There are several types of depression and mood disorders that individuals may experience. One type is unipolar (or one direction) depression, in which an individual experiences sadness, tears, a lack of motivation to participate in previously enjoyed activities and restlessness, as well as perhaps disturbances in the person’s eating or sleeping. However Manic Depression may include the symptoms listed above, but also may cause a person to experience the seeming opposite of depression — what are called manic episodes. During a manic episode, a person may experience exuberance, an abundance of energy, a more than average sense of well being and accomplishment and a grandiose sense of their ability to do anything they set out to do, no matter how seemingly unlikely to those around them. At other times, mania may present as anger, agitation or irritability. Often manic episodes also cause an individual to be able to go for long periods of time without the need for sleep, and to engage in impulsive activities they otherwise would not normally engage in. Counselors can assist individuals in diagnosing and treating the different types of bi-polar depression/manic depression. Often manic depression requires medication as well as counseling to treat most effectively. The following counselors work with manic depression:
Kevin Ogle, DMin, AAPC Fellow
Kristen Benson, MSW, LMSW Supervisee in Social Work