What are Depression Bipolar Disorder Manic Depression

For those who want to know:

What is Depression?

What is Bipolar Disorder?

What is Manic Depression?

What is a "Whole Person Approach?"

Depression:	Depression is characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness and social withdrawal. Sleep disturbance is also a symptom. This can take the form of early morning awakening, sleeping too much or not enough. Other symptoms may include: weight loss or gain, change in appetite, a numb or apathetic feeling (not being able to feel), difficulty concentrating, poor work performance or drop in school grades, not much interest in things that used to interest the person and sometimes thoughts of suicide. Most people have some of these symptoms on occasion. However, when several of these symptoms exist and they last for more than 2 weeks one should reach out for professional help.
Bipolar Disorder:	In depression a person goes down and when they come out of it they typically end up at the same level as when they went into it. People suffering bipolar disorder moodswings not only go down into deep depression and come back up, but they keep going up past their normal level until they are typically as high as they were low. This high side has been called mania (not such a nice name). I prefer to call it the "high side" of bipolar. The high side of bipolar is characterized by: sleeping less than normal (sometimes little or no sleep), seemingly endless energy, non-stop talking, grandiose (unrealistic) thinking (I can make $100,000 by the end of this year---while they have a $10/hr job), they get angry easily, have high phone bills and often take on too many projects. In some cases they may also become hyper-religious and even think they are a prophet or Jesus Christ. The person who suffers from bipolar disorder usually alternates between lows and highs. This can happen over months or it can happen over days--even hours for some people. There are also some people who seem to always be in the high state and not get depressed. More typically people alternate being very down to being very up. Most people have some of these symptoms on occasion. We all have ups and downs in life. However when they become extreme, and one's moods are affecting his or her life negatively as well as affecting other people around us negatively we should reach out for professional help.
Manic Depression:	Manic Depression is just another name for Bipolar Disorder. Before it was called Bipolar Disorder it was called Manic Depression. Some have also termed it Bipolar Depression.
A Whole-Person Approach:	Just browse around this website and you'll learn what "A Whole-Person Approach" is. Start with our Home Page, then Meet The Author and then our Free Tips . This will give you a good idea of what "A Whole-Person Approach" is.

Always remember---there is hope. You can get better!

A friend of mine once told me:

"Never give up, buddy. Never give up. Never give up. Never give up."

I'm glad I didn't and I hope you don't.