[ Home | FAQ-Related Q&As | General Q&As | Answered Questions ]

Search the Q&A Archives

...Bipolar 2 Disorder?

<< Back to: Bipolar Disorder FAQ v 1.1 (1 of 4)

Answer by pattyann4500
Submitted on 4/5/2004
Rating:	Rate this answer:
Being BiPolar for about 30 years, I have come to understand the constant ups and downs of it. I am a rapid cycler, therefore I must be ever vigilant to my changes. Some BiPolar have violent moods such as anger, irritability, rage, and then the deep depression comes in with suicidal tendencies as well a desires to cause one pain. Thankfully, I get extremely happy and annoying when I'm manic, and close to suicidal in my depression. My medication is stabilized now, so I don't have to worry much about my moods except the hypo mania that occurs in cyclic spurts. My BiPolar illness is coupled with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) due to childhood trauma and a distressful marriage. That seems to be settling well most of the time. But then it does show its ugly head, it aggravates my depression unless I am ever vigilant and cautious. I hope this helps someone out there. Pattyann

Answer by 30 year old woman
Submitted on 4/26/2004
Rating:	Rate this answer:
the 14 year old.... I am just realizing that i had become "bipolar" at 12. my parents, under the impression it was just human and facts of life - but rate yourself, think of a line and above it being "happy" and below it "sad"... over days put a mark where you feel you are... if you are bipolar, you will almost never be on the line...now that i am on meds, i am able to look back... pictures of me at 11 differ greatly from those of me at 12, 13, and so on.... "what's wrong?" "nothing" I really didn't think anything was wrong, reasonably, but felt there was... just angry and sad, never normal. looked grumpier than i felt and sadder than i was mostly... if you are able to focus in school, i mean crystal clear, really focus in school, if you are a girl, and your periods don't upset you too much (pay attention to these and how they effect those around you) then don't do meds, but once your moods start effecting your loved ones, begin to worry, medications are NOT evil, and they WILL NOT make you a zombie if your doctor (M.D.) is working with you monthly. I'm more focused than ever (It has taken a year to figure out the right drugs) and wish i had this opportunity when I was your age. I fought physically with my father for no reason, who had to restrain me until I was 23. Hated my mother who loved me. My 8 years of college may have been only 4. best to you. You are fortunate that doctors are figuring things out. Get into the arts... you will be very welcome there.

Answer by Mike
Submitted on 5/29/2004
Rating:	Rate this answer:
Well, I am almost 14 years old and we believe i am BiPoLaR 2. I am a very rapid cycler and i have almost killed myself during the depressive episodes and the manic ones as well. When im depressed, i will sleep a lot, hate to think, move, or even eat... i will become suicidal most of the time... and i will also hate the light, and sometimes, have a uknown fear. When im manic, i cannot have conversations, i will sometimes i have the feeling that i cannot be injured and i will jump of the roof or something and my parents have thought about taking me to the hospital a few times. I have yet to see a true therapist about these problems and they r getting more severe as i get older. If anyone has any idea how to keep from having these episodes, that would be wonderful. thanks.

Answer by WendySue
Submitted on 6/16/2004
Rating:	Rate this answer:
I have always had problems mentally. I was a very quiet child and felt extreme guilt about everything. When I was a teenager, I was so depressed that I became Anorexic and Bulimic. After a few years I got better. Then after I left for college, I developed severe insomnia. I started seeing a therapist near my school. I was frequently anger/violent and depressed. I cried all the time, happy, sad, angry.. jealous.. everything. I was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 this past year. My grandmother was Bipolar (manic-depressive it was called in her day) and one of my Aunts is also Bipolar. I am ashamed to tell people now. I haven't even told my boyfriend. And as the seasons change, I think it becomes very apparent that my moods change with them. In the spring/summer, I seem to be more manic (angry/irritable/violent) but also my depressed states are intensified. I have the most control over myself fall/winter. It may seem weird but at this point I'm used to being weird. It has been so long since I have actually told the truth about myself. I am just getting over another bout with Anorexia and the thing I haven't told anyone at all is that I am becoming quite a avid Bulimic. I don't even know who I am anymore. I seem to be all labels. Maybe that is the real problem with us. We become what they tell us we are. I don't even care if anyone reads this ever. It was just so nice to be honest, for once. Maybe I could even stop lying to my therapist someday.

Answer by NotSure23
Submitted on 6/29/2004
Rating:	Rate this answer:
Hi, My Mom is currently in a mental hospital here in South Africa. They have just diagnosed her with Bipolar 2. She has had these crazy spells for years now and us as kids have had to deal with her abusive manner, guilt trips and depressive moods. She is convinced that I am also Bipolar 2. I do get irritable and annoyed from time to time but I can't say that I get into a deep depression and get crazy. I do get angry spells and "Fly off the Handle" from time to time. Would this be considered manic?? I am deeply worried about my temper though for the sake of my relationship with my girlfriend but I am also afraid that my mom is just saying these things because of the above symptoms that I experience. I feel that it is brought on by frustrations with her. But on the other hand, I sometimes find myself getting very angry for things that are not such a big deal. Things that other people say they wouldn't get so "Passionate" about like I do. I am really worried that I am a problem for others especially my girlfriend and I don't want to jeopardise my future because of this. If I can change it now then I might still have a chance for a happy life in the future when it starts to get really bad. How do I confirm that I have Bipolar 2??? Can Someone please help..............

Answer by patricia
Submitted on 7/15/2004
Rating:	Rate this answer:
Melinda, No it won't go away. And it is not brought on by abuse. BiPolar is neurological, but many people who have had overly-stressful situations in their lives do seem to have become bipolar. But as I said, it is neurological. There is an area in the brain that is like a gully. The brain's neurotransmitters (called synapses) must reach from one side of this gully to the other for the brain to work normally. Although the BiPolar will not go away, there are many good medications that can help you to live a normal life. Your doctor will work with you over time to find the correct medication for you. BiPolar 1 is the best if you must have one. We are happy to the point of others thinking we may be on drugs. We find thrills in everything. We may during that manic time be less responsible sexually, with our money, with our loved ones demanding that we be the center of attention. When we are depressed, we can feel worthless, suicidal, or just sad to the point where we may not be able to function well in society or even in our own homes. BiPolar 2 is different in that a person may become violent with others. They may destroy things they normally love and not understand why. There may be delusions and a withdraw from reality if medications are not used regularly. For either 1 or 2, DO NO EVER go off your medications without the doctor's orders. God Bless and best wishes.

Answer by mortine lebonn
Submitted on 9/8/2004
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
The Australian HSC student might like to hear that I did Eng ext2 last year with undiagnosed bipolar 2 and blitzed it because I did it at the last minute, surfing a rainbow of hypomania! This year has been terrible until just recently when my meds have worked out - I've had to drop out of a law degree, stop working and try to control my terrifying bouts of violent anger with self-harm, depression with chocolate and euphoria with more euphoria. But I understand that bipolar 2 is more temperamental and less neurological than 1, and was told that my problems were triggered by a mixture of biology and childhood trauma. But now the meds are finally working, and I'm confronting my apparently traumatic childhood, things are looking up! I start uni again next year, and my mind is so much clearer, I'm at ease and able to cope with my independence one step at a time. You know, I'm only 18 years old, but I feel a lot older.

Answer by renee
Submitted on 9/23/2004
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I always thought I had ADD. I finally went to see someone, and she said I had classic adult ADD. Then, near the end of our session I told her of my severe PMS symptoms and my fear of antidepressants because of my mother's adverse reaction to Prozac. She then asked me a few questions and decided I was probably bipolar 2 and that my mother was probably also bipolar. She said I needed to be on a mood stabilizer before taking anything for the ADD. I was wondering if I have both disorders or not. I'm confused because at first she said I was classic ADD. Are there any link or similarities between the two different diagnosis? Has anyone else had similar symptoms or experience?

Answer by smith
Submitted on 12/8/2004
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Melinda, don't be discouraged. I was just diagnosed with Bipolar 2 as well. I think I fought it for a long time--the diagnosis, that is. But I knew there was something out-of-whack in my body chemistry, something more than PMS or, now, perimenopause. I don't know how one can say that type 1 is any better or worse than type 2. They're different. My understanding is that type 1 is more overt, and it's easy to misdiagnose type 2 because the episodes are less extreme. But they're still there, and they still affect everyone around us and (mostly) ourselves. I felt for years that I would never change, I could never be totally in control of my feelings and responses. But now I have hope that my life will even out, I will gain self-control, and if it takes daily medication to do it, so be it. It's a biochemical condition (ILLNESS, my doctor says), so stands to reason chemicals will (hopefully) correct it! Be encouraged. It won't ever go away, but it is treatable, and I'm grateful for that. Getting someone qualified to really explain the biochemical situation for you will probably help.

Answer by Lana
Submitted on 12/18/2004
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I am 28 years old and was just diagnosed with Bipolar 2 a few months ago when my latest suicide attempt was almost successful and I had to be revived. As you can imagine, knowing that something was wrong with me but not knowing what it was was hell for me. The temper tantrums, extreme rage, extreme depression, suicide attempts, and drug and alcohol abuse was unbearable for my family and me. Being so impulsive and not thinking about the consequences of my actions has caused me financial and relationship problems. However, my doctors found the right combination of meds and now I am a completely different person and responding very well to them. I used to be terrified of myself and now I might have an actual chance at leading a normal life.

Answer by luvmylife05
Submitted on 1/27/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Im bipolar, which one i havent ever asked, tx with lith and welbutrin, both i hate to take. Hubby takes about four diff meds daily, and faithfully. He cycles rapidly in one conversation when he does converse. I have step son of 15 with it, and my ten yr old out of six kids with bipolar on two meds, and currently not on any since the age of 7. It is possible to be bipolar as child. huge difference with meds like night and day for my ten yr old. Me too!!! I would say a manic person more so then depressed, but when depressed oh boy its pretty ugly complete with cutting. im thinking hubby is more the depressive state. I rarely see any highs with him unless he crashes to hospitalization point. Then comes out all happy and such flying really and will last for about a month then back to the depressive state. Like i said ME, im the positive upbeat irritating one of the bunch. I laugh outloud and try ot have fun everywhere, but im also good at isolating myself for lengths of time for no reason. I am an anxious person. Spent yrs as adult anorexic and constant state of worry. Now i clearly understand the life i grew up with, how i was and the why i was that way. So so miserable. I wish someone would have dx me back then thirty yrs ago. Maybe i would have had a real friend and not been so bad in life. However, i went thru the superwoman times and have accomplished wayyy to much in my adult yrs. been there done that and im tired is my motto. Its all weird, but i can honestly say that i have lived a full life at only 42 yrs of age. Its been at its best in the last yr with the right meds. thanks for listening '

Answer by MelissaJelissa
Submitted on 2/22/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
My first time considering being evaluated and possibly being medicated I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depression. My doctor also said that there were signs of Bipolar II disorder but he was going to treat me for the depression and anxiety and we would talk more later about the bipolar possiblity. Bipolar II is different in the sense that your highs and lows aren't as noticeable but they are still there... I was put on lexapro and two weeks after starting the medication had my first real live manic episode. I didn't sleep more than 10 hours in a 9 day span. I spent all of my savings, dropped out of high school and started hanging out around a lot of drugs, all of this in NINE DAYS! because I was forced into a manic episode and felt so good and carefree that I was entirely focused on having fun and keeping myself extremely busy with possibly dangerous things. My doctor saw me on the 9th day of my manic episode and told me that I actually could not take the lexapro and I argued for nearly an hour about how it helped. My prescription was taken from me before I had a chance to get it filled and all of my sample pills were flushed down the toilet. I was fine for a day or two after that but for the past week I have been on the worst low of my life. I grew up dealing with depression with nothing but myself to not fall too far into it but NEVER have I felt anything like this low. My advice for anyone who thinks that they may have Bipolar II is to study it, look into it and make sure that if it is a possibility at all NEVER to take antidepressants unless having been seen by enough doctors who agree on what you need. To be Bipolar II is handleable but there is a reason that there are two different types. If you are not used to the ups and downs, anything that will bring you up enough to have any form of manic episode, I promise, will give you just as great of a low. It's unexplainable how I feel due to the drastic change. It was always there but never have I dealt with it on this level.

Answer by robere
Submitted on 3/21/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
What is bipolar 2? I am 58 years old and was recently diagnosed with bipolar 2. Finally! I have spent most of my life feeling weird, depressed, moody, angry, etc. without knowing why. I have been hospitalized twice for near suicide with the last episode resulting in the diagnosis of bipolar 2 with major depression. I have been married and divorced 4 times, and have alienated many other women in relationships that were doomed from the start. It took me many years to get my 4 year degree even though my IQ has been measured in the top 1%. My career situations were usually okay until this last year of unemployment. But being diagnosed is a blessing. I finally know what is happening to me, and there is hope of maintaining my life and sanity with diligence and some major drugs. What is bipolar 2? You tell me. I still feel weird.

Answer by Cookie
Submitted on 4/26/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I have 2 doctors that think I may be bipolar HOWEVER, I do NOT suffer with the symptoms of depression (one doc says I do and one KNOWS I don't) except for seasonal depression. I have my "downs" but it's more like a catatonic state I go through. Then I have hypomania also. I am taking some meds they use for bipolar such as amitriptylin, xanax and valium which helps some...the valium seems to bring me to a more "normal" level and I am able to keep things under control better. I encourage emails with GOOD advice if anyone can help me at all. I just don't know what to do. I am an artist and all the antidepressants do is take away ALL of my creativity. I take them for seasonal depression only (which I KNOW I have) and therefore, no work in the winter. I TRY to keep my chin up but it's really hard some days and I'll go so far as to keep myself IN the house until any episodes are gone. I also TRY not to hurt anyones feelings by what I do or say and that doesn't always work either. I feel like I am being pulled at both ends here. I believe I have felt like this as far back as I can remember and Lord knows my family is messed up enough! Email is montanacookie55@yahoo.com and please put BIPOLAR in the subject line or it will probably get deleted. I wish all of you the best with your physical and mental health and God bless. Thanks for the option to "vent"!

Answer by rarbie
Submitted on 6/5/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
i have rapid cycling bipolar disorder. I remember the first time I wanted to die was when I was 15. it took me 15 years to seriously attempt suicide. It was he week before my 30th birthday and I had become sick of unrelenting depression, unemployment and not being like my peers who were all having their first babies. I am a Physiotherapist and am keen to hear how other professionals temper their moods at work?(I also have a anxiety disorder) I am finally back at work part time 7.6 hours a week. Unfortunately I have tried all mood stabilisers including litium, epilem, carbamazapine, tegretol and lamotrigine and am either allergic or they don't stabilise me. I currently take avanza, lexapro and seroquel for my manic times. I refuse to go back on olanzapine as i gained 15 kilos and was even more depressed. I am now at my goal weight and swear by my morning walk which I go on whatever mood I'm in. Any advice would be welcome. Cheers Rarbie!

Answer by Cecile
Submitted on 6/8/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Hello all! I am 35 and have been diagnosed with clinical depression. I have had depressive episodes that seem to cycle more frequently as I age. I have experienced irritability, rages, sleeplessness, and some real ups with a lot of talking and being the clown of a group along with long bouts of depression. Of course I only seek help when I am really down. I have discussed these episodes with professionals, but seem to get diagnosed with depression only. Of course I only seek help when I am really down. I have been in therapy 3 different times and have tried antidepressants, too. I went off of the antidepressants because I didn't feel like me when on them. I feel helpless and confused.There appears to be psychological problems on my mother's side of the family, but no one seeks help. I keep wondering if it is bipolar 2. Any one have any advice?

Answer by h347h
Submitted on 8/30/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I have yet to go to the psychologist and be diagnosed but my family and I have suspected for a rather long time now that I have some form of Bipolar disorder, minus the hallucinations. And it does run in the family, my Uncle was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 disorder. The imbalance in my head, seemed to occur after one particular event. A few years ago when I was about 15 years old, I smoked too much marijuana. I had severe anxiety attacks for months after and felt depressed for about 8-12months experiencing onsets of the extreme highs, fast floods of thoughts/ideas and the "increased self importance" mind frame. Also, my concentration and memory after this seemed to fail me. I can barely cope with life now, I am very awkward socially, my school work has crashed and burnt (I used to receive top percents in the state for tests) and I push away anyone who tries to get close to me. The trouble is, my brain dips into other symptoms of other mental illnesses also, ranging from tourette syndrome and epilepsy - I say "dips" because I will have about half the symptoms of each disorder. With ties between epileptic tendencies (muscle spasms and brief losses of consciousness) tourette's (irritation -the itchy thing-, social withdrawal, a.d.d, mild ticks). And it's all been getting worse lately. I'm very confused about all the mental troubles I am having. I feel like there is a bath of water in my head, slowly filling up and I can't find the plug. A sort of pressure. My highs and lows are often changed by things like alcohol consumption (alcoholism also runs in the family), level of tiredness, film and music (which, some how, trigger a sense of nostalgia leading to either temporary bliss and a false sense of spirit flight or depression), peer interaction. If not the above, the more common switch for me is just TIME. As my mania can be either ephemeral or last quite a few weeks before I will alternate to my low. So I can't say that I am a rapid cycler or not, it just changes. I often use the "bliss, spirit flight and flood of ideas" to create music, writing or paintings. Because I am good at expressing myself I can work up an idea of what my head is going through and come up with a metaphorical picture or description of it. This is when I feel that I have some sort of "godly" ability and increased sense of self importance. Like my understanding of the world and life are different and are much higher grade than anyone else. I have to read threads like this to bring me back to earth and realise I'm just a manic. I also get very paranoid - I'll think of all sorts of conspiracies, think everyone is out to get me and I won't trust anyone. If I went into more detail about the things I am feeling here, in your opinion, is it enough to make some sort of answer?

Answer by momma
Submitted on 8/31/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
i am 25 years old and was diagnosed with bipolar 2, ocd, and social anxiety a few years back. all my life i had wondered what was wrong with me, always feeling different. i never felt comfortable in my own skin and often i still dont. ive always been more on the depressive side and i forever remember feeling like i was supposed to die and having an obsession about killing myself. i was more sensitive than most kids and still am even though i am now a woman. i am also a self- mutilater. i have been since i was a child as well. i would get so angry that i would slam my head against walls, stab and beat walls, cut or burn myself or punch myself in the head. i never showed my anger to other people and instead always took it out on myself...i am still very much that way. i was overweight for most of my childhood and in high school became anorexic after a big weight loss. in my early 20s i became bullemic and was still anorexic... i then started doing a lot of drugs...i refused to go to the doctor for so long, thinking that there shouldnt be anything wrong with me, but my loved ones had it with me and my crazy lows and highs all the time. i finally went and was first misdiagnosed as being severely depressed and was given an antidepressant which immediately sent me into mania. when i went to rehab for drug abuse i was finally told that i was bipolar 2 and was a very rapid cycler... i was so relieved to finally have an answer...but i was stil irresponsible and started to do drugs again and wouldnt take my meds. drugs make it so much worse..i wouldnt suggest it...i was on a medicine that made me very heavy but finally im on something different that helps me so much with impulse control and the cycling...i still feel the cycles so i have to be careful to check myself but i am not always able to control how i act or the way i react to things quick enough...like i said im a very sensitive person with serious deep seeded anger that ive never let come out so i have to be careful to take good care of myself and always be aware of my disorder and just accept it and live my life with it. i cant express enough how important it is for me to be sober and dealing with bipolar 2 because it is so much harder and this allows me to get to the deeper issues so that i can recover somewhat mentally.

Answer by kidd
Submitted on 9/3/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I'd just like to say a few things... i've been diganosed w/ many things... i believe that doctors are out to make money n' get people to believe they are sick when they arent... people have mood swings... people get depressed, n' people are unhappy... for whatever reason... i'm sorry but a complete stranger cannot ask u questions and then decide if u are manic or not... i kno personally... yes, i don't feel right a lot of the time... but it's my own fault... i'm 21 n' have lived like this since i can remember... years back there was mania, depression, or bi polar... there were just crazy people... n' people w/ these "disorders" are not crazy... they are just looking for a quick fix... there is nothing wrong w/ us... people just have different emotionals... just like every person looks different... u have to deal w/ the cards u are delt... some people deal.. other people run to others for answers because they can't handle the pressure of deciding on their own... like i said... medication will just make u feel like a zombie... thats all it is... a stimulant... there is nothing wrong w/ us... some people just feel more/ or less then others... God made us a way for a reason... we don't need medication "drugs" to make us what society thinks we should be...

Answer by steph
Submitted on 9/7/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
NotSure23.... i know its been a long time since you posted but i hope you get to read this and got the help you needed when you needed it. just because you get "passionate" about something does not make you bipolar. anyone can tell you that you are bipolar but in the end that is something only you can know for sure. it is possible that your mom was feeling isolated and lonely and was trying to find someone in her life that she could identify with in terms of her illness. my advice to you would be to find out as much about bipolar disorder as you can and closely monitor your moods and keep records of your moods and your sleeping patterns. also, if you can, try and see a therapist. With records of your moods and sleeping patterns and you having a good understanding of the illness the therapist will be able to accurately diagnose you.

Answer by notquiteright
Submitted on 9/28/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I am 39 years old now. My father committed suicide in 1986. In hindsite he was bipolar and self medicated with alcohol. He also had some anger issues. paranoia ect. My father was very intelligent so we believed everything he said. I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist 3 years ago with bipolar 2. I was in denial up until about 4 months ago. My psychiatrist put me on antidepressant Lexapro ect ect and ambien because of the insomnia i suffered. I never was straight with my doctor because I was terrified he would take me off of my xanax. I tried to committ suicide 2 times in the nineties. thought about it daily. This last summer I took a whole months perscription of xanax in less than 2 weeks. I tried to go cold turkey and ended up having convolsions in front of my children. I haven't drank in 10 years but all the sudden i decided I needed 3 bloody mary's and 3 ambien so I could sleep. My son called 911. I ended in mental health ward for 3 days. DX severe depression. Well perfect time my sister threated to take my kids from me, Ruin my nursing career. So I cut my wrist soon after that. She came over and dumped my xanax along with my ambien. I was up for 4 days straight, auditory hallucinations, delusional, thought my phone was tapped. My exhusband eventually got custody of my children. This last month I went to see my doctor earlier and told him everything. I am now taking depako and seroquel and effexor, and xanax for my anxiety. My family are in denial so I have had no contact with them. The hardest thing to get over was this has nothing to do with intelligence. Within two weeks of my new medication I have felt more normal than I have ever felt.

Answer by heather*
Submitted on 11/20/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Hi everyone! I've been living with bipolar for almost ten years now (I'm 23). My wonderful diagnosis is early-onset rapid-cycling bipolar II. This disorder (and I hate to use that term since there is such a bad stigma associated with it) has impacted every area of my life: school, family, personal, work, financial (ya my credit card company got a little suspicious when a 700 dollar transaction went through at Sephora... hey I REALLY needed 5 mascaras, 15 eye shadows, 3 facial moisturizers and 4 lipsticks... did I mention I don't even wear makeup? haha). I have been on and off medications for years because every time I get sick, I take them, but then I get better, decide I'm not bipolar anymore and stop taking the meds. Needless to say, it always comes back; and each time, it seems, with a vengeance. I just wanted to write this to let people know that it's normal to be confused with your diagnosis and even to struggle with its acceptance. Educate yourself. Become an expert on your disorder... it helps, really. Just remember, for all the darkness associated with this disorder there is also something very beautiful; some of the greatest thinkers and creators in history were either bipolar or thought to be. To name just a few... Einstein, Newton, Plato, Beethoven, Van Gogh...you. :) Peace and love.

Answer by rogue-saint
Submitted on 12/16/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I've recently been diagnosed with bipolar 2. I didn't understand how that could be with only my understanding of Manic-Depressive Disorder. My Grandmother had it. I didn't even know that there was such a thing as bipolar 2. After researching the disorder,and after reading your stories and answers, I understand why they have diagnosed me with bipolar 2. I feel no euphoric stage. I wake up feeling agitated,irritable or even "evil". I take my morning dose. Clonazapam 1mg. and Lithium 300mg ER, go back to sleep and wake just before my next dose time, about 3 hours later. Then, still feeling aggressive and dangerous,yet controlled, I take my next Clonazapam and my anti-depressant Effexor 75mg. After those take effect, I calm down. I'm more amiable but slightly depressed. I'm used to that feeling. I was diagnosed with Major depressive disorder with reoccuring panic attacks three years ago. My panic attacks are so violent that they have been compared to seizures, except I'm usually aware of my surroundings,and have some control. Sometimes I can talk, othertimes I can not. I also can feel them coming on and how severe they will be 95% of the time. Weird huh? I'm 34 years old. I've been dealing with some sort of health problem since I was 16. After all these years of being in and out of hositals, and mental wards, I've adopted the word "NEXT" to be my battle cry.... Life closes a door, God opens a window.... My Faith, Hope, sheer will, family, and friends are what keep me going. It can always get worse, I know, I've been there. I've tried to commit suicide. I've heared voices telling me to kill myself. I've been suicidal since I was 6 years old... With the help of good Dr's and medication, I no longer have to put up with that torment. Now, I can be in control of thoughs thoughts...... So, now I have BiPolar 2. BRING IT ON!!! I'm ready. NEXT!!

Answer by Shar
Submitted on 12/23/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I am not sure if i have bipolar 2 disorder. my psychiatrist thinks i might but i never had a problem with mood cycling until this summer at age 17. i feel as though this developed all of a sudden and its strange cuz i never had problems like this before. it is a pretty steady pattern..in the begining of the week i am so depressed. i end up cutting myself and i really wanna kill myself. i get really tired and i am really quiet and in a bad mood around my friends and i feel as though everything i say is stupid and i have nothing to say to anyone then later in the week on Thursday and Friday i get really happy. i am in a wonderful mood. everything is just great..i start doing amazingly on tests. i am really talkative. I feel like i have so much to say and i feel like all the right things come out of my mouth. then it kinda worsen and on Sunday and Monday its ok but then i get crazy depressed on Tuesday and Wednesday. i am also on 5 mg of Lexapro. i can't take more than that cuz it works too well where I feel too good. i am not sure that if what i experience is bipolar disorder 2 and if i am experiencing hypomania. i am scared of taking a mood stabilizer though not knowing if i need it and because i have never taken anything that isn't an ssri. so any response or insight into my problem would be greatly appreciated!

Answer by Stephanie
Submitted on 12/26/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I believe I have bipolar 2. I feel I have suffered from it since the sixth grade. I am now almost 24 and still living with my parents, trying to just stay alive. Only 1 week ago, I told my parents that I've been suicidal since 6th grade and have physically abused myself and get very angry. I don't have the strength to tell them that I have been physically abused and emotionally abused by persons outside of the family. I feel that because of the abuse, I cannot keep relationships. I lose friends and boyfriends. I feel incomplete as a person. I am a very passionate person, but I often forget what makes feel. You know, the ways I want to change the world. When I am suicidal, I don't want to kill myself--I feel I have to. Something in me pulls me in that direction. I can barely control it, but I keep thinking I have for the last 10-12 years. Thank you to anyone who reads this.

Answer by safe
Submitted on 1/16/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I'm 49 years old and I have lived a life of loneliness, sadness, high anxiety, abandonment, disfunctional family, raped at 17 and afraid of everything (my first thought of suicide and attempt was at the age of 17). I started getting medical help at the age of 32 or so with very little success, diagnosed with depression, anxiety and ADD. As one of my resent doctors said "she's tried to many meds to list...", her body doesn't tolerate them well (side effects), or they just don't help. I've been through alot of adult trauma, exhusband took his life, daughter turned to drugs and in rehab, current husband not understanding for supportive of anything I'm going through just drinks. I'm totally overwhelmed, I've been hospitalized twice in '05 for suicide attempts. Meds didn't help so they treated me with Electric Convulsive Treatments "ECT" for short. All they did was mess up my memory and did nothing positive for my depression. I was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 and put on Lithium, Trazadone (to help me sleep)and Metradate for my ADD. My concern is that I know my major depression has caught up with me and I need to take my new meds, however, I'm having bad side effects with them also. I'm so worried I just don't know what to do. I don't want to live out the rest of my life scared and locked up in my room with an occasional good day out of the house, back in the hospital or worst yet.... My daughter needs me! Reaching out, God Bless

Answer by jessa
Submitted on 1/28/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I'm 17 and am bipolar 2 I've know this since I was 13ish and commited suicide(I was shocked back to life for those confused)Yes bipolar(both 1 and 2)is a neuroloical disorder but you learn to deal with it, medication helps but you have to realize that you cannot depend on the medication alone. One of the things that many people don't realize about bipolar 2 is that unlike bipolar 1 our different states don't last for the 1-2 months that bipolar 1 does, our states can go from one day to six weeks. You need to learn to apologize a lot because your states can lead you to do many things that you regret later on. Bipolar 2 also has many different states in contrast to bipolar 1 which has two. While many people may sugar coat how this condition affects you I won't, bipolar disorder screws with your life and most people have to change their life style so it suits their new needs. If you try to keep your old life, then well basicly you're screwed. You need to change your style but the two things that holds me and everyone around me and other people who suffer from bipolar is, our friends, let them know about what are and don't think that you are alone because you're not, thats the second thing the other people that have any sort of disorder because they know what you are going through, and can help you. To all those who have just recently discovered that they have it, good luck and enjoy the ride...it gets a lot smoother(except during the switching of stages) from here on out.

Answer by SummersAutum2828
Submitted on 4/14/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
My Name is Jennifer.I am 27 years old and have been battling Manic Depression for three years now.It's very hard for my husband Andrew to deal with it.He thinks it's just a way of being mean.He doesn't realize you can't help the episodes that you have to deal with on a daily basic.This past Saturday I tried killing myself and ended up in the hospital and then released to a Mental Institution.It isn't at all easy going through this.I will have very mean and raging fits .Sometimes I won't even think and throw things across the room.If anyone out there has any idea of how I can get my husband to understand what I am suffering from and how to deal with it please email me at summersautum@hotmail.com Thanks

Answer by albertine
Submitted on 4/16/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Hi, I can honestly say I don't ever remember being in a 'normal' mood. I tend toward the depressed side mostly...the times that I am happy I am always anxious because I know its going to be shortlived. I have always been extremely sensitive; if I see or hear about an injured animal I will be emotionally devastated for days. I guess empathy could be considered a gift because it forces me to act where another person might not, but it tends to take a toll on my emotional health. My mother has Bipolar Type 1 with psychotic features, she is extremely emotionally abusive when she is manic and it seems to be her goal to alienate herself from anyone who cares about her. I have always taken care of her, despite the abuse and the fact that she left the family when I was five. My advice to everyone is; do not to get self-absorbed in your illness and let it prevent you from acheiving your goals. Don't let a doctor's or psyhiatrist'sopinion define who you are; you are more than this illness. Take Care

Answer by jenny
Submitted on 4/28/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I'm 18 years old and have a family history of depression, bipolar 1, alcoholism and borderline personality disorder.I have been depressed since i was 12 years old and only recently started psychotherapy, it has been suggested that i may suffer from borderline personality disorder and bipolar 2 given my moods and family history.I have never had a 'manic' episode though and i spend all my time either feeling down and depressed, having very short but very intense bouts of anger or just apathetic to everyone and everything, this has effected me so much that i have pulled out of my university education and put it on hold for at least a year.I really need some kind of diagnosis but no one seems to be able to make up their mind on what i apparently suffer from, they just keep giving me anti-depressants, so i would be really grateful if anyone could offer any type of insight. Thanks.

Answer by jeff
Submitted on 4/29/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Hi, I'm nineteen and have been diagnosed with type 2 today. I guess I've know for a long time, at least I've known that something is very wrong with me that I don't see happening to anyone else around me. Every day feels like it HAS to be the last. Two days ago, I was hanging out in the center of town with my friends, and I felt great.There is always a few seconds of warning for me, after which I simply slumped to the ground and felt the coldest frantic filthy jeaulous hopless cruel suicidal hateful emptyness become me. I drew my knife and franticaly slashed my face and arms. My dad finally found me passed out on the side of the road. why did I do this, why, there are two of me. I just handed over 300 dollars cash because I kicked out a store window in the middle of town, my friends store window. I am so terrified of myself. I have long yearned for the strength to put this pistol in my mouth, but cannot. Am I too weak? I have lost my friends, even the ones who I knew would never leave me.: they dont look me in the eye any more. How many times can they hear me appoligize, often without any memory of the incidant. I am spinning out of control and the only thing I'm talking about it to is a machine, great. I have smoked crack, ritalin and adderall every day this week! Why did I do that, oh god. They told me a year ago I had pre emphazima and would die from smoking unless I dropped it. I don't know why but I started smoking four packs of unfiltereds a day. My body is starting to shut down. I take well over the so called 'fatal' dose of: speed everyday, morphine vicodin perkiset and methadone when ever I can. This is something that has started recently. I am not a drug addict, but it is like their is some deep animal need inside me to self destruct. I'm sorry to complain I know that there are so many people that have it worse, but some lifes were not meant to be lived i guess.

Answer by Ash
Submitted on 5/27/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I'm 16. I feel I have always been BiPolar. I don't know which one. I was either very quiet or very hyper as a child. I threw HUGE tantrums...I'm also VERY analytical...Both of my parents have mood swings, but I don't know if they are BiPolar. I have looked at many websites and I have or used to have almost every symptom. My mum doesn't believe me. She thinks I want something to be wrong with me. And yes, I do love it. I knew something wasn't a normal teenage growing up thing. I knew I was always different. And I fit BiPolar more perfectly than any other disorder. Unfortunately, we don't have the money to pay to get me tested for it. Therefore, I won't be able to know if I am or not. I needed meds in my early teens, but I'm past it now, and I understand myself much better these nights, and I did it w/o meds. I enjoy the ups and downs. I really do. Not necessarily when they're occurring, but afterwards when I have time to reflect. I need to know much more about the differences between 1 and 2. They're too close for me to tell what I have. It makes me who I am. I relate to it. Why would I want to get rid of it or cover it up? It's pointless to do so.

Answer by swash
Submitted on 5/28/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Ever since I can remember I've had mood swings, violent rages, and evil, detailed thoughts. I've wished horrible things on anyone and everyone who upset me. When I was 16 I was diagnosed with Chronic Depression. Now, at age 26, I've been doing some "homework" on depression and bipolar disorder. What prompted this was my boyfriend and family have been complaining about my abrupt mood swings. I can go from loving to evil literally in the blink of an eye, and happy and talkative to sad and in tears without any apparent reason just as quick as I take my next breath of air. So I started paying closer attention to myself. I have found that they are correct and try as I may, I can't control it. "You're just mean", my mom says. "It's like you have two personalities", my boyfriend says. My sister seems to agree. My ex-husband always told me that it was like I was two different people, but he said a lot of things I didn't take seriously. Maybe I should'listened. Anyway, could this be a sign of bipolar disorder? I've looked at so many different mental, emotional, and personality disorders and this one seems to fit better than the rest although I don't hear or see things that arent't't'there. What type of facility do I go to and what type of doctor do I need to accurately diagnose me?

Answer by lizza
Submitted on 6/6/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
hey my names lizza. i have been told i have bipolar but the thing is i dont know if i rly do or if i dont. ive been reading all these things and i cant even tell if i relate to any of them and if im like bipolar 1 or 2.. i get rly bad mood swings and i get emotional at small stuff. when im mad i want to kill myself, hurt others, just want to be really violent. other times when im really nice, i get nice but im very helpful and everything but i dont want to be because i know i need help in that area for myself. its hard to explain but i get mad then later im okay then i get mad again and like i cant control myself. i dont know if this means im bipolar or not, you know? some help would be nice. thanks.

Answer by Out of Control
Submitted on 6/16/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I have recently been told that I am Bipolar 2. I am not real sure how to feel about it. I know that I am angry/irritated all of the time. I also feel like I am always having to look over my shoulder to 'check my back'. The only person or thing that I get even remotely violent with is myself. It seems like suicide is just a thought away. And half of the 'off the wall' things that I do, I know that I shouldn't do them, but I cannot make myself stop. I am in the middle of trying to find the right combination of medicines at this point. But I feel out of control and I have literally packed my dog and two children up in the car 3 times this week and I was determined that we were leaving to get away from this mess. We live with some friends who help me with my children, but I am finding it harder and harder to control myself. I just had to get this off of my chest, I don't have anyone that will sit and listen without changing the subject the minute I start to cry. Thank you, this site has been helpful and I see that I am not the only one who feels like this - sometimes it feels like I am.

Answer by confused
Submitted on 7/16/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
July 16, 06 My 18 year old daughter (going to go to college at the end of Aug) was diagnosed with bipolar 2 about a year ago, and has been taking lamectyl for a few months but she decided she doesn't want to be on it anymore because it makes her feel 'stupid'. She decreased her dosage in half as the doctor said but now she is acting like she is not on any medication at all. She is intensely angry, irritable, and is lying alot. We have been going through hell. She doesn't want to go to the doctor because she just wants to be like her friends. Also, does anyone know if a person is bipolar if they don't' act bipolar with friends, only with her parent? (i am a single parent and she is my only child) My daughter is SOOOO angry and hateful and she doesn't even know why most of the time, she gets MAD at EVERYTHING and can barely function sometimes because she is so UNCOMFORTABLE. but only i see this!! Her friends see a completely different person!! NONE of them believe she could be bipolar so they dismiss it when she talks about it, and they think it is me that is the problem. She can't stand having responsibilities that have to be done regularly and they make her life completely miserable to the point of not being able to function, not just a little angry, but it totally ruins her LIFE, and she becomes extremely mean angry hostile (not for a few minutes but all the time).But when i let up on those things she is STILL the same way, and complains about something else. I guess i could just say 'ok you are totally free to do as you please and you have NO responsibilities around here (like straighting your room or walking the dog = those are the only things i ask) and i could say she has NO curfew but do should i really have to do that in order for her to be 'happy'? is that right? Should i treat her differently in the area of responsibilities than someone who doesn't have bipolar 2? One other thing, as she was growing up, she needed sooooo much sleep so she always had to go to bed earlier than her friends so i could get her up in the morning for school, and so that she wouldn't become IMPOSSIBLE to deal with because of her irritability and unwillingness to do ANYTHING when she was tired, and because of her meanness and irritability i got to the point that i didn't' want her to have sleepovers or to stay out too late because she would be such a mess the next day and really really irritable. She always had friends who's parents were much more lenient because (i believe) they didn't have to deal with so much irritability, tantrums, inability to function, etc, and that made her very very upset and make her feel DIFFERENT and REALLY stressed her out. BUT MANY times she got to do MORE than some of her friends because it was so difficult to fight with her about it, so she had soooo much social life which she can't see because she ONLY remembers all the times i made her come home, but in actuality she was able to do ALMOST EVERYTHING (not everything but alot) her friends got to to, but she could NEVER take a NO answer without a tremendous FIGHT!! In high school i decided it would be better if she didn't have sleepovers because of several reasons, all of what i have mentioned but also because she had some very wild friends with parents who did not seem to care what they were doing, so that is probably the hardest things she had to deal with as far as the social life with her friends. BUT, i DID let her have some sleepovers when i felt like the parents were responsible etc., or a best friends birthday, so even then i was flexable, but it seemed like none of those times matter to her. ONLY the times i said no. We went through so much of that for so many years. She has developed now a habit of lying (her father also lied to his parents and to me alot) all the time to get what she wants so i haven't been able to trust her as far as where she is etc, and now that is causing even more problems. We just have so many problems and have been through so much. WE went through very violent moments for a few months when she was a junior. She was SOOOO disrespectful and totally Hostile and i couldn't deal with it right, i was a mess too. I know i have lost my mind. Is it possible that because of that stress and fighting of coming home a little earlier or going to bed earlier than some of her friends she developed Bipolar 2?? Or that i made it worse for her? I was never abusive to her as she was growing up and always tried to be so sensitive to her feelings and help her express herself because she never seemed to express much at all. Now i feel like i must've been a horrible parent. If i was too strict (it looks like 'strict' but i was really just trying help her feel better, survive the irritability etc and make our home life survivable and help her get enough sleep so she could get to school) would that cause bipolar? I am feeling like it is my fault, because i am hearing that abuse or STRESS causes Bipolar. Does this sound like bipolar 2? I am so confused, anyone with some clarification or help would be very appreciated.

Answer by MOBbeD (Mother of Bipolar Disorder)
Submitted on 8/22/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I suspected something was up with my oldest child about 3 years ago. My husband kept telling me we didn't have the money to get her "shrunk". She skipped school got suspended then came the beginning of the end. She snuck out her bedroom window to hang with some friends, thought she was busted and kept on walking. She was picked up by some older guys that gave her lots of drugs and gang raped her. She's been involved in the juvenile court system since. She's been diagnosed with bipolar disorder - no specific 1 or 2. Parents - if you feel it in your gut, it's worth the fight with your spouse and the financial debt to get the diagnosis to get treatment. She has been labeled a "serious offender" and placed in a juvenile detention facility since Oct '05 She may be coming home in September as long as she doesn't go "manic". Unfortunately, she is usually in a manic phase when she is being psychologically tested so her reports suggest anti-social personality disorder. All I know is it totally sucks from a parent's perspective.

Answer by brenden
Submitted on 9/6/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
i suffer from bipolar two disorder. i believe my self to have a stronger case than usual if such a thing is possible. i expierince hallucinations through out the day both closed and open eyes. ive learned to love being bipolar, despite the lows were i go to very sucidal thoughts. ive learned to deal with these lows. i have had reactions to several medications and now believe that it is not needed to control bipolar.i had my father the women i considered my mother and my grandmother die in the same year. after these tragic events i got into meditation and also meditation under the influence of marijuana. my hallucinations and my upbeat character when in a comfertable environment are the reason i have learned to love my disorder. while on medications i feel dulled put and not my self.i am a strong believer in alternative medicines and im simply looking for insight.btw im 15 years old.

Answer by Jaimi
Submitted on 9/11/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
""BiPolar 1 is the best if you must have one. We are happy to the point of others thinking we may be on drugs. We find thrills in everything. We may during that manic time be less responsible sexually, with our money, with our loved ones demanding that we be the center of attention. When we are depressed, we can feel worthless, suicidal, or just sad to the point where we may not be able to function well in society or even in our own homes. BiPolar 2 is different in that a person may become violent with others. They may destroy things they normally love and not understand why. There may be delusions and a withdraw from reality if medications are not used regularly"" I cannot believe someone has actually published this, especially when the point of this page is to help and educate. Exactly what is your education on your illness, Patricia, or other people's illness- your description of Bipolar Disorder 1 and 2 was ill-informed at best. Neither disorder is 'best' to have and each have their own associated problems and symptoms. " Bipolar Disorder 2: Inbetween experiencing mania and depression, there are usually times when a person feels like they're on an even keel. However, if the person remains untreated, they are more likely to feel up and down more often. Some people with bipolar disorder have what are called 'mixed episodes' where they feel some of the signs and symptoms of both depression and mania. Moods can change very quickly for some people - feeling high, then low and high again, within a matter of days or even hours." My ex husband has Bipolar 1 and your description of Bipolar 2 describes him and other friends living with Bipolar 1. His manic episodes used to scare the heck out of me; he was violent, he was suicidal, he beat me. All symptoms of his mania. I think it's ignorant to classify one or the other as 'best'.

Answer by grumpy
Submitted on 9/22/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
u all have very similar experiences in your bipolars and I sympathise with each and everyone of u. my daughter has bipolar and has just turned twenty she is in a relationship with a nice fellow much older then herself. he is kind and gentle. She is now going through her pmt faze were she is always upset with wot others have to say. Nothing is ever good enough and we have these constant 2yo tantrums. As my other 2 children 18 and 15 go on with there lives i feel i have gone backward with her. Everything is a drama. I suffer depression from a traumatic birth of her 15 yo brother and marriage. I have good days and bad. She is like a video on constant rewind. Do others feel they too r like this. Or do i have it wrong. She has a good heart and we r very close. She has an excellent psychiatrist and therapist just for a sound board. That does give very good advice. I no I see her. She is marvellous. I guess support is the most important thing. But sometimes when u have any type of illness whether it mental, physical or emotional all the support in the world we think is still not enough.

Answer by MAPNA
Submitted on 10/5/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I have bipolar 2. I was first diagnosed with bipolar when I was 14 and was given a prescription to Paxil. My mother thought the doctors were just putting a "label" on me and refused to give me the meds. When I was 17 I saw another doctor who again said I had bipolar. I refused to believe it. I am 22 now and I just couldn't get my life in control. I saw a third doctor who diagnosed me as bipolar 2. I am also a rapid cycler. I guess after 3 doctors I can't be in denial anymore. This is hard for me to accept. To the 14 year old... I was 14 when I was first diagnosed and at 22 the diagnosis is still the same. When I look back I first started showing symptoms at 12. My therapist said that it is very common for people to start showing symptoms as preteens or in their early teenage years. So basically I am saying that you can get an accurate diagnosis at 14. I am currently on Wellbutrin XL and Depakote. Having the disorder, I know that sometimes the thought of "feeling better" can be scary, but I urge anyone who has or thinks they have this disorder to seek treatment. You may feel like you can do this on your own but the truth is you can't. It is NOT your fault, you can't make your brain function the way it needs to without proffesional help. This is very important, for your life, your spouses life and the lives of your children. You can't give them the best part of you without getting the help you need.

Answer by Chelsea
Submitted on 10/16/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
OK I'm new to this and i was just wondering how do you really know if you are bipolar? because since i was little my hole family would tell me they thought i was but i would just ignore them, but now that i am 15 and i have read some of yalls stuff i think i might be bipolar but I'm to scared to tell my mom to take me to the doctor so what should i do? I'm always sleeping even if I'm not tired and i started eating more and I'm always angry and get really bad attitudes, but then the next minute i will forget what happened and I'm happy and everything is fine, i don't know what to do I'm just so confused and tired of feeling like this because at first i thought i was just depressed but now i don't know whats wrong!!!

Answer by BPII in Texas
Submitted on 10/23/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Hi. I'm finding a lot of scary misinformation here. BP II folks do not get violent to my knowledge. They just get very depressed on a cyclical basis and can get very, very anxious. This condition is hard to diagnose and can seem like serious depression that won't respond to SSRI drugs like Prozac, Effexor, etc. The most important thing is, if you feel depressed, don't see your general practitioner. See a psychiatrist who can help you get the right drug. Don't be scared. There are so many resources! You can have a great life. I am BP II and 46 years old. I've struggled all my life and now that I'm on the right drugs, I am so looking forward to the life and love I know I can embrace. Take good, good care of yourself. Love yourself and others. Keep trying! Bless you all, especially the very young people that are being diagnosed. You are so fortunate that you have this early information, unlike so many before you who were classified as problem children, freaks, and social outcasts, and those that struggled quietly, always feeling something was wrong. Hang in there and bless you all.

Answer by Chuck Bowman
Submitted on 10/28/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Its good to tell how you feel all the time if you can sooo everyone around you will know how to understand you each day your around them if you can do it ? when i was five my Mom hung me with a rope with both hands holding me high above her then droped me to a hardwood floor plus she would press my face down into my bed and hold it there for along time yes i had wet to bed must have been too much for her she wanted to kill me,this was around 1959 found out my Dad beat my mother and raped my sister when she was six and my mother know about it and she would not turn him in he would kill everyone my Dad is nuts he hurt all of us,1970 i got away from everyone but my life was upside down from all the beatings and painful things from my childhood,later I found i could not think stright and lots more problems 1980 found out I have Bipolar2 yes even with Bipolar2 I worked 36 years plus married 2 times 6 kids lost married 10 years first time 2girls 1boy the woman run around on me with other men, 18 years 2 girls 1 boy this woman slept with my brother also 2 other men I left her,now married 9 years 3 step kids and found out that the woman I married this time in 1999 we were havinig sex she was on top of me and the net thing I seen was my hunting knife above me coming down at me yes I got it away from her,now and later that wk. I found out my new wife has a very bad problem of some kind ? She will never know that she has done anything wrong? YES I think she has DID,I HAVE TALKED TO HER ABOUT GETTING HELP and she is now 2006 my life as a Biplar is not easy I feel like iam in jail or something all 6 of my kids hate me and have told me off I don't understand it at all I have 8 grandkids I don't get too see them,sometimes I want too DIE!!!! The x wifes have caused some of the problems be saying things about me in a neg. way all the years!!!! This time in my life iam just holding on right now day to day and my mother pass away 2 years ago and I did not get too have a talk with her about what she did to me when I was a little boy............

Answer by way2tird2cre
Submitted on 10/30/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Im 17 years old and You know ive had lots of problems over the years with what my parents call my ATTITUDE. I have always had a big mouth i get very angry for what to me is a good reason at the time but i look at it later and realize that there was really no reason for me to be soo mad. In the past eight months ive moved out of my house moved in with my grandmother moved out to move in with my fiancee and then moved back in with my parents with my fiancee. Ive called the cops on my step dad and my parents have called the cops on me twice in one day. Today i have an appointment with my mother to speak to someone about my attitude or whatnot. I have times when i love being around my parents and times like now when i wish they would just go away. I hate being around people for the most part and right now i cant remember when i last ate. I think it was Friday. My boyfriend moved out last Wednesday because he needed to file for bankruptcy and get his life together so we would be ok when we got married and thats what kinda stated all of this. I try to keep jobs but usually i can only keep them for about 3 months and then i either quit or get fired. Ive never really thought about killing myself i have wished i was dead but ive never wanted to be the one to do it. I havent seen a doctor so i dont know if i have a bipolar disorder or what but if you read this leave me a message about what you think.. Thanks

Answer by lisa
Submitted on 11/9/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I am feeling so sad my gorgeous wonderful son has had a diagnosis of bipolar for six years and its just getting worse he has tried so hard to hold it all together but now it all seems to falling apart and as a mom it just hurts. My son is so smart funny and makes wonderful grades but he is so angry all of the time and he is having alot of social problems that he has never had we have been to classes to learn about this disease and we go the extra mile to make life work for him but I am running out of answers and I am getting scared that if he doesnt improve what kind of life will he have I will always be here for him and I will never give up but I can see the sadness in him now and it breaks my heart.

Answer by Tiffany
Submitted on 11/10/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Answer to 14 year old Emily. YES you can be diagnosed at 14 as a person suffering from bi-polar. I was. I'm 26 years old now, and I am also a recovered alcoholic/meth addict. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? I don't know and it doesn't matter. But be careful. Try to accept your diagnosis as much as you can and get second opinions. I still suffer from the illness and it's very hard, but with the right medication,doctor that understands and listens to you...you can recover. Just believe that I believe for you, but PLEASE don't brush it off. Be open-minded and journal if you're able to settle down enough. If you can see it in black and white on paper, maybe you can accept it better. I love you for reaching out. Good luck and God Bless. Tiffany

Answer by robb222
Submitted on 11/18/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
hey ive had bipolar 2 for about 3 years now and im pretty much up on it all, you learn to cope with it after a while :) i was diagnosed with add as a kid too wen i was 18 my experience was i had a gf for 2 yrs and she cheated on me with my best mate, anyway a week later my other best mate died in a car crash, and that set it on, i was depressed and feeling lonely with my best mates gone, and my parents moved down to melbourne three months prior so i only had my sister, was down for about 3 months then i got a new group of friends and i went manic for the first time, but yeah im coping with it now, i get really uninterested in everything wen down and wen im up i just get really happy and chatty, kinda changes your whole way of thinking about life, wat its worth, that it'll be worth it wen your older, i just know i have to make the best of it. ill always have ups and downs in life, but life goes on! i tend to just stay to myself wen down and make the most of the highs :)

Answer by Cathy
Submitted on 11/20/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I am about to go see a psychiatrist again. I knew I had depression as a teen and was officially diagnosed at 19, almost 20. It's been almost 4 years now. I do get very irritable, impulsive, and feel extremely "crazy". It's hard to describe the feeling. I feel like my emotions are out of control. With bipolar 2, do you have to have the "high" feeling? I do go through periods where I feel like everything is perfect, although I'm not really delusional or unusually creative. I do consider myself a creative person at times, but I just don't see any extreme symptoms of being up. The thing that bothers me is the out of control feelings. I take care of myself very well and monitor myself.. take meds.. and have a good support system. I thought being nasty and mood swings was part of depression. I never go for long periods of time without sleep (ex: while being productive). I do experience insomnia in cycles, but this is a horrible experience.. I lay in bed wanting to beat my head off the wall when I can't sleep. Are these symptoms others with bipolar 2 experience? I feel like a hypochondriac. I just want to make sure I am diagnosed correctly, but I am nervous about telling the doctor I think something else is going on besides depression. Any others have these symptoms without the extreme highs?

Answer by Martie
Submitted on 12/5/2006
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I am 61 years old. I had a brain cyst removed when I was 35 yrs. old and was left with a number of physical problems. The next year I began having depressive episodes and have had them since. Most episodes lasted several months, usually during the winter, leading to the sketchy diagnosis of Seasonal Effective Disorder. Due to our life style, we moved every 3 years and so support systems,particularly medical, changed frequently. I have recently been in one place for about 10 years, so have been able to receive more consistent medical care. My diagnosis was recently changed to Bi-polar ll. My reaction to depression is to go to bed and become non-functional. I have responded to no medication thus far and have had a series of electro-convulsive therapy which seemed to do no good and made me even more anxious. I and the professionals are at their wits end and several have given up. Any suggestions?

Answer by Buck
Submitted on 1/21/2007
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Hi all, It really is a good thing to read what people with Bipolar have to say. Sometimes its word for word what I could write myself. I have been of all medication for 5 mths under doctors supervision and have been relatively stable. But the last two weeks I have been sliding. I have a good job again, stable relationship and I feel it all going to hell again. Its taken three and a half years to get back to real work and feeling positive. Anyway, I have an appointment tomorrow with the doc and one on Wednesday with my therapist who I haven't seen for ages. I am really hoping I can pull it up this time with some help. I do not want to get back to where I was, I don't want to have to go to hospital again, I don't want to lose my job, I don't want Bipolar2 to control my life or death! I have tried lots of different cocktails of drugs. They said next step would be to try Epilim (about the only thing I haven't tried yet). I hope I haven't brought anyone down but I needed to say something to someone. I suppose what I am saying is I am going to keep on trying. My best wishes to anyone out there who is not traveling to well at the moment. Better days to come! Buck.

Answer by DeeSF
Submitted on 1/30/2007
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I was diagnosed with dysthymia for a few years, then major depression, and now bipolar 2. Since the age of 10 I have had recurring thoughts of suicide and worthlessness. After age 14 I sought out sex, drugs, and alcohol. My therapists call my past drug and alcohol use "self-medicating". I am a physically attractive female who is well educated and bright, so for many years my family and friends (and myself) didn't understand why I couldn't "snap out of" depression and cease self-destructive behaviour. On the outside I appear "normal" but there has always been a lot of pain and negative, hateful, self-loathing thoughts in my mind. I had some sexual trauma in my early teens. After a brief stint in a mental hospital I started intense group therapy and am now on mood stabilizers. I feel better and stronger than ever, though I still experience depression and some mania. I seem to cycle more quickly but less intensely on my mood stabilizers. I am now 37 years-old and believe that I will always experience varying levels of depression and mania. I used to hate my depression, but I'm beginning to accept that my brain has some chemical imbalances that need to be addressed with talk therapy and medication. I truly believe that things will be OK as long as I stay aware of my moods and continue with therapy, medication, and physical exercise. I disagree with Patricia's statement that Bipolar 2 people may become violent with others. I have never heard this from doctors or any books or articles. There is also no "best" or "worst" mental illness, they are all difficult. Please do not include me when you speak of "we". The only experience I know is my own.

Answer by crazywick
Submitted on 1/30/2007
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I am an alcoholic....and diagnosed with depression and bipolar2. What a combo! All my life I was angry and self destructive. I have always been way too blunt with people and hurt and lost a lot of friends while growing up. I dove into church and gave all without any thought to anyone else but me and God. I have always had issues with loving more than one person at a time. I always knew I felt funny, but had a hard time changing. I am 39 years old and finally I am changing for the better. Finally able to dig deep into my soul layer by layer. With the right meds...anyone can do this. And forget about trying to do it on your own...it just can't be done that way.

Answer by confused
Submitted on 2/15/2007
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
hi i am 13 and i have bipolar 2. i only recently found out about having it and i am struggling to cope with the fact. i do not understand myself or my feelings fully anymore. it is quite scary. over the past few days i have been having 'low times'. and the only thing that stops me from hurting myself is talking to my closest friend until i feel better. and if that still doesn't help i just cry away all unwanted sadness. but the knowing it is never going to go away just makes me think. i have already learned to use my 'highs' to my advantage. my school work improves greatly. but when the 'lows' come they make me dread seeing everyone, even my family. i really don't know how to cope. i have been taking cod liver oil as it is meant to help, and it is helping a bit. what i think i really need is to talk to other people my age about bipolar 2 and its effects. but until i find someone, i will just have to learn to cope. thanks for listening. i guess this has helped as well.

Answer by Olivia
Submitted on 2/17/2007
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Hello, I have been struggling with Depression my entire life. I was also diagnosed with ADHD in high school. As I was reading over what my doctor wrote about me when I was diagnosed, he explained that I should be re-diagnosed for bipolar disorder in a couple years. I have been trying to find information on bipolar disorder, especially type II, and found this to be a very useful site. I have always known that something was still wrong with me and I was never diagnosed successfully. Hearing your stories is a great hope to me. Many of the bipolar symptoms sound exactly like me, and I am so thankful that I may have found out the reason why I don't feel normal. Most of my symptoms stay on the depressive side. When I'm sad, I tend to sleep a lot, I have a lot of anxiety, and restlessness. I began to abuse drugs, and try to commit suicide. It feels like nothing excites me anymore, and there's nothing to look forward to. No matter what medication the doctors put me on, it never seems to help. There have also been times where I have become a total different person, with tons of energy, promiscuousness, and impulsiveness. There have been points in my life where I keep ruining my relationships with my boyfriend or family whom I love. I would lie or cheat and then wonder why I made stupid decisions like that when I loved them so much. I seem to make a lot of decisions on impulse without thinking, and then it turns around and kicks me in the butt. Anyway, thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences with bipolar disorder. I want to get my life in order, but it has been very difficult since my mood is not always stable. With all the research I have done, I feel confident to go to a doctor and share my concerns and symptoms so I can finally get my life straightened out. Thanks for all your support and I hope once I have the proper medication, I can help others, and tell them my story.

Answer by Livi1343
Submitted on 3/2/2007
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
to any of the teens who've got bipolar 2 heh i'm16 got it was diagnosed last year went through suicidal thought periods major depressions and hypomania due to medication not being right i'vehad lithium toxicity boy that was fun and all in the short span of two measly years am i to young for it no cuz if i was to be normal i wouldn't be who i am and i don't like complete normalcy it can get boring but its good to get diagnosed when your so young because if not that could mess with your life later when you wouldn't have family to be there and heck if you don't think any of your friends would understand you and what you've got on your plate what kind of friends are they anyway i just lost a really close friend because she was "sick of it" and all of my mood problems while trying new meds and i told her (while in a manic state so i don't suggest doing this) to get a life stop being a depressed asshole and i never wanna go see her family since there all drunks and i bluntly put it like that. i was completely alright with the results cuz i exspected them she hasn't talked to me since and i'vebeen all the more happier so its basically how you handle the situations that are thrown at you i didnt ask for advice but i usually do then the keys i'velearned are to ask for help whether you want to or not ask for advice whether you think you need it or not and think positive thats the key one force positive thoughts when you catch yourself thinking lowly about yourself or someone else stop and think more to the positive side of things it always helps to try =) (hope my little piece here helps someone)

Answer by young mum
Submitted on 3/5/2007
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
hi, I'm 18 and i have a 20 month old girl and im 3 months pregnant, im currently in a deep bout of depression, not suicidal, i would describe it as worse because i could NEVER do that to my kids. i was raped at 9 years old by my mothers alcoholic boyfriend (she still doesn't know) who also beat us both three other children in the house but we were the only ones beaten. i was raped again at 11 and 14 by different people, as a result i grew up with a very warped view of sexuality and love, and slept around between the ages of 11 and 15 willingly, sometime between the ages of 14 and 15 i met my soulmate and we stayed together for almost a year until i cheated on him (SO stupid you wouldn't believe how guilty i am to this day) we split up and i sank into a very deep suicidal depression and felt too ashamed to talk to him again. when i was 15 i met another man and fell pregnant after being with him for around 4 months it was just before i turned 16, once my pregnancy started to show he grew more and more negligent and recently found out that he cheated on me at the time i was most in love with him, after our daughter was born he didn't pay any attention to her claiming she was boring and he would play with her and talk to her when she could do the same back, he started to get very defensive, almost aggressive when i told him how i felt about it, having done an impressive amount of research during my pregnancy i knew the potential effects of his behaviour so this was very frustrating for me. by the time she was around five months old i started to want to leave him but still loving him and it being Christmas i thought i should hang on, my birthday went by, valentines went by constantly putting it off for a more appropriate time until our anniversary rolled round and i just couldn't cope with pretending to love someone on such a romantic occasion i split up with him that day. that was by no means the end almost a year since he still acts like he is my boyfriend even though i am back in touch with my soulmate with whom things are slowly looking up (he just split up with his girlfriend) and he has known since our last anniversary that i do not love him and have no intention of loving him again, he still put me under pressure to be with him and knowing my weaknesses he would wear me down until i was willing to have sex with him, this went on until i fell pregnant again when i decided enough was enough I'm going to stick to my guns and not let people do what the want to me anymore. i have so far held true with the help of my soulmate and knowing that if i carry on with my ex things will never happen with my soulmate is working very well but i still fight the daily battle with him, not violent just trying to hold off the gradual wearing down of my boundaries, luckily i have my soulmate to help now. but this coupled with benefits people regularly screwing my money up, my 14 year old special needs sister having sex and possibly taking drugs and truanting so our mum has to go to court soon, a very snobbish grandma who is very disapproving of anyone who is not a high flying executive businessman (or at least rich)so my second pregnancy to someone who has caused me so much pain in the past is not something she approves of, oh and because i've been so intensely depressed my house hasn't exactly been spotless (not that it would be with a toddler and two kittens) but i had to phone the police because my ex was walking out with our daughter and although they didn't give me the warning legally required, a few days later i was faced with a pushy social worker just as i was heading out for lunch, so just to top off all this, i get threatened with my only reason to live being taken away. so to finally get to the point, these past few months have basically been my life compressed into smaller fragments, i have been intensely depressed with the odd occasion of being really happy and buzzy, but also sometimes feeling relatively normal other than being extremely irritable and snappy, and even holding a secret resentment for my dad who i have always loved like mad, weekend custody with him was like my safe place. finally i have two questions, is it possible or even likely that depressive episodes can occur mostly in the winter months and manic in the summer? and secondly, being a bit of a hippy i would prefer not to take medication especially as I'm still breastfeeding my toddler and pregnant too, is it possible to be diagnosed and not have meds forced on you? i mean i've survived so far haven't i? thanks for all your help in advance

Answer by maryjane
Submitted on 3/16/2007
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
hey - im 22 years old and i was recently diagnosed with bipolar 2. i have been in and out of therapy for 4 years for what my doctors and family (and myself) thought was depression and anxiety. however, i wasnt responding to the antidepressants and would go on and off them because they didnt work. i was put on and off of wellbutrin, lexapro, xanax, prozac, zoloft and paxil. it was all very frustrating. while i was initially a little frightened when my therapist officially diagnosed me with bipolar disorder just a few days ago, i was also kind of relieved. maybe now i can get on the right meds and get my life and relationships under control. i just cant bear to hurt the people i love any longer by my unexplainable, extreme mood swings and cycling. im hoping for the best. i start taking a mood stabilizer next week and im actually really excited. i know its silly to think that i can magically be "cured" by some pill, but i know in my heart that i deserve to feel better than the way i have been feeling since my late teens. i wish the best for all of you.

Answer by catherine
Submitted on 4/15/2007
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I have just been diagnosed with bipolar 2. I am 21 years old. I believe that I have had it for most of my life. It was in some ways a relief being diagnosed. It explained a lot and took away as lot of guilt that I had for my rapid mood swings. I think it is a relief for my parents as well. I have just started on medication but still feel suicidal on moment and jittery and excited the next. I can't carry conversations with people and have recently alienated myself from a lot of people. I am looking back on my life and wondering how much of the crazy things I did were related to bipolar. I don't remember a time that I was not like this. I would like to carry on with my life as usual but I still feel so suicidal that my parents and I have decided that it is better if I stay at home for a while. My doctor is brilliant though, as is the book swing hi swing lo by a south african author. You can buy only in Hermanaus though.

Answer by kozmo109
Submitted on 4/24/2007
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Thanks to Every One here I don't feel so alone. I am 38 and just diagnosed with BiPolar I read some of the emails and I don't feel so alone anymore. I have had it bad for a while now. I couldn't get out of bed so depressed for no reason hated my life I just pushed all my friends away in the past 2 years. I don't want to talk to anyone see anyone. I feel like I just want to be in a box and shut out the world from me. I pass out when I get too much stress on me with the kids if they are sick. I always say I am sorry for no reason. I hate eating and my husband get upset with me I lost alot of weight and he is worried about me. thank You for letting me share a little about myself

Answer by jann
Submitted on 4/30/2007
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
this is in response to all that wrote in. I hope that faith and strength carry you whether you have the disorder or know someone with it. I am 36 and dx with bipolar 2. I have been in denial for quite some time now and by doing this I make it harder for myself and my family to accept this life long illness. I am learning now that the sooner you can accept it and take your medications that there may be a light at the end of the tunnel for everyone involved. I am on tegretol and I always complained to my doctor about the lasting effect of tired this has on me. My mother and husband say they can always tell when I am on it due to the expression on my face(looking like someone drugged) and my laziness. This I am hoping to go away with time. Besides the rage and mood swings and depressions, I find the meds to be just as difficult to deal with. I wish they made a medicine that you didnt feel working. Like when you take an aspirin or tylenol. Luck to all.

Answer by Jessica
Submitted on 6/11/2007
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in March 2006 after a suicide attempt landed me in a mental hospital. I'm almost fifteen now, but was only thirteen at the time. I struggle with my disorder daily but I've found that you have to go with whatever works to keep yourself steady. I experiment often and today I found getting enough sleep and eating well really can make a big difference in your moods. After research I've made the self diagnosis that I have early-onset ultra-rapid cycling bipolar disorder 2 brought on by post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]. I'm scared some days, but proud to say I have a wonderful man in my life who has been helping me and has proven to be understanding, even when he's frustrated. Keep on going guys!

Answer by kira
Submitted on 6/21/2007
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Bipolar 2: I was diagnosed over five years ago, and up until now, I have been fighting it tooth and nail... Being honest to my therapist has become increasingly difficult because I move around a lot, and I am afraid... Afraid of the things I have done, the thoughts in my head and being hospitalized again. I know I have a problem, and now I am finally ready to admit it and ask my doctor for help. My fear is that he will label me and put me in a box... I have been self-medicating with marijuana for some time now, but when the weed is gone, I fly off the handle and the rage begins until I have messed things up so horribly that I crash. I feel disabled, unable to think or make decisions, and then I sleep. I am so afraid of medications like lithium and depakote. If others out there have experienced similar cicumstances, please talk about the different medications (either taken or have direct knowledge of). It is one thing to be a doctor prescribing what his/her bureaucratic algorithm dictates, and clearly another as the patient who is told to take something that is potentially dangerous and they know little about. Medicine is a practice and I am afraid of being the trial and error mistake. On the other hand, without medication I am a bigger eminent threat to myself. Please help.

Answer by Shawna
Submitted on 7/20/2007
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder when I was 19 years old Im now 26 years old. Ive struggled with finding the right meds for all these years and still have a difficult time with the side affects that go along with them, anyways what I am saying is it takes some people longer than others to find the right type of medication thats right for their body, Ive gained 50 lbs in the 9 years ive been on my medication, I told my pshychiatrist he did some blood tests and could not give me an answer to my weight gain. im not happy ive gained all this wait and its been since ive been on my meds and i dont want to stop taking them I never would but its very frusterating because the meds Im taking are making me feel hungry all the time, im just wondering if theres anyone else out there struggling with the same problem .

Answer by Shawna
Submitted on 7/20/2007
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder when I was 19 years old Im now 26 years old. Ive struggled with finding the right meds for all these years and still have a difficult time with the side affects that go along with them, anyways what I am saying is it takes some people longer than others to find the right type of medication thats right for their body, Ive gained 50 lbs in the 9 years ive been on my medication, I told my pshychiatrist he did some blood tests and could not give me an answer to my weight gain. im not happy ive gained all this wait and its been since ive been on my meds and i dont want to stop taking them I never would but its very frusterating because the meds Im taking are making me feel hungry all the time, im just wondering if theres anyone else out there struggling with the same problem .

Answer by Shawna
Submitted on 7/20/2007
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder when I was 19 years old. My mom also has bi-polar disorder . Im now 26 years old. Ive struggled with finding the right meds for all these years and still have a difficult time with the side affects that go along with them, anyways what I am saying is it takes some people longer than others to find the right type of medication thats right for their body, Ive gained 50 lbs in the 9 years ive been on my medication, I told my pshychiatrist he did some blood tests and could not give me an answer to my weight gain. im not happy ive gained all this wait and its been since ive been on my meds and i dont want to stop taking them I never would but its very frusterating because the meds Im taking are making me feel hungry all the time, im just wondering if theres anyone else out there struggling with the same problem .

FAQS.ORG makes no guarantees as to the accuracy of the posts. Each post is the personal opinion of the poster. These posts are not intended to substitute for medical, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. FAQS.ORG does not endorse any opinion or any product or service mentioned mentioned in these posts.

<< Back to: Bipolar Disorder FAQ v 1.1 (1 of 4)

[ Home | FAQ-Related Q&As | General Q&As | Answered Questions ]

Question by cher
Submitted on 7/23/2003
Related FAQ: Bipolar Disorder FAQ v 1.1 (1 of 4)
Rating:	Rate this question:
What is Bipolar 2 Disorder?

Answer by BLUE EYES
Submitted on 7/30/2003
Rating:	Rate this answer:
WHAT EXACTLY IS BIPOLAR 1 ?

Answer by yyy
Submitted on 8/1/2003
Rating:	Rate this answer:
"Bipolar 1" commonly refers to an illness characterized by intense periods of extreme mood swings from hypomanic euphoria to abject depression. The duration and cycling rate of these swings will vary from patient to patient and the manic phase may manifest as rage/irritability as well as or instead of euphoric hypomania.

Answer by Bipolar 2 and living
Submitted on 9/15/2003
Rating:	Rate this answer:
Bipolar 2 is a disease that is hereditary and effects more people than you think. A person with this disorder cycles between lower forms of mania which includes but not limited to behaviors such as unexplained irritability, insomnia, unacceptable social behavior, ect. After a mania episode, you most likely reach depression or major depression. Bipolar 1 differs with more severe mania including but not limited to hallucinations, grandious feelings, increased sexual desire, ect.

Answer by RichardCD
Submitted on 1/7/2004
Rating:	Rate this answer:
Does BiPolar 1 or 2 come without mania? My wife has been diagnosed as BiPolar 2 but I have never seen her in a manic state. She's either depressed/angry/bitter or level headed, never happy, and says "I never laughed out loud, have you noticed that?"

Answer by m
Submitted on 8/17/2003
Rating:	Rate this answer:
bipolar one is diagnosed when a manic episode is experienced, regardless of presence of depression. most people with bipolar have periods of mania followed by extreme depression. bipolar two is diagnosed when moods cycles between depression and hypomania, or mania to a lesser extent. cyclothymia is yet a gentler form of this disorder where mood cycles between a dysthymic [milder, but chronic] depression and hypomania.

Answer by Baby Girl
Submitted on 2/9/2004
Rating:	Rate this answer:
I have bipolar 2 and i always feel like am in a box and i am writing to you to tell you this cause i dont want anyone to know but the people who know what am going through

Answer by Braty
Submitted on 2/10/2004
Rating:	Rate this answer:
What is bipolar? Some kids say at my school and then laugh about. I've been diagnosed with depression and bipolar 2 and now all i think about is what would happen if the kids at my school found out and my therapist said i had this every sense I had got abuse. All my life i wondered if something is wrong with me but who doesn't think about that. Well I know that their is. Thank you for reading.

Answer by candilish3z
Submitted on 2/11/2004
Rating:	Rate this answer:
I'm a student in Australia doing the HSC and for my English Extension 2 major work, i am basing one of my characters having bipolar 1 or bipolar 2, if anyone has any stories they would wish to share to me it would be greatly appreciated. thanks =)

Answer by Sleeper
Submitted on 2/25/2004
Rating:	Rate this answer:
To give you a completely untechnical, personal answer, bipolar two makes me feel very different from the rest of the world. Like I'm always a doctor and always a patient. Always monitoring myself. Even when my symptoms are under control for a few months, I can't just stay out all night for a few days like my friends. I can't live on fast food like some people. I have to avoid any and all stress on my body soul and mind and I have to learn to apologize a lot. Most of all I have to remember that I'm not the only one in the world who has a problem; we're all trying to make it through the day.

Answer by Emily
Submitted on 3/22/2004
Rating:	Rate this answer:
Hi...I'm 14 years old and i have been dignost with BIpolar 2...i think im to young to be told i have this because i am a teen. Teens are suppost to have problems with up and down highs...so i think i don't have it...i think its to soon to tell if im BIPOLAR!!~

Answer by rose_of_sharon
Submitted on 4/14/2004
Rating:	Rate this answer:
I am 22 years old and I just found out that I have bi Polar 2. It is hard because I thought the problems I had were from other things. like my colitius and sleep apnia but I was wrong. The good thing is that I don't have to be on medication or in counseling. I can just live my life how I need to.

Answer by Allan Hodgkinson
Submitted on 4/16/2004
Rating:	Rate this answer:
I am 52 and was diagnosed with bipolar 2 about 3 years ago after being through some very difficult times , my therapist said that "PTSD" had brought on my illness ! I am now on medication and with the help and love of my familly and friends I am beginning to get my life back together !

Answer by anonymous
Submitted on 4/22/2004
Rating:	Rate this answer:
In response to the 14 year old. While you may not expect it, and it may not be commonly recognized, there is such a thing as early-onset bipolar disorder. Now, I wish that your psychologist had gone through a briefing process to help you understand your disorder and how it is much different than the normal "ups and downs" of adolescence. So yes, you can be diagnosed with the disorder. And also, one should never refer to themselves as bipolar, as much as you should refer to it as "I am a person with bipolar". You do not become your disorder. And nobody deserves the right to be stigmatized because of their disorder. Remember that always.

Answer by Echo
Submitted on 5/25/2004
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I have a question, I would like to know some sights about bipolar 2. I'm 15 and I've been diagnosed with severe depression, insomnia, and ADD. Know I'm being told that i have bipolar 2. I'm having a hard time finding information on it. I'd apprectiate and help.

Answer by melinda
Submitted on 6/11/2004
Rating:	Rate this answer:
I have BI POLAR 2 my DR keeps saying that I am like this becouse I was abused. So will it go away? How do I know if I have BI POLAR 1 or 2?

Answer by BIPOLAR MOM
Submitted on 6/23/2004
Rating:	Rate this answer:
HEY GUYS... THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR INPUT... IT HELPS AND MAKES ME CRY AT THE SAME TIME... MY DAUGHTER WAS JUST DIAGNOSED WITH BIPOLAR2 My son might have it also... Things are very different in our house and I don't feel so alone right now..My son started having problems at the age of six... And my daughter's problems showed up at the age of 13.. They would not make a full diagnoses the first time.. I have been torn to ribbons for years by every one I know.. See this dosen'trun in my family and I didn't know this stuff went on in my ex'snow I am getting a better picture for the first time in years.. Thank god for the new hospital and state who put it all together for us....

Answer by thoughtful
Submitted on 8/8/2004
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
HI I was diagnosed bi-polar 2 and severe depression, at age 18 i am 25 now i am, still looking for the right kind of med to stabilize my problem .also just curious what kind of medications are out there that can be taken while pregnant if any.

Answer by livitia
Submitted on 9/12/2004
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
You can have Negative mania in bipolar one that is violent

Answer by Erin
Submitted on 10/9/2004
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 a few months ago. I think now that i know what it is, that i'vehad it for some time now. I don't have manic stages...some euphorias...but not manic. i go through stages of high on life and then utter depression. Knowing about this disorder definitely puts things in perspective for me. Get to know the signs and symptoms. It definitely helps.

Answer by Jeff
Submitted on 12/10/2004
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I have Bi-polar 2 and r4really hate it. I was just recently diagnosed and I am having trouble embracing it. I do not like the meds..they make me feel worse, but I do not want to go through life like a maniac. I get really depressed sometimes, and then in th next minute I am a pain to all my loved ones cause I can't shut up. Just venting. I am going to try the natural way and am going to go to a Naturopath doctor. The poisons of the meds are not worth the "cure".

Answer by andie
Submitted on 12/25/2004
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
the cat

Answer by courtney
Submitted on 1/12/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
hello im 14 and i was diagnosed with bipolar two disorder when i was thirteen. i know exactly what the fourteen year old is going through. my therapist in rehab told me, as if being in an inpatient intensive treatment program for your 'mental' health wasnt bad enouph!! lol but i guess you learn to live with it. u just have 2 remember that your disorder dosent run you, u run it. so to speak.

Answer by JJ_birdie
Submitted on 2/12/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
i havent been diagnosed with anything, but ever since my parents divorced, my head went. I am very hyper from time to time, i mean really hyper lol, i go OTT sometimes, but then at other times i just feel down, now i dont think theres a day gon past where i havent been hyper or depressed in the same day. think i should speak to someone, cos i also have panic disorder and that dont help

Answer by lynn
Submitted on 3/29/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I have had a close friend, who has been in college for 2 years now recently tell me he has Bipolar 2. i have been diagnosed with manic depression, and nightmare induced nightmares. he knows about what i have, and i him, but i am unsure how things Will be now. we stopped talking for a while and just recently when we started talking again did he tell me of his bipolar 2 development. i don't know how to act, what to do, or how to understand it, but i will be spending a weekend with him and i need help.

Answer by Interesting you say God Bless-I'm still trying to figure what kind of God lets people go through this crap-Speaking from experience unfortunately.
Submitted on 5/3/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I would like to know what kind of God lets people go through this crap-speaking from experience and don't care anymore.

Answer by ashley
Submitted on 5/8/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Alot things on here i think are gonna help me.I'm not bipolar but my step mom is.But that's not who I'm dealing with i have a bf that is and i need help on how to deal with him he told me he is bipolar is he. Sometimes he's really happy and other times he's sad but doesn't even have a reason.He will get really mad over something stupid and won't talk to me for quite awhile and will say really mean things to me and usually after that when i start crying and he apologizes and says he doesn't mean it he can't help it when he gets mad and he says it's because he's bipolar can anyone help me,how i can deal with this?

Answer by Star
Submitted on 6/6/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Have Faith In Hope

Answer by Ralopib
Submitted on 6/30/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I just wanted to say that if you HAVE bipolar that doesn't mean that you ARE bipolar. If you have cancer, does that mean you are cancer?

Answer by lala
Submitted on 7/12/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
my husband has bipolar II and i want to know how can i help him?

Answer by Beau
Submitted on 8/14/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Is it possibly to have both bipolar 1 and 2?

Answer by Dylan
Submitted on 8/26/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
I'm Dylan and 17 years old. I was diagnosed Bipolar II about a month ago, and went through some major profound life changing events. I had found out I had been depressed for approximately 5 years which was finally followed by a hypo-manic bliss. The hypo-manic bliss slowly went away after about 20 days leading me back to my old self. When I was depressed I spent almost all of my time worrying about everything, but now that is just a lost concept. I never worry about anything and I have the best mental healthy I've ever had in my life.

Answer by TRIPOLAR
Submitted on 11/1/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
just wondering .... i may have bipolar2 so says the doc but how in the world can anyone be sure of what the problem is. doesn't alot of it depend on how well i can articulate myself? i am such a mess that i am not sure i am or can get my points across. how ever will the doc know what's up?

Answer by BlackMage
Submitted on 11/21/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
The major difference between Bipolar 1 and 2 is that with 2 you don't usually get high manics. However you can get more crippling lows (some argue this is Bipolar NOS). I have had one major manic episode in my life, but I have SEVERE DEPRESSIONS (some lasting weeks in which I can barely leave my bed). I was diagnosed my sophomore year of high school. I ignored it and by my senior year I attempted to commit suicide. Thank god my brother skipped practice. I say this so that you will know, that you shouldn't ignore how your problem, it can get worse.

Answer by jazzman
Submitted on 12/5/2005
Rating: Not yet rated	Rate this answer:
Hi folk I'm a 38 yr old male was just told that I have bipolar 2. I think it is very hard from a new people to get thought. I'm asking this question how do you and your spouse get thought everything