I'm just a human!

[Just Julie]

I mean really..
I am most likely some form of depressed.. and sometimes I wonder if I'm not just human.
That my emotions are just human emotions. They're not extreme or weird or need correcting by medication. Maybe everyone else is just afraid of actually feeling something. Even if that something is pain. And if I go between depressed and happy in one day, does that make me bi-polar? Or just a human responding to situations?
So what if I can't sit still during a lecture? So what if I forget things easily, and like talking fast and furious at times? So what if I get distracted and never finish my tasks?
That's not being a productive member of society. That's not being like everyone else.
Let's give it a label. Let's make me feel like an outsider, a deviant. Let's give me chemicals to change who I am!

Maybe they just want us all to be obedient clones. Easy to handle, never unpredictable. And they'll take our money while they're at it. Stupid greedy drug companies.

[Gidig]

Hey-

Everyone has very good views on this, and you do bring up a good point. Many people are 'labeled' and given medication. Especially in the United States. This is where it becomes the patient and doctor talking a lot to decide what's best for them. And the patient should not just take whatever the doctor hands them. Look up what you're taking, and decide if that's what you feel is right for you. If you feel comfortable taking it.

Yes, there is a point of being human, and then a line crossed where it becomes depression, or bipolar disorder. (Which I'll speak about the Bipolar disorder in a minute) The problem with depression, or any other mood disorder, is that you need to get help when it is effecting your everyday life. If it is making it so you can't get your work done, can't be productive, it is past the point of being able to deal with it on your own in my opinion. A big red light for depression is lethargy, apathy and the like. Like not having the energy of doing simple tasks, like getting out of bed, brushing your teeth and so forth. Grades may go down, you may be withdrawn and unsocial. To sum it up - if it is affecting your every day life you should get help for it.

Bipolar disorder, you should look up a bit more. One stage, mania, is where you're in an elated state. Usually hyper-active, doesn't sleep much and the like. On the other side, is depression, which is the normal depression symptoms, as a few are listed above. These cycles, last days, weeks, months, and sometimes even years.
If you're having constant mood swings, a couple of times a day, I would assume it would be more depression, since it can cause mood swings too. And bipolar disorder generally doesn't cause you to switch between manic and depressed multiple times in a day.
Though I am not a medical professional, and am not trying to diagnose you, I am simply giving my opinion.

Good luck!
Maria.

[Sissa]

People usually seek professional help and take medication when they feel that something isn't right with them. You sound like you're perfectly content with the way your life is. Do you think you need help? Or do you think that life is bearable and all right the way it is?

What you described there is kind of like my personal, everyday struggle. But I, in no way, feel okay with it. I think it's problematic. It affects me negatively every day. It makes easy things hard. It makes my whole life more complicated. Why not make it easier, if you're able to? But yeah, that's just me, I like "labeling" certain things, it helps me understand them better. Anything you name could be seen as labeling. Even a doctor diagnosing you with a flu - I don't know why nobody complains about that.

If you don't feel the need of being "corrected" by medication, speak to your doctor and discuss the option of not taking the medication and maybe doing just therapy instead.

[reflection_of_who]

I think this attitude is what a lot of therapy is based on. Things like CBT and REBT. I think they make you see things for what they are...that not being able to concentrate etc is not awful, its just kind of the way things are. The feeling of being sad isn't horrific, it's an emotion that you can deal with.
The difference between you and Sissa is actually mindset and probably nothing more than that. I was reading a book about therapy and it says something a bit like you've described...and that's really really cool. I sometimes struggle with that concept though and for me it's taking lots of work to accept who I am right now.
I agree with what others have said about goin back to the docs but on the other hand whether you being on medication is a result of what you were like before you had medication..maybe things didn't seem so managable then? Maybe the feelings of not being able to concentrate and feeling so up and down all the time really were making you discontent before and the meds have made them more surmountable.