Bipolar without mania do you have it

[granadagirl]

I’ve had anxiety/depression on/off 35 years

I’m starting to question myself again
If I have more than GAD/depression
As gp says
Not sure if I ever got disgnoses if psych

So,
If your bipolar (depression on/off)
But no mania part?
What are your symptoms ?
What do you take for it ?

Any info would help

I didn’t think you could have bipolar without some form of mania?

Have you seen a psychiatrist?

I have a diagnosis of type 2 bipolar disorder. When I was diagnosed the psychiatrist told me that the mania has to be present for a bipolar diagnosis. Having said that, I have had very few episodes of mania, literally maybe 2 or 3 but numerous (far too many) episodes of terrible depression and apparently that is quite common with type 2.

I’ve been reading there’s something called unipolar
I haven’t got a psych, my area as strict criteria to get to see a psych and apparently I don’t fit it!!!!
Suicidal, high anxiety, 11mths depression with very little rest bite

I get recurring anxiety/depression at least every 2/3 years there abouts
The older I get, the hard it becomes to shake off (60)
Feel got partner he’s just retired
We should be enjoying ourselves now at our time after working 30 and 40 years

The day is nearly over , thank god
Only to start with another shit one tomorrow

What are your symptoms?

Other that the reoccurring depression.

Bipolar has to include mania of some sort or ta not bipolar. Unipolar is just another name for depression, you only get the down pole not the up pole (mania) to make bipolar. Depression can persist and be on and off, but it’s still depression.

That's not bipolar.

I was married to someone with bipolar.

Depression is still extremely shit though OP and you'll find that people pussyfoot around people with bipolar in comparison to supporting people who suffer bog standard depression... which is actually harder to treat imo

I have bipolar two my psych told me that I have highs but not as manic as bipolar 1. I myself feel more productive I don't stop and I don't sleep much.

Hypomanic rather than full on mania

My mum has had bi-polar for most of her adult life and for most of that time was misdiagnosed as having depression. The depressive episodes are much more frequent than the manic ones and also more prolonged and way more severe.

I don't think the mania would even be particularly noticeable to people who don't know her particularly well or only came into contact with her casually during an manic episode. It would just come across as being positive and full of energy.

Depression is still extremely shit though OP and you'll find that people pussyfoot around people with bipolar in comparison to supporting people who suffer bog standard depression... which is actually harder to treat imo

^^ I think that this is true - there is an overall impression that unipolar depression is somehow less bad than bipolar depression which I am not sure is accurate.

OP, what has/have you and/or your GP tried?