Anyone feel like depression isn't taken as seriously as bipolar?

-jimi- · Sep 11, 2014, 07:05 AM

The problem is that even a "mild" case of BP2 is taken more seriously as recurring depression. Even if the BP2 person actually lacks destructive mania. It's like you are placed in a whole new category. I have actually been placed in and taken out of that category so at least where I am I know there is a huge difference. With BP2 I got the attitude something was wrong with me, with "just" depression even doctors had the attitude "everyone gets depressed now and then".

AAHH!

sideblinded · Sep 11, 2014, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -jimi-

The problem is that even a "mild" case of BP2 is taken more seriously as recurring depression. Even if the BP2 person actually lacks destructive mania. It's like you are placed in a whole new category. I have actually been placed in and taken out of that category so at least where I am I know there is a huge difference. With BP2 I got the attitude something was wrong with me, with "just" depression even doctors had the attitude "everyone gets depressed now and then".

AAHH!

I agree! Even if you call depression "Major Depression"...it has no more "effect" to be taken very seriously as transient depression it seems. MDD is very clinical and can be very serious. I also agree that bipolar II (even ones with a 'subtype' of very mild manias are taken more seriously than a bad case of MDD.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to have bipolar in any form and I know it is a troubling disorder, I just want validation that I am in a bad way. Isn't that what all of us really want?

One more note on this. If you are a woman with depression and she complains about irritability, I also feel that doctors just think that a woman is being hormonal and there is a disregard about this complaint. This is a nuisance as well.

MDD
GAD
ADHD

unlived · Sep 11, 2014, 07:56 PM

You can get into an unhelpful mindset here.

Depression isn't treated as seriously as bipolar.

Bipolar isn't treated as seriously as schizoaffective

Schizoaffective isn't treated as seriously as schizophrenia

It's not a competition

You just have to find the "right" do tot who WILL take you seriously.

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unlived · Sep 11, 2014, 07:56 PM

That's meant to say doctor

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sideblinded · Sep 12, 2014, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unlived

You can get into an unhelpful mindset here.

Depression isn't treated as seriously as bipolar.

Bipolar isn't treated as seriously as schizoaffective

Schizoaffective isn't treated as seriously as schizophrenia

It's not a competition

You just have to find the "right" do tot who WILL take you seriously.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Point well taken. I am just saying that all of us need validation that when we are in a bad way we need to be taken seriously no matter what disorder we have. I still feel that depressive disorders get the short end of the stick and MDD is nothing to take lightly. In my experience with my pdoc he seems to be one of those who doesn't take MDD too seriously. It is sad but there aren't enough pdocs where I live to be choosy so I will just have to keep advocating for myself.

Take care

Creative1onder · Sep 12, 2014, 02:41 PM

While some people do not regard depression as serious illness and debilitating condition, it is known to be the major factor leading to people committing suicide. It should not be treated as though its normal part of life that evryone experiences sometimes that will pass with time. It can worsen over time. It can be a hard battle to cope with.

Creative1onder · Sep 12, 2014, 02:46 PM

Remember that within Bipolar there is depression as well. The depression and anxiety associated with Bipolar disorder is the hardest part to deal with.

icinggurl · Sep 12, 2014, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SideBlinded

Went to my pdoc today and was so frustrated. I got in on a cancelation. I am agitated and irritable and depressed. Thought maybe I really am bipolar by how moody I have been feeling. He didn't seem to listen to my complaints that I was very irritable and moody. He said "you don't have bipolar" so he only let me go back on gabapentin when I insisted. He wanted to up my mirtazapine but at higher does it loses it's sleep inducing effect and he agreed. He was ready to shove me off another month only adding gabapentin. Jeez....

I think there is a lot of validity to this question, I really do. I am still depressed and agitated....he also screwed up my script and I am still waiting for him to get it straight with my pharmacy. Having depression just sucks. Waiting and waiting and waiting to feel decent.

sick and tired of feeling sick and tired...waiting and waiting to feel decent. I am sooo frustrated with a depression diagnosis.

I don't think my pdoc takes MDD very seriously like when he thought I had bipolar disorder.

MDD (who cares really?) 15 mg of remeron just helps me sleep.
GAD
ADHD (he handed me an extra Adderall script I didn't ask for or even need) what a croc...

geez louise....

btw....the medical assistants always ask: Are you suicidal?...."no" ...are you homicidal?.."no".....well on that one I lied!! ) (OK, Just fibbing)

AGITATED DEPRESSION....... HELLOOOOO ?

Sorry for my rant....

Your doc is an ahole! That's interesting about the Gabepentine. I was on a massive dose of it until I totalled my car falling asleep. My (former) shrink pulled me off it quickly because it made me tired. Up til then I had never been diagnosed with any kind of bipolar disorder. After I stopped taking it, I spent the next 3 months in severe depression and then 2 wks of mania/psychosis, then the hospital. It took a dose of haldol to get me back in control. I know that med is used for mood stabilization, but if a person becomes manic when they stop it (I also got pretty aggressive, etc.), I would think there really is bipolar going on there.

I suggest finding a different doc. I know that can be frustrating by itself. I've seen over a dozen maybe. It's not easy to find a good one.

Creative1onder · Sep 12, 2014, 04:16 PM

It can be hard finding the right professional help, or one who can trust to be honest and open with. Depression as well as Bipolar Dis may not be treated as serious health conditions by some people.

loophole · Sep 12, 2014, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_little_didgee

I have noticed bipolar and psychotic disorders get the most attention from psychiatrists probably because they are primarily treated with medication. It is so much easier to write a script than to do months or years of therapy to see results. Medication can produce dramatic changes often within days so I can see why psychiatrists might take more of an interest in those disorders.

Last fall and winter I had a depression. I'm not sure what kind it was. All I know is that it was severe and very disabling. I spent most of the time in bed, had to withdraw from school, neglected my diet and hygiene and lost my emotions. Sometimes I would get attacks of severe psychomotor agitation that made me pace and scream. I was hearing voices telling me that God could hear my thoughts and was recording them so I made sure not to use swear words while thinking and in conversation. I believed I had intestinal parasites and avoided using the toilet so I got really backed up. When it was really bad I sensed and believed an other worldly being was standing by me waiting to pull my soul out of my body. This hell lasted about 6 months. There was nothing funny about it. I could have ended up in the hospital if I was honest about what was going on in my head. Isolation and withdrawal definitely hides the reality of depression.

Thinking positive thoughts wouldn't have worked because it was beyond feeling blue for a few days.

My point: Depression is serious.

Sorry but I completely disagree with your stand on bipolar getting fixed with meds... and depression. Quite the opposite is true. Medicines often take 4 to 6 weeks to work 1. 2. My Dr's have said time and time again that medication is a bump in the right direction.. however therapy (years of) is what can truly sustain... no offense but I have no idea where people are getting this kind of info....

Creative1onder · Sep 12, 2014, 05:44 PM

People have different beliefs, views, feelings and experiences of depression and bipolar disorder. Neither right or wrong, jst different. Who came up with these mental health labels, not the individuals who have them. We don't have to live with these names in our heads all the time feeling like they are part of who we are and explaining why we can't do things, feeling limited, helpless on our own. Its like we make them our identity and our interactions and lives shaped by them. We need to see ourselves seperately from these conditions and focus on positive traits we have in ourselves and others and making most of life we have now. The past is behind so it can be left alone and the future is yet to come. It is non existant. The only real important life is the one we live now so let's now waste precious time dwelling or worrying about unhelpful neagtive stuff.

sideblinded · Sep 12, 2014, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icinggurl

Your doc is an ahole! That's interesting about the Gabepentine. I was on a massive dose of it until I totalled my car falling asleep. My (former) shrink pulled me off it quickly because it made me tired. Up til then I had never been diagnosed with any kind of bipolar disorder. After I stopped taking it, I spent the next 3 months in severe depression and then 2 wks of mania/psychosis, then the hospital. It took a dose of haldol to get me back in control. I know that med is used for mood stabilization, but if a person becomes manic when they stop it (I also got pretty aggressive, etc.), I would think there really is bipolar going on there.

I suggest finding a different doc. I know that can be frustrating by itself. I've seen over a dozen maybe. It's not easy to find a good one.

Man, thank you so much icinggurl for validating my point (rant rather

) I needed to hear this. Not sure if I can change my pdoc right now but if given the chance I would in a heart beat. Here is another strange thing. He prescribed 2700 mg of gabapentin (3) 300 mg capsules three times a day! I was on 1800 mg for 6 years for fibromyalgia. This is really a high dose for anxiety and agitation it seems to me. I am only starting on 900 a day using my own judgment and I see him in 2 weeks.

I'm sorry you had to struggle so hard and end up in the hospital! Sometimes I think it takes a hospitalization or more to get the right kind of help. It is a sad thing.

Take care

SB

MDD (whatever?)
ADHD
GAD

sideblinded · Sep 12, 2014, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creative1onder

People have different beliefs, views, feelings and experiences of depression and bipolar disorder. Neither right or wrong, jst different. Who came up with these mental health labels, not the individuals who have them. We don't have to live with these names in our heads all the time feeling like they are part of who we are and explaining why we can't do things, feeling limited, helpless on our own. Its like we make them our identity and our interactions and lives shaped by them. We need to see ourselves seperately from these conditions and focus on positive traits we have in ourselves and others and making most of life we have now. The past is behind so it can be left alone and the future is yet to come. It is non existant. The only real important life is the one we live now so let's now waste precious time dwelling or worrying about unhelpful neagtive stuff.

Yes this is very true. I was mainly venting in my earlier post. The mental healthcare industry is so frustrating to patients just struggling to be heard and treated fairly sometimes. Mental health patients are not treated the same as those with the ailments you can see. This is just a fact. I don't mean to sound so negative. This is just the place I am in right now. It will pass and I will feel better very soon. Thank you for your input here.

Creative1onder · Sep 13, 2014, 03:27 AM

Yeah I agree about lack of care help understanding and support from professionals. People end up suffering alone or trying to help themselves because they have been poorly treated by professionals when they seeked and needed help.

Bipolarchic14 · Sep 13, 2014, 06:20 AM

I have bipolar 2 disorder. If it makes you feel any better, they don't help me with my depression either. I did start taking omega three fish oil and this has been helping a lot. If you have not tried it, it might be something to consider. Neither t- doc or p- doc recommended this. I had to find this on my own. It seems that because they get paid for prescribing meds, they won't suggest other things that could work.

Creative1onder · Sep 14, 2014, 05:28 PM

Through GP, you can either be prescribed medication for depression or other mental health issues or be referred to primary or secondary mental health services for assessment and may get access to group courses such as on self esteem, managing stress and anxiety and therapies, depending on your circumstances whether they consider them mild, moderate or severe. They like to tell you to do self help stuff mainly.

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Anyone feel like depression isn't taken as seriously as bipolar?

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