I have been seeking treatment for years for depression and social anxiety. The social anxiety being the worse of the two. I have been on every medication outside of the ones Lithium is in, and nothing has helped. I have anxiety all day, usually for no reason at all, just a constant un easyness. Then when I go out in public to do anything, pump gas, grocery store, interact with friends and family. I almost get to a panic state with the rise in anxiety. This has left me falling more and more into a hermit phase, although work and having a family has kept me from becoming a complete recluse. Anyhow, I also experience mood swings, Im rarely happy, even if I should be. I'm always negative and in a foul mood, for no reason what-so-ever. I stress out over every detail of my day and life. And im always going from ok to being snappy with my kids and wife. To the point it puts everyone on edge and is causing problems at home. I go to the doctor yesterday after again a decade of treatment, of course with various doctors. (this is my second visit with this new one) and he sits down with one of the other doctors to go over my file and history. They both tell me they have a suspicion that I might be Bipolar. This because of my unstable mood and anxiety / depression problems. Also because of my lack of any luck with all the other types of medications. I was pretty shocked, as I always thought bipolar people went from one extreme to the other, having manic episodes. Which I dont ever have a high manic feeling. Only times of depression and being down. Could they be right? Does it make any sense?

They prescribed to me Lithium, 300mg in the morning, 300mg in the evening. They told me I shouldnt feel any better until the end of the month when I will be doubling my nightly dosage to 600mg. At this point after 2 weeks I will have to get my blood taken to check my levels. Although im not sure what they will be checking for, I suppose to right level of lithium in my blood, or if its screwing something else up? I didnt think to get to much into detail on my questions.

Anyhow what does everyone else think? Can bipolar disorder follow the lines of my symptoms and actually not be very severe? Is lithium something I should be taking and how many others are on it? Does it help, how dangerous is it really?

Thank you for any input you guys give,

Mark