It seems like I'm in the minority here, but I would choose to get rid of depression, provided that I could stay alive with mania.

Pretty much every time I've been manic, it has been a euphoric mania. I have believed that I was God/Jesus/The Virgin Mary many times. Early on, I also believed that I was Joan of Arc and like her, I was being persecuted for my psychic abilities and ability to communicate with God. I have believed that I was Angelina Jolie, who basically has the life I have always dreamed of. I have believed that an actor who I am obsessed with and I were in love, he was going to marry me and we were psychically communicating.

There have been times when I have loved being manic and didn't want to stop. I have spent nights walking around aimlessly in my town and on the beach, swimming in the ocean at 4 a.m. and looking up at the stars thinking that I was omniscient and could see and understand the whole cosmic plan.

There have really only been two reasons why continuing to be manic could have hurt or killed me. I have frequently put myself in situations where I could have been physically or sexually assaulted. Also, lack of sleep is such a prevailing part of my mania in particular, that I have frequently been awake for 3 or 4 days. Once, when I was put in the hospital, I was awake for 7 days straight. My understanding is that a human being cannot live without sleep for more than 11 days.

On the flip side, my depressions are mentally, physically, and spiritually crushing. I am absolutely unable to have a job or be social at all. I have spent 3 months in bed many times.

Mania can be very dangerous. But at least its the opposite of wanting to die.