Newbie fron the U.K.

Welcome to My Depression Connection web site, Babs.  You'll find this to be pretty user-friendly and if you need help navigating around, just ask.

I think you might have a better chance of getting an accurate diagnosis if you see a psychiatrist, or even a psychologist.  They have clear criteria to assess your symptoms and then you'll be more certain that you're headed in the right direction with medication.

Some of the site members here are bipolar and many have had depression for a good share of their lives, so you're in good company.  Feel free to write again and let us know how you're doing.

Hi and welcome.

I agree with Judy - perhaps it will help to try and speak with a psychiatrist. If you don't feel like you are getting the proper diagnosis you should look around (especially if who you are seeing is just waving your concerns off). It helps to know such things about ourselves, even though in the end I guess they are only just labels, simply because then we can work on them with exercises that have been recommended for our illness.

Please keep writing here, this is a great site and one that is easy to navigate (trust me I'm not great with technology/computers).

Hey there and welcome to the site.

It is confusing...you read so many things and you wonder...is this me?  I tend to look at mental illness as on a spectrum.  You reach a certain part of this spectrum and you may be diagnosed with something. 

Why don't you tell us about some of your symptoms...and what you are going through and maybe we can give you some information we have on site here to help.  But both Judy and Lyra are right in that if you are looking for a definitive diagnosis...a psychiatrist would be the person to consult with. 

No matter what your diagnosis may be...the most important thing is that you find support.  So you are in the right place for this. 

So maybe you can begin by telling us more about you and why you are worried you may have bipolar disorder.

And if there is anything you need help with...with regard to this site...please don't hesitate to ask. 

We are here for you!