diagnosis

When I get upset sometimes, I really do get angry...and say things and act in ways I normally would not. I understand that verbal aggression and anger can be signs of mania, is this true? When I'm "up" it feels like a high of sorts, mixed with feelings of helplessness and despair. It is in many ways a terrible feeling. In the past I've shouted and swore for hours, and then when alone I've sort of settled into a numb, vibrant inner world of grandoise perceptions, thoghts, and feelings of awareness of God and the like. Every little thing that happened in my daily life maitained historic properties durig these few major phases. In my mind it felt like a sort of wild insanity, but I would still deny to anyone that it was insanity, exactly. I thik that these times also had spiritual signifigance. They happen durig times of extreme stress or pain, when what is needed for me is to get through. My question is: I have been diagnosed with major depression AND bipolar disorder, mainly the manic type. How do the two go together, to your knowledge?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

The diagnosis starts with depression...sometimes called unipolar depression if it is depression without mania.  Bipolar basically means it is two cycle..depression and mania with periods of relative well being in between.

You must remember that all of this is part of the normal changes in states of mind, but exaggerated in some people. It is only a problem when it interferes with a productive and happy life. That is when you should pursue medication treatment. But in between you should become more expert in solving the everyday problems in living, making good decisions, facing reality, getting to know yourself better, and getting to know the world you live in better.

We have been able to help a lot of people do that in our masteringstress program, so if you want some help, that is a good place to start.