Is this depression or something else?

[hey22]

what is it if you are happy on a day to day basis, but then sometimes out of the blue, a person gets "a black cloud" over them and they feel emotional numb.  Is this depression?  The "black cloud" last from 1-3 days max and the rest of the time the person is happy and living a great life.  They are very motivated at work, so i'm not sure what he is going thru. If you could please help me narrow this down...or is it bipolar???
I look forward to hearing from you.

[peter20962]

Hi hey22, I am a postgraduate in Medicine and Psychology (currently involved with research into mental illness) and I will be happy to do my best in answering your question. Firstly it would be nice to know who we are talking about here. Is this for your friend, or a relative, or you? Suffering bouts of depression is nothing to be ashamed about. When people have heart problems they need help from a doctor because their heart isn't functioning properly. Like the heart, the brain is just an organ and yours or your friends brain simply isn't functioning properly and you need help. It is very hard to diagnose this with such little information. You say it has been going on since childhood- what age? Why does the depression start? You may not even know this answer - but it is very possible for people to get into bad thinking habits as a child that stay with them until they are adults. (this is what cognitive behavioural therapy treats) It is HIGHLY UNLIKELY you are suffering bipolar, people with bipolar would have either seeked medical help by now or taken their own life it is a serious manic state and you seem to be able to function well for an extended period of time - which is more synomous with depression. You need to explain more because it's impossible to really give an answer to such little information.

[hey22]

This is happening to someone I know and I would like to understand it more.
They are in their late 30's and its been happening since childhood.

[therese83]

Depression I would guess, coming and going. Are you young ? Is it just starting ?


I was like this for many years  20 + before getting hit by major depression that I could not ignore for one minute.