What is Major Depression?

Good Afternoon,

Wow a busy day to say the least. I hope all is well with you. I wanted to share 3 more true or false questions with you today.

4. All you need to do to stay well is take you medication everyday?

FALSE. There is a lot more to managing bipolar disorder than taking medication. Unfortunately, even when people take their medications very consistently, other things like stress, illness, or even change of season can cause symptoms to return. When symptoms return, most people don't function at work, with their families, or with their friends. Medication can help to control the symptoms, but it doesn't fix the problems at work or home. Special symptom and life management skills are needed to fill the gaps where medication does not do the trick.

5. There is nothing you can do to stop depression or mania once it starts?

FALSE. In addition to taking medication, there are a number of things to help control the symptoms of depression and mania.

6. Sleep loss can trigger a manic episode?

TRUE. Losing consistent nighttime sleep puts people at risk for becoming manic. People who have Bipolar disorder tend to be night people more than morning people. However, staying up later than usual and getting less sleep seems to spur manic episodes or make it worse once mania has begun.

Last thing, and this is for EVERYONE, is a quick note about Depression.

What is major DEPRESSION?

Most people have suffered through episodes of depression as well as mania. There are many forms and subtypes of depression, but one that people with mental illness is called major depression. The word major isn't intended to imply that the depression is terrible or the worst possible type; it is used simply to distinguish this diagnosable depression from minor depressions that everyone else has. Clinicians usually refer to major depression in people with mental illness. They call it "unipolar depression" in people who have never had mania. "Unipolar" means "one end". This means you feel the lows of major depression.

I hope that this is informative for everyone. I also would love your feedback in the fact, should I continue to post everyday in groups about my blog? Or at this point have you saved my blog and I can just update it daily without posting it everywhere? What are your thoughts? I hope all is well!

Love to One and All,

Katie Quinn