined with an SSRI you get surprising results, but they go well on their own too.
Works for me beautifully (thank god, I`m not a US citizen).

However, remember friend, that the drugs are good for the symptoms. They don`t cure the disease.

And – and I`m totally f*** serious – 2 month on a beach in Thailand – but not the ones with the fancy resorts, but one of the remote ones (seek Haad-Yuan, in the island of Ko-Pa-Ngan). I`m dead serious, did much more to me than 5 years of medications.

But, most important friend: accept the fact you are sick, don`t expect it to go away (cause it won`t), don`t be ashamed with it, and tell all of the `smile to life and they will smile back..` and the `what have you got to be depressed about..` advisers to shove their smile so deep into their asses cause they don`t know the first thing on what you`re going through.

and was wondering if 300 mg of lithium and 100 mg of seraquel is a good treatment or if there are better options

Ask your Dr.

I have a friend who I have become rather fond of online (don’t know them in person) and we have talked numerous times and it’s been wonderful but there are those times when they get paranoid and literally start accusing me of being a cop have complained about celebrities stalking them and all kinds of illogical things. I read these are common symptoms of the bipolar /manic depression disorder.

I know that the majority will say I need to drop this friend because they could be dangerous but my heart doesn’t think that’s right. We aren’t going to meet or anything they are just more or less venting and need an ear and someone who isn’t abandoning them like they feel their family has.

I am not attached to this person but I want to be sensitive to their condition without enabling them to be abusive to me. I rather not hurt them but it’s coming down to my own sanity vs. theirs.

I hope this makes sense it’s hard to follow I know.

It hurts sometimes to be “labelled” with these definitions when one has bipolar disorder, such as myself. Before I was treated professionally, yes, I probably behaved “irrationally”. However, hearing it from a total stranger doesn’t make the hurt feel any less….

I wouldn’t drop this friend just like that. This person is not going to harm you. If anything, this person needs professional help and soon. He/she is obviously not on any medication yet, but should be. If you have to say something to this person to get them to stop being abusive to you, just tell him/her straight out. If it hurts the other person, tough. You tell that person that they have no right (illness or not) to be abusive to you. Why would you waste your time talking with them then? You have a life and better things to do.

Perhaps this will make the person think twice about behaving that way towards you again. If it doesn’t work, don’t go online with them anymore.