I’m mostly interested in responses from people who have personally experienced a positive response to treatment. Everyone who knows someone with bipolar or who experiences it themselves knows that the “low” cycle of bipolar can be literally a killer, and many will not take medications because of some of the nasty side effects they have. Which, if any, of the current medications or other treatments have provided you or your loved one with measureable relief with the least negative side effects?

How quick can they switch from mania to depression and vice versa? I’ve been reading articles and none of them really explain…
I guess I’m not asking properly. Say someones in a depressive state for a couple weeks, is it possible for them, within a week to be in a manic state?

Things such as a relationship breakup, the death of a loved one, and stress at work are all conditions that can cause depression. But do bipolar people in these circumstances have a more severe reaction?

I was recently diagnosed with Bipolar II and I’m taking Lamictal. My psychiatrist told me not to frequently drink while taking Lamictal. I rarely drink, but last night I had a margarita (one shot Jose Cuervo). I’ve been feeling wonderful lately, but today I’m feeling like my old depressed self. Could it possibly be from the alcohol even though I’m taking Lamictal? I heard alcohol may induce rapid cycling, meaning it might have caused me to become depressed again. Does this make sense or does anyone have any information about Bipolar II and alcohol?

Manic Depressive Illness, also known as Bipolar Disorder, is not something that you experience once and then snap out of. It is with you all your life, can make your life an emotional roller coaster of hell, and is something you have to learn to live with.

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I’ve tried many medications over the years with no positive results for anxiety and depression symptoms. I’m now trying this medication in the hope that it will work in a positive manner very soon like maybe in a week or two.

Among all types of depression manic depressive disorder or bipolar disorder is by far the least common. Nonetheless, according to recent studies and depending on the interpretation of the results of these studies about 1.3 to 6.4 percent of the population can be classified as having manic depressive disorder. This type of depression is characterized by mood swings between severe emotional lows (the depressive state) and highs (the manic state. In general manic depressive disorder is categorized as either Bipolar Type I or Bipolar Type II – the former defined by mania in its extreme form, the latter characterized by a less extreme expression of mania called hypo-mania.

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My roommate has become a “Rocket Man” with manic behavior and I am stuck here with his mania. As I am bipolar myself, I am aware of the symptoms, but don’t know how to handle this guy.