I'm searching for online support groups or chat rooms for those suffering with bipolar disorder. I really need friends to talk to. I've been on medication for clinical depression for six years, and now my doctor tells me I also suffer from bipolar disorder (manic depression). This is very discouraging because I finally had a handle on the depression (I thought). Please help.

L.C.

I can't comment specifically on your situation, of course, without evaluating you personally. But if a new client told me she'd been diagnosed with bipolar disorder after taking antidepressant medication for six years, one of the first things I'd consider (and recommend discussing with the prescribing physician) is whether the antidepressant medication is causing whatever behavior is being interpreted as evidence of bipolar disorder.

When I was in graduate school in the 1980s, I was taught that when people with bipolar disorder took antidepressant medication, the antidepressant sometimes triggered mania (the elevated/euphoric mood that's one of the polar moods of bipolar disorder) in a process called "switching." (That's not to be confused with the switching among dissociated aspects of self found in dissociative identity disorder -- formerly known as multiple personality disorder -- unless, of course, the person has been misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder and actually has a dissociative disorder.) When you think about it, it makes sense: to be an ANTI-depressant, the medication must stimulate the brain (and the rest of the body, as psychiatric medications do affect the whole person, not just the mind) in some way, acting AGAINST depression.

More recently, though, in reading some of the criticisms of psychiatric medications written by psychiatrists (for example, Talking Back to Prozac by Peter Breggin, Your Drug May Be Your Problem by Peter Breggin and David Cohen, and Prozac Backlash by Joseph Glenmullen), I've realized that such mood or behavior changes could also be caused by the stimulating qualities of the antidepressant medication itself, rather than an activation of any latent mania. You may want to discuss this more thoroughly with your physician, and with your therapist.

Which brings me to another concern: You mention your "doctor," but I don't know whether you're referring to a psychologist (who usually has a Ph.D. or Psy.D.) or a physician (who has an M.D.) -- and, if an M.D. is prescribing your medication, whether he or she is a psychiatrist (the mental health specialists of medicine) or someone like an internist or primary care physician who has little formal training in psychiatry and psychology. Today, most prescriptions for psychiatric medications are written by non-psychiatrist physicians. If you are not being seen by a psychiatrist, I recommend not making any medication changes until you consult with one.

That said, contemporary psychiatrists often don't receive much training in psychotherapy, and because of their medical training are usually more oriented toward biological/chemical explanations (and treatments) for psychological problems. So I realize it's possible your treatment for depression may have consisted largely (or even solely) of medication, perhaps with some supportive consultations during medication checks with a prescribing psychiatrist. If that's the case, I'd definitely recommend you see a psychologist or another professional experienced in psychological assessment and psychotherapy, for a second opinion.

Finally, you asked about online resources for people with bipolar disorder. In addition to the message boards and chats here at iVillageHealth, you might check out some of the resources for people with bipolar disorder listed at the Mental Health Matters website.