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“Few people understand [that] depression sucks the life out of you,” says C. “Desires, self-esteem, motivation, self-worth—any of those qualities that keep you going in life—disappear.” Since her 2002 bipolar diagnosis, she has gone only 18 consecutive months without depression. The guilt she feels at withdrawing from her child only intensifies her depression.
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It seems to have to do with breaking out of his work routine and structure.“Bipolar depression looks very similar to major depression, with no distinct features,” says Mc Intyre.“That being said, people with bipolar depression more often complain of symptoms that are atypical for unipolar depression, including increased eating, sleeping, and profound reduction in energy.Even on weekends, he tends to be more symptomatic.” Then there are the stress factors beyond one’s control—such as ill health or the death of a loved one.“The economy has greatly affected our finances and our work situations,” says Therese J.Moreover, people with bipolar depression also frequently complain of seasonal worsening and ‘therapeutic misadventures’ with antidepressants—that is, the depression gets worse with antidepressant therapy.” Because bipolar and unipolar depression can “look” so similar, psychiatrists must take care to get detailed family histories—and to ask patients if they have ever experienced symptoms of mania or hypomania, says Eric D.
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