Does it run in the Family?? Bi-polar & Depression?

Bipolar is considered to be the most genetic of the mental illnesses, and depression is often diagnosed in the same family. Best thing to do is mention to your psychiatrist this new information and ask him/her to screen you for bipolar. Taking an antidepressant without a mood stabilizer is not recommended for folks with bipolar, so it is important that your doctor know about your cousin.

I'll give you my depression self-help tips too. maybe they will help you take the edge off (PRINT THEM OUT)

If your depression seems to be worse in winter, try to get more sun. You could have seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or your depression could have a seasonal component. A light box is good (10,000 Lux light intensity at about 20” - about $300 online, don't get it at a local store, they will charge more, don't need full spectrum). Since I will always have bipolar, I have put in extra windows, make sure I spend a lot of time in southern rooms, painted the walls peach & yellow. I even have a skylight ( it helps!!!!!)

Try meditation tapes like progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery. They may seem silly, but they work!! They help reduce stress, and therefore depression. See The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook for some examples.

***** #1 MOST HELPFUL TIP Go out with friends, and if you don't have any, find a club to join and MAKE yourself go until you actually look forward to it. “Isolating” makes depression worse.

Exercise at least 1/2 hour a day, and anytime you feel depressed. Exercise is a great mood stabilizer and cuts down on anxiety.

If your depression makes it hard to sleep, here are "sleep hygiene" tips. Go to bed and get up the same time each day, even weekends. Don't use your bedroom to watch TV, read or use the computer-just use the room as a bedroom. Don't do stuff that revs you up right before bed, like exercising and using the computer. Computer screen and TV light wakes you up. Use that last hour to wind down-Take a bath? Make the bedroom very dark, cover up the clock so the light doesn't shine at you. Use a noise machine (makes wave sounds etc.) to cover up disturbing sounds. Avoid caffeine in afternoon and evening. Try soundsleeping.com for free relaxing sounds downloads for your MP3 player.

Put a lot of colorful, happy things around the house and let the sun in. Do nice things for yourself. Make a list of things that make you happy. On my list: bread fresh from the oven, Fireworks popping on a warm summer evening, the first fireflies of the season, the scent of Jergen's cherry almond lotion, the crisp sound of a saltine cracker breaking, fresh sheets on the bed, standing in the boat flicking topwater lures onto the water, etc. Use all your senses and read that list when you are breaking down

Work on time management if being overwhelmed and late for things is getting to you. Cut back on other responsibilities so you can spend more restorative time with friends and family. Ask for help if depression makes it hard to keep up with chores.

You got a significant other? Extra physical touch is helpful. Many people are touch deprived, so hold hands more, hug more, give shoulder rubs, etc. A pet is good, too, if your home situation allows you to get one. (don't if you can't commit to it for 15 years)

Make sure you are NOT listening to sad music! It is so easy to fall into doing that, but it makes things worse! Listen to upbeat stuff. Do the same with movies.

Distract yourself when the hurting is worst. Read a novel, watch a comedy, go out with friends, play cards, play a video game, whatever is mentally all-consuming. This is a VERY helpful tip that works!!

Volunteer for things. Research shows that helping others makes you feel better about yourself. It also would keep you more involved in the community. Many people find comfort being involved in religion, as well.

For chronic depression sufferers, go to mentalhealthrecovery.com and order a WRAP (wellness & recovery action plan) booklet – this info helps you write up your own daily plan to maintain mental health and a checklist on what to do in a crisis. It's $10. Also consider filling out a psychiatric advance directive to protect your rights and aid psychiatrists if you have a crisis. Links to your state's free PAD can be found at bazelon.org.

I have severe psychiatric symptoms from bipolar disorder and PTSD and I am able to feel somewhat better using these tricks, because the meds have not worked for me. If I didn't do these things, I'd be dead. So please try some of these tips. Also, research shows that both pills & counseling are more effective than either alone. Cognitive Behavioral therapy is the gold standard for depression treatment.

Over the last five years I had begun to have increasingly withdraw into a downward spiral of depression..

But now with the method I can fully focus my energy and thoughts into a decisive line on how to make my life better constantly. And it works like magic! I'm beginning to attract people to me once again and things have just been looking up since then.

Helping you eliminate depression?

Both disorders are very much said to have genetic components. Many people on my mom's side of the family have been diagnosed with depression, including me.

Mention all your family's diagnoses to your psychiatrist, it'll help him provide a diagnosis and treatment plan for you.

Yes, it can run in families - either due to possibly genetics and or negative parental upbring