[daneyy44]

I am 14. I feel like I might be depressed or be bipolar. I have no interests in anything I used to love. I also cry a lot over stupid things. A lot of my friends always tell me they think I might be bipolar. I change moods a lot and freak out on people for no reason. I really don't know anything about depression or bipolar. So I'm just wondering how I would know if I'm depressed or if I am bipolar. Lately I have had lot of problems with my family. And just everything bad is happening to me. I also have lost my true best friend this year and haven't been able to get over it.I ask this question because I just don't want to take things to far... I just want to be a kid. I hate the things I have to deal with in my life. Like teasing and my mother hating me. What are the signs of being depressed'?

[cal823]

Symptoms of depression include
-lack of interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy
-tiredness
-insomnia
-irritability
-prolonged sadness
-lack of appetite
-morbid/suicidal thoughts
-self harm
-more that I can't remember
I was depressed, and I overcame it.

Types of depression
-REACTIVE- caused by conditions, bad event, etc
-MAJOR- no apparent cause or reason, believed to be due to chemical imbalance in brain
-MANIC- highs and lows, irrational,
-S.A.D-Seasonal affective disorder, less sunlight-more depressed
-Post Natal- after pregnancy

-Causes
-Environmental
-illness
-death/loss
-abuse (verbal, physical)
-drugs
-chemical imbalance in brain
-anything sad, traumatic, generall bad

Talk to a shrink or a counciller or a pastor/church leader or a close friend or an adult etc
You can overcome this! I'm here if you need to talk.

[J_9]

What you read above is partially correct.

The signs of depression listed above are most of the signs and not all depressed people have all of the signs and symptoms. One must have 3 or more for 2 or more weeks.

The Types of Depression described above list MANIC... this is Bipolar. You see, Bipolar is a form of depression where one has intense highs for many many days, then dips down to intense lows.

Manic Depression, now called Bipolar Disorder is a disorder of cycles that consists of very happy days then dips down to very depressed days. This is a repeating cycle.