[rquote=2571173&tid=147650&author=GypsyGoth]Well I think you're pretty brave for posting a topic about this :hug:[/rquote]


Awww ty, well just thought i'd post something decent for a change lol

[rquote=2571212&tid=147650&author=BBUK4LYFE][rquote=2570886&tid=147650&author=InOne][rquote=2570879&tid=147650&author=*mazedsalv**]Britney, Kerry Katona and Amy Winehouse have it.[/rquote]

Never head about Britney [/rquote]

So I guess you totally missed this?

http://i32.tinypic.com/ev5lig.jpg[/rquote]


Does not mean she was bipolar though, could have been a number of things. It was rumored but never confirmed and she has never really said anything about it.

InOne, read Stephen Frys story about being Bipolar. My Friend has it and taking the meds made her feel worse for awhile, but a change of meds helped her greatly and reading Stephen Frys book helped her maasively aswell. She sid he described it brilliantly, tho I think he doesn't take meds himself anymore.

Its a lonely illness, so talking to people with the same condition does help, so she has told me.

Hope this helps a bit.

[rquote=2571329&tid=147650&author=bansheewails]InOne, read Stephen Frys story about being Bipolar. My Friend has it and taking the meds made her feel worse for awhile, but a change of meds helped her greatly and reading Stephen Frys book helped her maasively aswell. She sid he described it brilliantly, tho I think he doesn't take meds himself anymore.

Its a lonely illness, so talking to people with the same condition does help, so she has told me.

Hope this helps a bit.[/rquote]

Cheers bansheewails, I saw the doc on him which was quite good also. Yeah, will have to give the book a try too.

It is indeed a very lonely illness. I have totally isolated myself and find it very difficult to do anything.

[rquote=2571522&tid=147650&author=jgfrise]It is indeed a very lonely illness. I have totally isolated myself and find it very difficult to do anything.[/rquote]


Yeah recently I have been icolated alot. Thinking does me no good!!

Often confused with "just" the ups and downs with depression, so probably over diagnosed but not so much that they diagnosed -healthy- people with it. Terrible illness.

[rquote=2572599&tid=147650&author=Lauren]Often confused with "just" the ups and downs with depression, so probably over diagnosed but not so much that they diagnosed -healthy- people with it. Terrible illness.[/rquote]


Yeah i'd say in the states it is overdiagnosed, here probably not so much. There are alot of misconceptions about it though like you said.

Ive suffered from Anxiety and panic attacks at times of unusual stress in my life. I've been on Citalopram and Amytriptyline and found them very helpful at the time. I dont need anything right now. (I also work in mental health!!)Meds are sometimes the lesser of two evils...

[rquote=2586531&tid=147650&author=NettoSuperstar!]Ive suffered from Anxiety and panic attacks at times of unusual stress in my life. I've been on Citalopram and Amytriptyline and found them very helpful at the time. I dont need anything right now. (I also work in mental health!!)Meds are sometimes the lesser of two evils...[/rquote]

Citalopram was not good for me, triggered Mania. They tried Olanzpine and Carbamazepine to balance it out, did not really work. Off meds not though and it has helped me a lot.

Yeh shouldnt really give Citalopram to someone having a manic episode! I know a lot of people who rate Olanzapine and Carbamazepine though. My brother has had manic episodes, its quite worrying for the family when someones in that state Edit: very worrying not quite!

[rquote=2586541&tid=147650&author=NettoSuperstar!]Yeh shouldnt really give Citalopram to someone having a manic episode! I know a lot of people who rate Olanzapine and Carbamazepine though. My brother has had manic episodes, its quite worrying for the family when someones in that state[/rquote]


Well yeah, I was put in hospital last time I had mine lol I just don't think meds are right for me, people get addicted to them also which is not good.

[rquote=2586547&tid=147650&author=InOne][rquote=2586541&tid=147650&author=NettoSuperstar!]Yeh shouldnt really give Citalopram to someone having a manic episode! I know a lot of people who rate Olanzapine and Carbamazepine though. My brother has had manic episodes, its quite worrying for the family when someones in that state[/rquote]


Well yeah, I was put in hospital last time I had mine lol I just don't think meds are right for me, people get addicted to them also which is not good.[/rquote]

Well If you can manage without thats great

[rquote=2586658&tid=147650&author=NettoSuperstar!][rquote=2586547&tid=147650&author=InOne][rquote=2586541&tid=147650&author=NettoSuperstar!]Yeh shouldnt really give Citalopram to someone having a manic episode! I know a lot of people who rate Olanzapine and Carbamazepine though. My brother has had manic episodes, its quite worrying for the family when someones in that state[/rquote]


Well yeah, I was put in hospital last time I had mine lol I just don't think meds are right for me, people get addicted to them also which is not good.[/rquote]

Well If you can manage without thats great[/rquote]

Yeah, so far im doing pretty good.

Which steps did everyone take to get diagnosed? Were they diagnosed with something else (wrongly) first? Or was it diagnosed correctly instantly?

(Sorry if I'm asking too many questions).

[rquote=2586697&tid=147650&author=Lauren]Which steps did everyone take to get diagnosed? Were they diagnosed with something else (wrongly) first? Or was it diagnosed correctly instantly?

(Sorry if I'm asking too many questions).[/rquote]


For me it when when I was seeing a Psychatrist, they go through your life, ask you about your experiences ect. Also if anyone in your family has or had it.

Im on fluoxetine...docs reckon Im depressed, I dont feel any different to how I have always felt to be honest.

A few months ago I swent through a very strange phase of gambling every penny I had, just for the buzz...having very strange thoughts, like getting random urges to hit pint glasses into my friends faces when they were having a drink...for no reason, not sleeping and just having really bad mood swings in general...I reckon I WAS depressed then, for some reason, no trigger that I can think of though...but they tell me I still am, though I dont feel it, I still gamble pretty badly, but Ive always been a gambler...until about 2 weeks ago I was not sleeping for 2 days then sleeping for 12 hours straight, but I dont think i am depressed...just ********d up.

I imagine depression to be feeling low all the time, maybe thats my problem with not accepting what the doctors tell me, as I am nearly always happy. Didnt realise you could be depressed without being sad :conf:

[rquote=2586701&tid=147650&author=VickyJ]Im on fluoxetine...docs reckon Im depressed, I dont feel any different to how I have always felt to be honest.

A few months ago I swent through a very strange phase of gambling every penny I had, just for the buzz...having very strange thoughts, like getting random urges to hit pint glasses into my friends faces when they were having a drink...for no reason, not sleeping and just having really bad mood swings in general...I reckon I WAS depressed then, for some reason, no trigger that I can think of though...but they tell me I still am, though I dont feel it, I still gamble pretty badly, but Ive always been a gambler...until about 2 weeks ago I was not sleeping for 2 days then sleeping for 12 hours straight, but I dont think i am depressed...just ********d up.

I imagine depression to be feeling low all the time, maybe thats my problem with not accepting what the doctors tell me, as I am nearly always happy. Didnt realise you could be depressed without being sad :conf:[/rquote]

I have a habit of wasting all my money at the Casino lol not good! From what you describe, sounds like you could of been having a mixed episode, manic and depressed at the same time. I also get violent thoughts and anger for no reason.
Sleep was a problem for me at one time, I went on a 2 weeks alcohol binge and hardly slept at all.

[rquote=2586701&tid=147650&author=VickyJ]Im on fluoxetine...docs reckon Im depressed, I dont feel any different to how I have always felt to be honest.

A few months ago I swent through a very strange phase of gambling every penny I had, just for the buzz...having very strange thoughts, like getting random urges to hit pint glasses into my friends faces when they were having a drink...for no reason, not sleeping and just having really bad mood swings in general...I reckon I WAS depressed then, for some reason, no trigger that I can think of though...but they tell me I still am, though I dont feel it, I still gamble pretty badly, but Ive always been a gambler...until about 2 weeks ago I was not sleeping for 2 days then sleeping for 12 hours straight, but I dont think i am depressed...just ********d up.

I imagine depression to be feeling low all the time, maybe thats my problem with not accepting what the doctors tell me, as I am nearly always happy. Didnt realise you could be depressed without being sad :conf:[/rquote]

Yeh sometimes its hard to recognise your depressed, those are pretty good indicators that somethings not right and you need to make some changes in your life somewhere...Im not really down with labels (Just speaking from personal experience, I find its not good to ignore warning signs ie/ not sleeping properly etc)

I tried to get CBT but was refused, she just said we would end up annoying eachother :S lol

Vicky yours sound like a severe offshoot from OCD. The C part of it (Compulsion), it would explain the strange thoughts to smash a glass in your friends face, and gambling. The Compulsion part of OCD is the detrimental part, basically you worry about doing something bad - so try and relieve that worry - for most people ths is doing alternative things such as washing your hands a lot, or switching a light switch on. However - there's another way to relieve the worry of doing something bad, and that's by doing it so it's done and out the way, no need to worry about it. That'll explain your gambling. This is all just labels for the same thing though.

I'm really interested in this, I never knew there were so many people on here who had been/are depressed.

And Lauren you're worrying me now, I always wash my hands, brush my teeth and make sure switches (both lights and plugs) are flicked off when not in use :sad::blush2:

Everyone has compulsions. Like when someone see's a fast truck speeding towards them by a road, there's always a small part of your brain that wills you on to step out in front of it. People with OCD (or at least, an offshoot), will find it hard to control this urge and the thought consumes them subconsciously until they find a way to relieve it (i.e. washing hands religiously). Usually they're linked though, a fear of disease will result in washing hands, a fear of hurting oneself will result in repeating a "lucky" phrase etc.

I have never been diagnosed with depression but I have still suffered from it before. There is a big difference between feeling low/down and depression. At times I have wanted to end my life but everything seems allright now. I think its been quite a few months since I was last depressed.

[rquote=2587946&tid=147650&author=thebeast]I have never been diagnosed with depression but I have still suffered from it before. There is a big difference between feeling low/down and depression. At times I have wanted to end my life but everything seems allright now. I think its been quite a few months since I was last depressed. [/rquote]

If I'm right depression is actually a hormone imbalance and not extreme sadness as such?