More than just depression??!

More than just depression??

I was diagnosed with major depression four years ago.. The problem is that I feel like there's something missing.. My parents have suspected I'm bipolar for years, but I feel like I'm depressed most days. I also have this really bad problem with my emotions.. like, I wont verbalize any of this, but I get so mad at everyone that says something to slightly offend me.I always feel like people are disrepecting me. I'm so worried that people I love are making fun of me behind my back. Sometimes I wonder if I'm crazy because nobody else seems to struggle with their emotions like I do. I feel like everyone takes advantage of me and my personality, yet I also have this horrible fear that the people I love are going to abandon me and I'll be alone. Please understand that I'm not a mean person, I'm just really struggling wtih my emotions and wondered if anyone else felt this way and could offer a suggestion. I've also been in treatment for an eating disorder recently if that helps.

In Bipolar Disorder, particularly Bipolar II (only hypomania) this bubbling anger and irritability is very common, particularly in a mixed (manic and depressed at the same time) mood. You need to go tell your story to a psychiatrist if you do not already have one and see what they think. Here is some bipolar information that I hope will help. Take care of yourself.

http://behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/...
A. A distinct period of persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting throughout at least 4 days, that is clearly different from the usual non depressed mood.

B. During the period of mood disturbance, three (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted (four if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree:

(1) inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
(2) decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep)
(3) more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
(4) flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing
(5) distractibility (i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli)
(6) increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation
(7) excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., the person engages in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments)

C. The episode is associated with an unequivocal change in functioning that is uncharacteristic of the person when not symptomatic.

D. The disturbance in mood and the change in functioning are observable by others.

E. The episode is not severe enough to cause marked impairment in social or occupational functioning, or to necessitate hospitalization, and there are no psychotic features.

F. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication, or other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).
Note: Hypomanic-like episodes that are clearly caused by somatic antidepressant treatment (e.g., medication, electroconvulsive therapy, light therapy) should not count toward a diagnosis of Bipolar II Disorder.

Reprinted with permission from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth Edition. Copyright 1994 American Psychiatric Association

Here are a couple of free screenings for Bipolar Disorder:
Goldberg Bipolar Screening Quiz http://psychcentral.com/quizzes/bipolarq...
Free screenings at Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance:
http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/pageserv...

Bipolar Disorder Internet Resources:

Good Information than anyone can read:
From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/bipolar_dis...
About.com: http://bipolar.about.com/

Support, Resources and Information:
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: http://www.dbsalliance.org
National Allisance for the Mentally Ill: http://www.nami.org
Bipolar Significant Others http://www.bpso.org/
Pendulum per support: http://www.pendulum.org/

Good Sources of Information:
National Institute of Mental Health: Bipolar Disorder http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar...

Medline Plus: Bipolar Disorder http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bipol...

MayoClinic.com: Bipolar Disorder http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar...

Johns Hopkins Medicine: Bipolar Disorder http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/epigen/bp...

emedicine from WebMD: Bipolar Affective Disorder: http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic229.ht...

National Guidline Clearinghouse: Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with bipolar disorder (this includes the regulatory drug alters and warnings) http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary...

WebMD: Bipolar DIsorder http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder...

PsycCentral:
Goldberg Bipolar Screening Quiz http://psychcentral.com/quizzes/bipolarq...
Bipolar Disorder http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx20.h...
Online Resources http://psychcentral.com/resources/bipola...