Am I unipolar or bipolar

Hi,
This is my first post. I had my first depression episode in 2000 and then further episodes every year for 6 months until 2007 . In 2007,I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and started lithium.For next 6 years , I did not hit any episode. then it hit again in 2013 december. It is now almost a year since I am in this episode.
My episodes are always depressive and never manic. I never felt high etc during my episodes. Still I responded well to Lithium.
Question is- Am I bipolar or Unipolar? How can i be bipolar if I have never hit a single episode of Maniac. My doctor says -it does not matter as you may hit maniac in future .
If I am unipolar then how come i responded so well to lithium? Lithium is good medicine only for bipolar.

Hi there,

Those questions seem like ones best answered by a pdoc or GP. I find it interesting that you were diagnosed as bipolar without expressing any symptoms of mania...

Yeah I second that. Hmmmm. You need to have discussions with your GP and pdoc. I don't know. Maybe just a thought. Could they have picked up bp nos. don't know. Try find out what's on your medical records / assessment. You have a right to ask why lithium and the good response to it.

I was hospitalized 20 years ago in my teens with depression. To my knowledge depression was all I was diagnosed with. I was put on lithium and responded wonderfully to it- totally got me back on a healthy track. I was also put on pamelor (VERY old school anti-depressant) at the same time.

It does seem strange for you to be diagnosed bc of what may (or may not) happen in the future, but if the lithium works then keep on taking it!

Lithium is very good for the treatment of suicidal ideation and impulses, so stands to reason that it could help a depressive.


No way to determine a diagnosis via type of medication prescribed, I wouldn't even bother trying. I mean we're RXD anti convulsants left right and centre and call them mood stabilizers... So if I were to assume a DX on this forum based on RX alone, I would probably be thinking everyone is schizophrenic or epileptic...


What concerns me is that you have a Dr who is assuming you will have bipolar in future...

What is he, psychic?


As for your question, you simply can't have bipolar without the bi...

It's kinda the hallmark of the disorder.

Manic episodes dont have to last days or weeks or months. They can last a few hours. If you were hospitalized and diagnosed bipolar chances are its true. But misdiagnosis happen all the time. Just keep telling your doctors over the years about it and wait until it gets switched. A diagnosis isnt even an important thing, all that is important is, are you on the right meds and doing what your supposed to be doing to better your life.

Thanks all for the responses. Considering my dad is bipolar for 30+ years, dr thinks that same is the case with me. I will continue to take Lithium as it has worked well in my case.