Posted by Racer on August 9, 1999, at 12:44:53
In reply to All the Signs are there..., posted by Don on August 9, 1999, at 2:51:36
It's pretty common for depressives to wonder if they're bipolar. If the depression lifts for a bit, it can seem as though we're "high" for a time. Also, if the depression lifts just a little, it's easy to get desperate to do something before it comes back. I don't know how you can tell if you're bipolar or unipolar, but it's well worth discussing it with a doctor.
As for how to start out with the doctor, I always recommend writing down everything you can remember about your history. Not things like "My mother potty trained me by putting me on a little chair...", but things like "I first got depressed when I was x, and the symptoms were..." That way, you won't forget what you wanted to say. I write an outline, so that I don't get off on a tangent, and so that I don't miss anything much. Aside from any practical use this might have, it's kind of cathartic for me.
Good for you for seeking treatment, since there's no reason to go on being miserable when you don't have to. Good luck.
poster:Racer
thread:9790
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990814/msgs/9810.html