What’s The Difference Between Depression And Manic Depression

Risk Factors For Depression And Bipolar Disorder

Anyone can have depression. You may be at an increased for it if you have another serious illness or if theres a family history of depression. Environmental and psychological factors may also increase your risk.

The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown. However, youre more likely to have it if someone else in you family does. The symptoms usually become noticeable during adolescence or early adulthood, but it can appear later in life.

If you have bipolar disorder, youre at increased risk of:

• substance abuse

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder

Wondering how to know if you are bipolar? Signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder can range, depending on the state youre in. Symptoms, when someone is in a manic state, can widely vary from what they experience when theyre in a depressive state. Severity of bipolar symptoms in either state can differ as well.

In a manic state, manic symptoms may include:

• Extreme overexcitement that lasts for a long time
• Inability to focus

• Behavioral changes

What Causes Bipolar Disorder

The cause of bipolar disorder isnt clear. Research suggests that a combination of different things can make it more likely that you will develop bipolar disorder.

Genetic factors

There is a 13% chance you will develop bipolar disorder if someone in your immediate family, like a parent, brother or sister has bipolar disorder.

This risk is higher if both of your parents have the condition or if your twin has the condition.

Researchers havent found the exact genes that cause bipolar disorder. But different genes have been linked to the development of bipolar disorder.

Brain chemical imbalance

Different chemicals in your brain affect your mood and behaviour. Too much or too little of these chemicals could lead to you developing mania or depression.

Environmental factors

Stressful life events can trigger symptoms of bipolar disorder. Such as childhood abuse or the loss of a loved one. They can increase your chances of developing depressive episodes.

You can find more information about Does mental illness run in families? by clicking here.

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Racing Thoughts And Rapid Speech

Another BD symptom is that youll have racing thoughts. This can also contribute to the feeling of restlessness mentioned above.

These racing thoughts will be easily recognizable. Youre likely to verbalize them and what will come out is interesting. Youll be speaking quickly.

Just as fast as your thoughts are flowing, so will you try to speak. Its an attempt to communicate every thought that comes through your mind.

What Are The Long

Bipolar disorder is a life-long and often recurring illness. You may need long term support to help manage your condition.

What medication options are there?

Your doctor will look at what medication worked for you during episodes of mania or depression. They should ask you whether you want to continue this treatment or if you want to change to lithium.

Lithium usually works better than other types of medication for long-term treatment. Your doctor should give you information about how to take lithium safely. If lithium doesn’t work well enough or causes you problems, you may be offered:

• Valproate,
• Olanzapine, or
• Quetiapine.

Your doctor should monitor your health. Physical health checks should be done at least once a year. These checks will include:

• measuring your weight,
• checking your liver and heart, and
• checking your pulse and blood pressure.

What psychological treatments are recommended?

You should be offered a psychological therapy that is specially designed for bipolar disorder. You could have individual or group therapy.

The aim of your therapy is to stop you from becoming unwell again. This is known as relapse. Your therapy should help you to:

If you live with your family or are in close contact with them, you should also be offered family intervention.

Family intervention is where you and your family work with mental health professionals to help to manage relationships. This should be offered to people who you live with or who you are in close contact with.

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What If Im Not Happy With My Treatment

If you arent happy with your treatment you can:

• talk to your doctor about your treatment options,
• ask for a second opinion,
• get an advocate to help you speak to your doctor,
• contact Patient Advice and Liaison Service , or
• make a complaint.

There is more information about these options below.

How can I speak to my doctor about my treatment options?

You can speak to your doctor about your treatment. Explain why you arent happy with it. You could ask what other treatments you could try.

Tell your doctor if there is a type of treatment that you would like to try. Doctors should listen to your preference. If you arent given this treatment, ask your doctor to explain why it isnt suitable for you.

Whats a second opinion?

A second opinion means that you would like a different doctor to give their opinion about what treatment you should have. You can also ask for a second opinion if you disagree with your diagnosis.

You dont have a right to a second opinion. But your doctor should listen to your reason for wanting a second opinion.

What is advocacy?

An advocate is independent from the mental health service. They are free to use. They can be useful if you find it difficult to get your views heard.

There are different types of advocates available. Community advocates can support you to get a health professional to listen to your concerns. And help you to get the treatment that you would like. NHS complaints advocates can help you if you want to complain about the NHS.

History Of Manic Depression

The term manic depression has Greek and Roman origins. They used the words mania and melancholia for people living with mental illness, which translates to our words manic and depressive. During the 19th century, two French doctors, Jules Baillarger and Jean-Pierre Falret, both separately described the condition to the Académie de Médicine in Paris.

Manic depression was coined by the early 20th-century German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin. He distinguished manic depression from schizophrenia because of the symptom-free periods that people with untreated manic depression experience.

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Information For Family Carers And Friends

How can I get support?

You can speak to your GP. You should be given your own assessment through NHS mental health services to work out what effect your caring role is having on your health. And what support you need. Such as practical support and emergency support.

These are some other options for you:

• Join a carers service
• Join a carers support group
• Ask your local authority for a carers assessment
• Read about the condition
• Apply for welfare benefits for carers

Rethink Mental Illness run carers support groups in some areas. You can also search for groups on the Carers Trust website:

• Rethink Mental Illness: www.rethink.org/about-us/our-support-groups
• Carers Trust: www.carers.org/search/network-partners

How can I support the person I care for?

You might find it easier to support someone with bipolar disorder if you understand their symptoms, treatment and self-management skills.

You should be aware of what you can do if you are worried about their mental state. It can be helpful to know contact information for their mental health team or GP.

You could find out from your relative if they have a crisis plan. You could help your relative to make a crisis plan if they dont have one.

As a carer you should be involved in decisions about care planning. But you dont have a legal right to this. The medical team should encourage the person that you care for to allow information to be shared with you.

You can find out more information about:

Treatment For Bipolar And Depression

Left untreated, both bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder can have a major impact on social and occupational functioning. Both include the risk of suicide. The good news is that both conditions are treatable. Combination treatment often works best in both cases. Possible treatment modalities include:

• Talk therapy
• Family therapy
• Medication management

Patients with both depression and bipolar disorder respond well to highly structured routines. Creating a routine helps patients know what to expect and follow through with medication management independently.

American Psychological Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, American Psychiatric Publishing, Washington, D.C., 2013.

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Symptoms Of Manic Episodes

Episodes of mania and hypomania are prevalent features of bipolar disorder. While the signs of mania may at first be a pleasant diversion from the dark depressive episodes, the manic phase can also be destabilizing and self-destructive.

Symptoms include:

• Racing thoughts and difficulty staying focused, easily distracted
• Rapid speech
• Impulsive behaviors, using poor judgment
• Risky behaviors, such as substance use or sexual promiscuity
• Psychosis

Suicidal Thoughts And Actions

One of the most dangerous symptoms of depression is having suicidal thoughts. These can be followed by attempts to commit suicide.

These will normally come at an advanced stage of depression.

Note however that depression itself is an advanced mental condition. So even at the moment of diagnosis, suicidal thoughts might just be lurking around.

Its important to be aware of the signs of suicidal thoughts and potential action, so that you seek help quickly.

Here are some of the signs you can look out for while seeking to prevent self-harm and suicide.

Help in such a time is available. Please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-TALK .

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Bipolar Disorder Vs Manic Depression

A critical point in distinguishing bipolar disorder from major depressive disorder is whether the person has had a manic episode. For someone to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, they must have had a manic episode lasting for at least one week or a hypomanic episode lasting for at least four days.

It’s Easy To Get The Care You Need

See a Premier Physician Network provider near you.

When you face the low feelings of depression, hope can seem distant. But the good news, says Beth Esposito, MS, LPCC-S, LSW, of Samaritan Behavioral Health: Depression is a treatable illness.

Depression treatment that works for one person, however, may not work for another. Thats because depression varies from one person to the next in severity and type. Finding the right treatment for you may take time and fine-tuning, Esposito says.

She offers the following comparisons of two common types of depression and their symptoms, diagnosis and treatment:

• Bipolar depression, which is characterized by alternating periods of depression and mania
• Unipolar depression, more commonly known as major depression, which has no manic periods

If you experience one episode of depression, you are at risk of recurring bouts.

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Difference Between Clinical Depression And Manic Depression

Key Difference: Clinical depression or major depression is a mood disorder which is mainly characterized by a bad mood and reduced interest in activities which were enjoyed earlier. Manic depression or bipolar disorder is a form of clinical depression which is primarily marked by alternate periods of mania and of normal mood and energy.

Clinical depression and manic depression are two different types of depressions. Manic depression is also known as bipolar depression. Clinical depression should not be taken lightly as it tends to be a serious medical illness which effects thinking, course of actions, feelings, etc. A person suffering from clinical depression is not able to work or function as he used to. A feeling of sadness and hopelessness lingers for a long period of time.

People are not able to enjoy the activities that once were enjoyed by them. There are numerous symptoms of clinical depression which includes insomnia, oversleeping, change in appetite, headache, crying, loss of interest in activities that were being enjoyed earlier, and many more. The symptoms cover physical, behavioral as well as emotions attributes related to a person.

Bipolar disorder or manic depression is a form of clinic depression. It is characterized by alternate periods of depression and periods of mania. These periods are also bridged by some periods of normal mood and behavior.

Comparison between Clinical Depression and Manic Depression:

How To Get Help For Bipolar Disorder Or Depression

If youve ever wondered: Am I bipolar or depressed?, you should absolutely find someone to talk to. Your doctor or mental health care provider is your first line of defense when it comes to correctly diagnosing, and then treating, the symptoms most people experience with either bipolar disorder or depression.

Because these two are so closely related in terms of symptoms, its important that you seek out professional help with someone clinically trained and licensed in how to best set up a treatment plan. The first step to finding help is getting the right diagnosis.

• Wondering if you are depressed? Our depression test can help you decide on your next steps.

Dealing with any mental health condition can feel overwhelming in the beginning. Dealing with bipolar disorder versus depression can be challenging to navigate, but there is help out there. Remember that you have resources available and access to the help youre looking for. Any time youre struggling with your mental health, you can:

• Find a licensed therapist to talk to
• Talk to your family doctor to ask for a referral
• Be mindful of your stress and anxiety, and try to limit exposure to things that you know are triggers
• Explore options for medication
• Find support groups as part of your therapy

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What Are Your Treatment Options

Treatment will depend on which type of bipolar disorder you have, and what your symptoms are. Most of the time, youll need medication to manage your symptoms, along with therapy. Medications that may be used include:

Antidepressants Antipsychotics Mood stabilizers Anti-anxiety medications

Sometimes traditional medication therapy isnt enough. At Boston MindCare, our doctors offer a unique treatment option when nothing else has worked. Ketamine infusion therapy can help the symptoms of depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder. It works by inhibiting glutamate in your brain to stabilize your mood.

Like many of the other medications used to treat this disorder, ketamine comes with some side effects, so its important to talk to our doctors to see if this treatment is right for you.

You dont need to deal with bipolar disorder on your own. If youre looking for help, call our office at 701-207-9841 or book an appointment online today.

Signs And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder can look very different in different people. The symptoms vary widely in their pattern, severity, and frequency. Some people are more prone to either mania or depression, while others alternate equally between the two types of episodes. Some have frequent mood disruptions, while others experience only a few over a lifetime.

There are four types of mood episodes in bipolar disorder: mania, hypomania, depression, and mixed episodes. Each type of bipolar disorder mood episode has a unique set of symptoms.

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Bipolar Mania And Hypomania

Bipolar disorder is a complex illness with severity levels ranging from mild to extreme. Every patient with this disorder will regularly experience some types of manic episodes, but those with milder mania symptoms suffer from a lesser form called hypomania. Bipolar disorder patients who suffer from hypomania tend to have less severe symptoms that aren’t as life impairing.

Its Important To Understand The Major Differences Between Bipolar Depression And Unipolar Depressionand To Help Educate Others About The Distinctions

Most people know what depression looks and feels likea lack of motivation, waking up in the morning with the thought, What is the point of my life? and asking, Is this all there is?

Depression can include a lot of anxiety , obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, focus problems, irritation, and sometimes psychosis . Depression symptoms also include crying, catatonic feelings, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and what I call psychic pain.

This kind of depression can be genetic, called unipolar depression, or situational depression, such as when a person who has always been stable goes into a deep depression after the loss of a loved one.

Bipolar depression is even more complex, in my experience.

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The Real History Of Difference Between Depression And Nervous Breakdown Refuted

Discover extra hotlines and companies for assistance in our emergency situation mental health resources directory. If you are experiencing a mental health situation, or if a person you love is in threat, reach out to a certified mental wellness specialist. Somebody with a parent or sibling with MDD has a 2 or three-times better danger of creating depression than the ordinary person . In a meta-analytic study from 2010, psychotherapy difference between depression and nervous breakdown had a little however considerable effect when compared to control groups. However, psychotherapy is dramatically less reliable than pharmacotherapy in straight contrasts. The signs and symptoms might create substantial issues or distress in social, work, academic, or various other major locations of life functioning. If a person is experiencing extreme depression, or ideas of death or suicide, they must call a medical professional immediately.

An estimated 60 percent of all people with bipolar illness have medicine or alcohol dependence. It has additionally been revealed to occur difference between depression and nervous breakdown often in individuals with seasonal depression and also specific anxiousness conditions, like trauma.

Bipolar Disorder And Suicide

The depressive phase of bipolar disorder is often very severe, and suicide is a major risk factor. In fact, people suffering from bipolar disorder are more likely to attempt suicide than those suffering from regular depression. Furthermore, their suicide attempts tend to be more lethal.

The risk of suicide is even higher in people with bipolar disorder who have frequent depressive episodes, mixed episodes, a history of alcohol or drug abuse, a family history of suicide, or an early onset of the disease.

Suicide warning signs include:

• Talking about death, self-harm, or suicide.
• Feeling hopeless or helpless.

Get more help

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms, causes, and treatment.

Rapid Cycling Signs, symptoms, and causes of rapid cycling in bipolar disorder.

Bipolar Workbook and other self-help resources.

Hotlines and support

In the U.S.: Call the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-6264 or find DBSA Chapters/Support Groups in your area.

UK: Call the peer support line at 0333 323 3880 and leave a message for a return call or Find a Support Group near you.

Australia: Call the Sane Helpline at 1800 187 263 or find a local Support Group.

Canada: Visit Finding Help for links to provincial helplines and support groups.

India: Call the Vandrevala Foundation Helpline at 1860 2662 345 or 1800 2333 330

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