Mood Articles and (One) Video
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"All too frequently we find ourselves alone, shunned by the world around us and lacking the strength to make our presence felt." |
Depression Information, Bipolar Disorder Information
Knowledge is Necessity. One quick look at the menu below will tell you that depression and bipolar disorder are terms rather than realities. Yes, we need to know all about the fine points of diagnostic categories, but far more vital is context. Your so-called depression may track more like bipolar. Conversely, if you have bipolar you are likely to be depressed way more than you are manic. Similarly, you are certain to have a lot more going on than just mood.
If you came here looking for info on depression, I strongly urge you to read the articles on bipolar disorder as well, plus the mood spectrum articles. This is because there is a good chance that your doctor may have misdiagnosed you with clinical depression when you may have bipolar or something going on in the mood spectrum.
Most individuals with bipolar were first misdiagnosed with depression and put on the wrong treatments. We don't want this to happen to you.
Note: the first four articles on depression are meant to be read as a series.
Enough talking. The first step in living well involves knowing thyself. The articles below will get you started.
The pic to illustrate Mood is a close-up of La Tour's "Magdalen at Night." The woman seems to question her very existence. We have all been there.
Depression
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Your doctor confirms what you already know. Now what? |
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"Depression" doesn't begin to explain what is going on. |
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Your depression didn't just come out of nowhere. |
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There is a lot more to your depression than just depression. |
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Has atypical grown too atypical to be clinically useful? |
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Don't let the term mild depression fool you. |
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Many of us have decidedly unsunny dispositions. |
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Ignorance gives this illness far more power than it deserves. |
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Your definitive depression cheat sheet. |
Bipolar
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Bipolar - Really a Cycling Illness Episodes get all the attention, but ... |
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When our runaway brains are untethered to reality. |
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Very common condition, very little knowledge. |
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Bipolar - Sharpening the Diagnostic Picture Does the DSM provide an accurate picture? The short answer is no. |
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Bipolar can speed up or slow down time. |
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Dr Kraepelin, tear down this wall. |
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Far more pervasive and disabling than mania. |
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This so-called minor form of bipolar is no laughing matter. |
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Hard to define, even harder to treat. |
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Confused about your illness? So are the experts. |
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What the hell is it? Does anyone really know? |
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Your definitive bipolar cheat sheet. |
The Mood Spectrum
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Now that you're familiar with the DSM-IV, forget everything you've read. |
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Where unipolar meets bipolar. |
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Still depressed? Maybe you're being treated for the wrong illness. |
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The True Meaning of Manic-Depression It actually means something different than bipolar disoder. |
Other Stuff Going On
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From suicide to reckless behavior to mental illness. |
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How you manage your anxiety is critical to managing your mood. |
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Where you find depression or bipolar you are bound to find anxiety. |
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Mood Meets Alcohol and Substance Use Are we talking about craving or self-medicating or both? |
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Even Mother Teresa had her off-days. |
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Borderline Personality Disorder A mood disorder may be the least of your problems. |
The Thought Spectrum
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There is way more to a mood disorder than just mood. |
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Stressed brains have to work a lot harder in order to think. |
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How fatigue, lack of concentration, and mood connect. |
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ADD or Bipolar - Paying Attention Are you being treated for the wrong condition? |
Trauma and PTSD
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Your major challenge may be resolving your own traumas. |
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Just because you haven't experienced combat doesn't mean your trauma isn't real. |
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Timing is everything. |
