Bipolar Depression: How Is It Different?
Many people who struggle with bipolar depression struggle with being misdiagnosed. This is because it can be easy to mistake bipolar depression for clinical depression. Bipolar depression is one aspect of bipolar disorder. This condition is characterized by periods of depression and mania or hypomania.
But many people who are experiencing depression episodes with alternating manic episodes do not necessarily recognize these changes as signs of bipolar disorder. These mood swings are not always easy to identify. They may attribute temporary periods of mania or euphoria to environmental circumstances. Here are a few ways in which bipolar depression can differ from clinical depression.
Intense Mood Shifts
The most prominent difference between bipolar depression and clinical depression are the dramatic, sometimes rapid, mood shifts that come with bipolar disorder. Someone experiencing bipolar depression might notice their symptoms lifting without explanation after a couple of days, weeks, or months. Shortly after, they might feel an intense surge of energy and motivation, which can cause them to act impulsively. While mania can cause people to make risky decisions and engage in harmful behaviors, it can also feel like “relief” from depression.
Duration of Symptoms
People with bipolar depression can experience mood shifts that do not last for very long. This can vary from person to person, but sometimes, these shifts only go on for about a week or two. However, these episodes can also last for months at a time. On the other hand, someone with clinical depression may struggle with symptoms of lethargy, sadness, and purposelessness for long periods of time without any change. They may experience a “steady state” with more mild fluctuations in mood.
False Signs of “Healing”
It can take quite some time for someone with bipolar depression to figure out the correct diagnosis because manic episodes can make it seem as though they’ve “healed” from depression. If depression entails a lack of energy, low moods, and little to no motivation, mania can feel like a completely different state of being. Someone who is in a manic episode might assume that there’s no way they were just dealing with a depressive episode because they feel so energetic and outgoing in the moment. Therefore, they may not seek help when they need it.
Struggling to Follow Through on Commitments
A person with bipolar depression might make certain commitments or start projects when they’re in a manic episode. They may feel as though they can take on the world, and as a result, they’ll bite off more than they can chew. But when another depressive episode sets in, they’ll give up on these commitments and find themselves losing the drive necessary to manage big undertakings.
Feelings of guilt and shame can set in. They might feel bad for letting people down or giving up on their goals. Additionally, they may question what went wrong, since their perspective changed so quickly.
Confusion and Lack of Clarity
Many people with clinical depression do struggle to recognize the warning signs and receive a diagnosis. However, bipolar depression can be particularly confusing and difficult to treat. This is because the changes in moods and symptoms can be so unexpected for people with this condition. They might think they’re experiencing “mood swings” just like anybody else, and that these emotional changes are not anything to worry about.
Furthermore, they may assume that because they have energetic manic periods, they couldn’t possibly be depressed. The lack of clarity prevents people from getting help.
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Are you struggling with symptoms of bipolar depression? Working with a therapist can help. Reach out to us to discuss your options for booking an appointment for bipolar disorder counseling.