Bipolar II Disorder

See a psychiatrist- that's the only way to find out whether or not you have Bipolar.

Please also keep in mind that ALL people have natural fluctuations in mood, energy level and temper. If you are prone to chronic depression, it's entirely possible that what you are experiencing is the natural fluctuation between "depressed" and "okay".

Of course, only a qualified psychologist can diagnose bipolar disorder. The difference between bipolar I and bipolar II, in my understanding from taking a PhD level course in clinical psychology and having an ex-husband who has been diagnosed, is that type II does not typically have the "manic" phase that most people think of with bipolar disorder (previously called manic depression). Instead, the depressed phases alternate with an angry, irritable, distracted mood.

There are different levels of severity of any mental health issue, of course, but my experience with bipolar is that a person is barely functional without proper medication. They are unable to hold a job, or be productive in their lives, and people surrounding them will be suffering significantly also. When my ex was applying for disability, I did some research and found that a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder significantly increased a person's chances of receiving Social Security disability because of the experience that people with this disorder are often unemployable. This is a serious diagnosis that could have multiple effects on a person's life.

There is another diagnosis that falls between depression and bipolar, called cyclical depression. This type of depression affects a person repeatedly, with periods of near normal, followed by another phase of depression.

I would talk with your medical professionals if your medication does not seem to be working.

I am curious, your productive moments, is it usually something you want to do? I ask because activities you enjoy or want to do will naturally stimulate serotonin production. Kinda self-medicating.

I can get that from cleaning the house cause I like order. :)

I have ADD by the way.

You might consider looking at Cyclothymic Disorder (http://www.mental-health-today.com/bp/cyclo.htm) rather than full blown Bipolar disorder. Cyclothymic has you cycling between lows and highs, but not as extreme as bipolar disorder. Often individuals with this seek help for depression but not the mania since the mania makes them more productive, cheerful, etc. instead of full blown mania like somebody with bipolar disorder. Because they only seek help for depression, they are put on anti-depressants which actually don't resolve the problem.

Hope this helps,
B.

if you notice mania phases, with mood shifts, then yes, it may very well be bi polar disorder, this nothing to be ashamed about and no, g#d is not getting back at you for something."hypomania" is very common with bi polar, it is not depression, but it usually treated as depression by doctors, which is usually why people who have/are bi polar avoid being treated. and it typically runs in familes, virtually everyone in my first husbands family had bi polar disorder, thus, they didnt see it as a disorder, so it simply went untreated go back to the doctor, describe the symptoms and demand proper treatment
K. h.