how do you know the difference between the normal ups and downs of depression and bipolar?!?!

[MissTired]

ive always been up and down to great extremes, never in the middle but the downs are getting worse and worse, after reading about bipolar it sounds like me i think and dr seems to think its possible too but im back there tomorrow so will see what they say as they are thinking of referring me to a pschiatrist, in fact im not sure if they did the other day or are doing tomorrow. but ive spoke to a few friends about it and they sa everyone has ups and downs even when they are depressed so not to read much into it, my ups and downs feel very extreme and i dont realise ive had an up til ive had it and im back to normal down again if that makes sense, i just dont know how they would know what the difference is, is it a fine line!? i know i have very severe depression and suicidal thoughts etc but i dont know if it could be more, i mean is the difference between severe depression and bi-polar a huge one!?

Misstired I've been under the care of the crisis team in my area - here they work until 9pm. When I was first referred they called me at about 7pm.

they called me at 6.30 but only just got online again! they are coming to assess me tomorrow, my partner has a mood on with me now saying everyone gets down there is no need for me to be so snappy all the time and pestering the doctor ive told him how low i feel i think he just doesnt get it, now hes gone up to bed in a mood so im on my own again feeling crap

MissTired hopefully when the doctor comes he will be a bit more supportive.

i hope so im so scared i cant go on like this

If you ever need someone to talk to and you don't want to post details on a public forum feel free to pm me I was in a similar place to where you are just 3 weeks ago and now things really are much better .

thankyou xx

just a quick update, the crisis team have been and i didnt feel they were at all helpful and dont feel like anything is improving at all, im still an emotional wreck and dont know what to do, my mum is back from her holiday so ive spoke to her a bit which helped a little as she said she can come with me to my gp appointment next week if i like but otherwise i feel still like crap and just the same i knw there is no miricle cure but i just cant carry on like this

So sad to hear this

they basically said it doesnt matter how much i want to end my life, i havent yet succeeded so apparently chances are i wont

Did the crisis team give you a number to call if you need them, if you get worse? that is, if you become really close to acting on any suicidal thoughts.

Would agree with others who have said bipolar 'highs' are the biggest problem in BPD, normally involves some kind of delusion or hallucination. Would also agree that how you are feeling when you are 'high' is not normal either, but perhaps 'hypomania'.

Your new anti-depressants might suit you better, but, yes they can take time to work. Think often the best advice is to take every day one step at a time, try to keep busy, if you're not sleeping you need to see GP again, because that could worsen your state of mind.

In my experience CPN (community psychiatric nurses) are the most helpful and usually have good advice on day-to-day coping. Hope things improve for you soon.

thanks arfasleep yes they gave me a number but they also said other than listen to me in that situation there isnt much else they can do! they wont give me a cpn though i dunno why, something to do with that if they did give me one it would only be for 6 weeks and then id loose my place in waiting list for counselling, ive been on waiting list for 11 months so not planning on loosing my place now if i can help it so i cant win!

is certainly frsutrating.
simialr frustrations here when i was with exP trying to use crisis team - but of course in some areas they have proved useful to people. matte rof luck/postcode lottery?

keep calling up about the counsellor wait list, make sure you have not been forgoteen or dropped off it.

well a fortnight ago the gp phoned counselling who said i was on list but wouldnt say where on list so as not to give me false hope - i want some hope though lol

just to update everyone who was kind enough to listen to me on this post and others and offer support and advice. ive been back to the gp again today and saw a different gp and he was much nicer and more understanding and my mum came with me so she could add how ive always been like from someone elses point of view.

he has referred me as an urgent referral to a psychiatrist at the hospital as he said it sounds very bi-polar like and they would be able to assess me and hopefully get me on mood stabiliser drugs asap. he reckons that ill get a letter in the next fortnight from them to arrange appointment etc. im quite nervous now and worried but i feel better that im being listened to the gp now and will see the nice gp again next time not the one who didnt listen much!