[Samanthagreene]

I find that the first day (it doesn't have to be a day; just a length of time) I'm depressed, I don't feel unmotivated or even too sad, I just have a weight in my chest. And then after that, I lose motivation, start feeling sad, want to self-harm and then become suicidal. As things start lifting up, I become more motivated, have less urges to self-harm, my thoughts start speeding up and then I become super happy again.
Is it normal to have stages like this? Are the stages at the beginning and end not even considered depression?

[online user]

Hmmm...can't say that I've noticed this, but it's an interesting thought. Maybe it's beccause I don't notice an absence of depression--I mean, I think it's always there, just controlled by meds so I feel normal much of the time.

[anneo59]

I'm no expert or authority and there's better info out there, but I know some folks experience depression similar to what you have. There are even names for more minor depression, etc. I think you can still be depressed or sliding downward or not, even if it is fairly mild. Hope you have a better day!

[Mrwings101]

I know mine comes in stages but it is more mild to extreme. I don't have the suicidal thoughts but I also don't have the "Happy" part as well.

I'd say there are degrees of depression. Not sure if there are stages.

[WorkInProgress16]

That's how mine is now. My cycle is about a month. I'll have 3 good weeks and then I can start to feel the depression coming and slowly things get worse and the they start getting better and then 3 weeks later the same thing happens.

[wiretwister]

You might want to visit the bipolar section becoming happy sounds like hypomania after the depression ....just a thought..