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As the name suggests, bipolar disorder represents a situation where an individual's moods swing from one pole (depression) to the opposite pole (mania). Depression is a unipolar disorder. There is only depression, even though the severity may vary and, even in the clinically depressed, the depth and duration of the depression will vary.

Bipolar disorder (formerly manic-depression) varies considerably in the intensity of the depression and the mania. The length of time spent in the depression, between the depression and the mania, and in the mania also varies considerably.

Years ago I read of a man who was a salesman. He was manic-depressive and his swings occurred every day. In other words, one day he was manic and the next day he was depressed. When he was depressed he found it hard to go to work and he certainly wasn't a successful salesman. On his manic days, however, he was quite upbeat and he made an excellent salesman. The man's problem was solved by working every other day, when he was in his manic phase.

A woman in a residential facility I worked in was manic-depressive. She had a fairly long time between her manic and depressive states. For most of the time I knew her, she was quite normal and I enjoyed talking to her. When she was depressed, her depression was quite deep and she really couldn't function normally. When she was manic, she had to be hospitalized because she would literally try to climb a light chain attached to the ceiling. She could not control herself.

There are many with bipolar disorder who function quite successfully in society, either because their disorder is mild enough or their medication is helping to smooth out the severity of the swings. Lithium is the drug of choice for bipolar disorder.

As for depression, it may get better sometimes and then get worse but depressed individuals do not experience the swings of someone with bipolar disorder. They are pretty much depressed all the time. In severe depression, medications can help decrease the depression. When combined with therapy, depression can be successfully treated and the individual can lead a relatively normal life.

No one should have to suffer from clinical depression or bipolar disorder, as there are many medical as well as alternative ways for treating both. The key is to seek help as soon as you feel you may have a problem. As with most problems, mental, emotional, or physical, early detection and treatment will always be the most successful.

Learn more about this author, Bob Trowbridge.
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