[gina_re]

I've always wondered this. What's the difference between bipolar depression and unipolar depression (MDD)? Is there a difference?

[MusicLover82]

I think I recall reading that unipolar depression has no manic upswings, just feelings of being normal when not depressed.

[Nammu]

I think I read the bipolar has more anxiety and fear and the MDD more sadness....but don't quote me.

[gina_re]

Outside of the mania, do the depressive episodes feel the same? Since I was originally diagnosed as MDD, as I'm sure many others have, is the actual depressive state the same, or just the swings into (hypo)mania that make the difference? I guess this might be a rhetorical question?

Personally, I get agitated depression or dysphoric mania. I never really experience textbook "depression", and I can't recall a time that I did. (I'm sure I've experienced it before, but I just don't remember.) I'm very physically destructive when I'm depressed. I'm a raging a**hole and everything irritates the hell out of me. So, I know it's not a "normal" depression.

Based on my own experiences, I think bipolar depression tends to have some agitation involved. Not always, but tends to. Lots of irritability, impulsive behavior, anger, rage... I think it's normal for a regular depressed person to feel irritable, but I don't think they experience full-on "rage" or impulsivity.

Technically I think they have exactly the same DSM descriptors if I remember right.

However, with bipolar disorder the depression can occur simultaneously with manic symptoms in a mixed episode which presents with greater agitation, anxiety, etc.

My guess is if you are is a purely depressive phase of bipolar disorder it is pretty much the same as MDD. If you are in a mixed phase of bipolar disorder it gets complicated by those other factors.

[pirilin]

Originally Posted by MusicLover82

I think I recall reading that unipolar depression has no manic upswings, just feelings of being normal when not depressed.

Uh. If you're right, this is bad. Really bad. It means I'm bipolar.

[pirilin]

Originally Posted by gina_re

Outside of the mania, do the depressive episodes feel the same? Since I was originally diagnosed as MDD, as I'm sure many others have, is the actual depressive state the same, or just the swings into (hypo)mania that make the difference? I guess this might be a rhetorical question?

Great question.
There are no rhetorics here. It's a very valid question. Thank you. Maybe.
Now I'm confused. I may be MDD.

[pirilin]

Originally Posted by lolagrace

Technically I think they have exactly the same DSM descriptors if I remember right.

However, with bipolar disorder the depression can occur simultaneously with manic symptoms in a mixed episode which presents with greater agitation, anxiety, etc.

My guess is if you are is a purely depressive phase of bipolar disorder it is pretty much the same as MDD. If you are in a mixed phase of bipolar disorder it gets complicated by those other factors.

I'm almost sure I have MDD. I don't have any mixed episodes. When depression hits, is just that. Hypomania is my baseline.
When I've been really manic, I've been artificially enhanced.
I described my mania to this new doctor and she told me to erase everything that had to do with enhancement. I'm gonna goggle. Thank you!.

[Phoenix_1]

As far as I know there is no difference between BP depression and depression from major depressive disorder. MDD has no mania or hypomania.

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[st0psign]

Unipolar depression is just having a major depressive episode(s). Bipolars also have the up of either mania or hypomania. I believe the depression symptoms are the same

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[Wanderlust90]

The depressive phase of BP & MDD have the same diagnostic symptoms in the DSM. From what I understand BP depression has more atypical symptoms like hypersomnia & overeating, MDD has more insomnia & weight loss, could just be because there are more females dx with BP(2) & females are more likely to have atypical features. BP depression can be mixed therefore likely to be an agitated type of depression, but so can MDD, there is such a thing as agitated depression, actually now I think there's even a mixed features specifier for MDD. How the hell anyone tells what's what, I have NO idea. I think they may all be full of **** & categorising mental illness may be just something we do that doesn't really help us because the healthcare provider generates their dx based on their own experiences with patients & it's all opinion based. It all depends on the Dr/Psychologist interprets things.

[BastetsMuse]

Originally Posted by gina_re

I've always wondered this. What's the difference between bipolar depression and unipolar depression (MDD)? Is there a difference?

Not in feelings, but in life. Bipolar depression has the chance of swinging into mania, hypomania or cyclothymia. Unipolar depression is just that -- one bad mood that goes on forever, until it's back to normal for that person.