Depression vs Mania (if you had to pick)

Nov 13, 2015, 12:27 PM

Probably depression.

cinnamonstick · Nov 13, 2015, 12:34 PM

No brainer for me...I would kick depression to the curb forever.

Nov 13, 2015, 01:08 PM

I'm also going to give another personal reason for nixing mania is because all I do is run in circles getting nothing done and going no where.

Souris · Nov 13, 2015, 01:26 PM

I would without a doubt get rid of my depression.
I have Bipolar II, so I'm only hypomanic when I experience it,
and it generally doesn't last long at all.
It causes less of an impact on my life than depression does.

LettinG0 · Nov 13, 2015, 02:11 PM

I, too, am BP II....and would most definitely get rid of the depression....

xxblackrosesxx · Nov 15, 2015, 02:55 PM

I hate both sides of it. But I think I'll cut out mania even though depression makes me feel like I want to die and sleep a lot. I get into more trouble when manic.

lowflame · Nov 15, 2015, 05:02 PM

kick the depression, for sure! I tend to have hypomania, which is as close as I usually get to actual happiness. Depression destroys my will to live.

GoingInside · Sep 02, 2017, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CopperStar

If you could choose either depression or mania to never have again, which one would you choose to cut out of your life forever (but still have the other one present)?

Just curious as to what others would choose and why.

I think I would choose to get rid of mania symptoms. Nothing terrifies me quite as much as the effects of chronic insomnia, and also the agitation / morphing into a crazed asshole is pretty terrible. With depression I feel like I can mostly hide it and function well enough. I might feel miserable, but I don't feel crazy. I just cry 2-3 times a day and sleep a lot. It sucks but it's not scary the way mania symptoms will be for me. That is how I experience both, so that is what I would pick.

You?

I'd cut off mania and just try to cope with depression which is actually how my life has been for about 6 years. Though I wish I hadn't got so used to depression to the point I don't even put much effort on overcoming it. It's like a fear that if I feel too good mania could crawl back to my life. So I keep myself down most of time, cutting any sense of pride.

jmariah001 · Sep 02, 2017, 11:40 PM

I'd like to get rid of depression. I've had only one major mania episode. The rest have been hypomania. I can deal with that. I think the meds keep me from going that high. Depression is horrible for me. I get suicidal and just completely miserable. So good bye depression. I just wish this was really possible.

delanceyst · Sep 02, 2017, 11:55 PM

I don't think there is even a choice there. Nobody would choose depression over mania. I'd rather spend all of my money and hurt my relationships, than die. Because at least there is a chance you can fix what was done during mania. But you cannot undo suicide.

Wild Coyote · Sep 03, 2017, 12:26 AM

I would dump the depression.
It's severe and threatens my life.

WC

Sep 03, 2017, 04:22 AM

this question is so difficult.

it's difficult because, 1 of the things I struggle with is feeling guilty when i'm not doing something i'm supposed too

so with that in mind, it's probably an idea to get rid of depression (because with my depressions, I find I can't even function to a normal level)

then again, the psymptoms of mania can be, and often are, quite intense- and the rash choices would certainly be something I could live with out

so that being said, get rid of mania

I don't know. it's a hard question

GoingInside · Sep 03, 2017, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delanceyst

I don't think there is even a choice there. Nobody would choose depression over mania. I'd rather spend all of my money and hurt my relationships, than die. Because at least there is a chance you can fix what was done during mania. But you cannot undo suicide.

Actually it depends on how mania and depression plays out for each person. I'm not sure I can fix everything that I did during mania or the trauma it caused me. While suicidal thoughts constantly come back having to live with depression, it seems they have been there at least since I was 13 so I just learnt how to hear it, struggle and eventually dismiss it, until it comes back. But this is just me.

Possible trigger:

I realize it's not the same for everyone. During mania, the full blown mania, I put my life in danger in much worse ways and still had the desire of killing myself, much more intensified so. While manic there was no stop for my destructive behavior and anyone in the way would be beaten terribly(even though I'm the most calm and pacific person and had never got into a fight before). It was like having this destructive monster inside taking all decisions to kill you and you standing by in the passenger's seat, watching, unable to control or do anything. I tried to jump from a window, run in the streets who knows where, probably trying to get hit by cars, got knives while thinking about cutting my wrists, I broke at least two 2 glass door with my fists and feet, trashed my whole bedroom, trying to drag a huge dresser to fall into me to severely injure myself. The ones that tried to protect me, to stop me from actually doing it were the ones who had to deal with this manic violence. It was like, "get out of the way and let me kill her". But with depression, despite all the sadness and slowness, failing cognitive capabilities I'm still able not to harm myself. I don't miss mania at all.

If I was alone during any of these manic episodes I'd probably be dead by now. Probably dead 11 years ago.
When I'm really low I kinda wish that I had so I wouldn't have to deal with all this. But in a way my old self has died already. You simply are not the same anymore, you can't ever be the same after things like these.

BastetsMuse · Sep 03, 2017, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CopperStar

If you could choose either depression or mania to never have again, which one would you choose to cut out of your life forever (but still have the other one present)?You?

I'd pick depression to never have again because I can manage my manias, and they are under control. Depression seems here to stay.

liveforsummer · Sep 03, 2017, 08:05 AM

I would get rid of the depression for sure.

BiPolarJoe · Sep 03, 2017, 10:40 AM

This is an easy one for me. I would give up the depression for sure. It seems we all are on a bit of a continuum with regards to how depressive and manic episodes represent themselves. For me, the depression hits hard and everything becomes difficult (thinking, concentration, accomplishing simple tasks, sleeping too much, no interest in anything). When I am manic, I really think it is more of a hypomania. Once I quit drinking (almost a year now), my hypomanic episodes are pretty easy for me to sail through. I can concentrate and I just simply "get s@#$ done".

UpDownAround · Sep 03, 2017, 10:48 AM

Type II, so mania is hypomania and is my choice with a caveat - as long as Happy is working that shift and not Grumpy.

Shazerac · Sep 03, 2017, 02:43 PM

I've never had euphoric mania, mine is always mixed and it's a nightmare. That's when I battle with SI. So I guess I'll keep depression. But what I want is cure #%*%<,}!

Sep 03, 2017, 03:20 PM

For me they are both equally dangerous. Depression presents differently each episode, sometimes I'm too tired to do anything and other times I'm impulsive and capable of following through on thoughts. Mania is often different for me too. I get euphoric or dysphoric and it has been very dangerous. I cannot choose.

pirilin · Sep 03, 2017, 04:11 PM

Gimme mania, please.

Sep 03, 2017, 05:34 PM

I'd get rid of the mania and keep the depression. Mania is terribly terrifying for me, the restlessness, the impulsivity, the hostility, the rage. When I think mania, I think of the times I've been up at 3am pacing around crawling out of my skin screaming into pillows and punching walls. I think of the jobs I've lost and the times the police and EMTs have searched for me and dragged me to the hospital. I think of the times I've been so out of touch with reality i couldn't recognize my family. Yes i do get the euphoria but it doesn't make up for all the bad stuff.

WildcatVet · Sep 03, 2017, 05:59 PM

After all these years...I'd like to get rid of both for once and for all!

~Christina · Sep 03, 2017, 09:18 PM

Manic , it's ugly for me on all levels,

I would pick depression, least I could kick and claw on that.

all74 · Sep 03, 2017, 10:42 PM

I primarily get angry/irritable hypomania with high psychomotor agitation (so my so that I feel like putting my head through a window) and with the added bonus of increased/stupid spending and racing thoughts. I'd happily (heh) just take depression. At least when I'm depressed I'm not a complete jerk to my family

delanceyst · Sep 04, 2017, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoingInside

Actually it depends on how mania and depression plays out for each person. I'm not sure I can fix everything that I did during mania or the trauma it caused me. While suicidal thoughts constantly come back having to live with depression, it seems they have been there at least since I was 13 so I just learnt how to hear it, struggle and eventually dismiss it, until it comes back. But this is just me.

Possible trigger:

I realize it's not the same for everyone. During mania, the full blown mania, I put my life in danger in much worse ways and still had the desire of killing myself, much more intensified so. While manic there was no stop for my destructive behavior and anyone in the way would be beaten terribly(even though I'm the most calm and pacific person and had never got into a fight before). It was like having this destructive monster inside taking all decisions to kill you and you standing by in the passenger's seat, watching, unable to control or do anything. I tried to jump from a window, run in the streets who knows where, probably trying to get hit by cars, got knives while thinking about cutting my wrists, I broke at least two 2 glass door with my fists and feet, trashed my whole bedroom, trying to drag a huge dresser to fall into me to severely injure myself. The ones that tried to protect me, to stop me from actually doing it were the ones who had to deal with this manic violence. It was like, "get out of the way and let me kill her". But with depression, despite all the sadness and slowness, failing cognitive capabilities I'm still able not to harm myself. I don't miss mania at all.

If I was alone during any of these manic episodes I'd probably be dead by now. Probably dead 11 years ago.
When I'm really low I kinda wish that I had so I wouldn't have to deal with all this. But in a way my old self has died already. You simply are not the same anymore, you can't ever be the same after things like these.

You are right. I forget that everyone goes through different symptoms. I'm use to having depression so bad that it has actually led to bad actions every time, before I was medicated, that I am lucky to regret today. And though my mania has been so severe as I have lost many permanent relationships, I have learned to live without these people and learn to cope with my actions. So I guess we are opposite in this respect.

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