Chrisdude ... mine is a reoccuring problem too every winter i crash into major depression, always have done for as long as i can remember, i have also been wondering about bipolar lately, my life seems to follow a pattern, iv been quite a wild child in the past and have always put my relationships ending down to everyone else but now i can see its me!!! I have cheated in the past or think i dont love them anymore and push them away, nice eh??!! I have major mood swings and im irritable alot of the time, but there are times when im more than happy, my self confidence goes sky high, im more likely to drink and use drugs and spend money i havent got, and i actually want to go out and be sociable and meet new people i am a completely different person when i feel like that and i love it, much better than the depression side, apart from when i feel like that i do silly things that i later end up regretting when i am depressed, then i feel guilty! im just trying to make sense of what is going on and why i feel the way i do!
My dad is an alcoholic and he was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was younger, he doesnt have that anymore but he is still an alcoholic and hes on tablets for depression, he has always had affairs and been so bad with money and he does have times when hes more energetic and gets into a hobby only to rapidly go off the hobby like i do, so yeah as for my likes.. i like animals they understand me, i like reading self help books, listening to music, staying at home and thats about it when i feel depressed, when im not i like spending time with friends (the few iv got left) drinking, going to festivals, raves and partys, shopping and being anywhere except home! How bout you Chris what do you like doing?
As for how to help ourselves John i really dont know!! Its nice to chat to people on here though :)