After many years of therapy, meds, recovery, etc. I now have an understanding of the difference in BP related moods and situational moods.

Sometimes I feel sad because of situations. I cry, I feel lousy, but then I feel better. A BP depression comes for no reason and stays as long as it wants. For me this is usually 6 - 8 weeks.

Grieving is painful, but there is hope built in. There is healing to it. It passes. People support you, it hurts, but it gets better.

My depression has no hope, no healing. It seems like it will never get better. There is no light. It comes without warning and then slowly it goes away.

Same with the good moods. I know the difference between something great that is to be celebrated and hypomania.

But I will tell you that it took me a long time to get to this point.