Can you be manic depressive but not be bi polar?

Answer:
there are different levels of bipolar...aka manic-depressive (these two words mean the same).
There is bipolar I which is the most debilitating...times with high energy, no need for sleep, lots of risk taking (manic) and times with depression symptoms. Bipolar I will cause significant impact in your life.
There is bipolar II which is similar symptoms, but not as severe. Not quite as debilitating.
There is also cyclothymic which is also similar symptoms, but to a less degree. Think of it as a spectrum from best to worst impact being cyclothymic to bipolar II to bipolar I
Someone can also be diagnosed as depressed and actually be bipolar, as the manic symptoms often don't get displayed until one is in their 30s.
Hope this helps...there are effective treatments out there.

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It is the same thing.

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No. It's the same thing.

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Bi Polar is manic depressant. Manic is one extreme and depressed is the other extreme.

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No, it's two names for the same thing, but you can be either manic or depressive alone.

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Manic depression and Bi-polar disorder are the same thing, manic depression is just an older term, so no you can't be one and not the other.

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Call it what you like but it is the same disease. Manic Depressive is the old term for bi polar.

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Same thing. I thought they were different until just now when I looked it up for you. They're two different names for the same condition.

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YES!! u can be really happy and then really sad! How can u be really happy as A MANIC DEP!UHH... u can't!

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Being manic depressive and bi polar are the same thing. What happens is the chemicals between the neurons in the synapse either become too high (manic) or too low (depressed).

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"Manic-depression" or "Manic-depressive disorder" is simply an older term for what now is called Bipolar Disorder. Same illness, different names. They like to occasionally change the names of mental disorders. For example, what used to be called "Multiple Personality Disorder" is now "Dissociative Identity Disorder".

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