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Learn About Bipolar 2

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Bipolar Disorder is a serious, but treatable

I started researching what being Bipolar was about. Although I came up with many excellent resourse on the net, I was left unsatisfied. There were descriptions on how to determine if I was bipolar, descriptions of the medications I was taking, and suggestions on what I could do to cope with being bipolar and get on with my life. However, I came across very little on what living a bipolar life would be like

The best book
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy

What is Bipolar II

Bipolar Disorder is a serious, but treatable, illness characterized by extreme fluctuations in mood, ranging from depressive lows to manic highs.
The actual cause of the disease is unknown, making a diagnosis very frustrating for both the patient and their family.
One possible cause is thought to be a chemical imbalance in the brain. Genetics also contribute to the probability that one may develop bipolar disorder.
The general idea is that the disorder can be inherited through abnormal genes that produce too little or too much of a certain chemical to elicit the correct response to certain events. This might explain why manic or depressive episodes are sometimes triggered by stressful life events, though it is hard to say whether the imbalances are a cause of the mood disorder a result of it.

Bipolar, also known as Manic-Depressive disorder, differs greatly from clinical depression though the symptoms of the depressive state are very similar. Manic-Depressive patients often describe mood swings, which can fluctuate from great amounts of energy and confidence to a deep and dangerous level of despair.
The depressive episodes are characterized by symptoms such as prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells. There may also be unexplained changes in eating or sleeping habits accompanied by unexplained aches and pains and extreme fatigue.
Other common complaints include irritability, unexplained anger, anxiety, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, indecisiveness, recurring suicidal thoughts, and an inability to take pleasure in former interests.

On the other side of the spectrum lies the manic episode, marked by increased physical and mental activity and energy with a decreased need for sleep. In addition, the patient may show signs of a heightened mood paired with delusions of grandeur and an inflated sense of self-importance.
Accompanying this is usually racing speech and thought. Most often, there are also instances of reckless behavior, impulsivity, poor judgment, and an inability to concentrate. Some cases also report hallucinations and delusions.

There is a wide variety of treatment options for bipolar patients.
Medication is used to promote mood stability and counter hallucinations and/or delusions. However, this is seldom the only method used. Patients are usually encouraged to undergo talk therapy as well to both learn to help themselves and how to cope with the stigma of bipolar

When I am Hypomanic

Intense creative episodes are, in many instances, indistinguishable from hypomania.

I get ideas on all the things I want to do. Good ideas, even great ideas.

Click to view image details

I think this is what the standard texts mean by grandiose ideas, but it doesn't manifest as "grandiose." Just good ideas and lots and lots ofthem. The number of things I am thinking of can get so numerous and intense that they can halt any functionality I have as I sit down and think on them instead of getting ahead with what I have to do.

How It Feels When I Am Depressed

It becomes harder and harder to understand the task at hand and what I should be doing next. My attention doesn't wander; I just can't figure out what is going on. It's as if my intelligence level starts falling. My ability to complete the day's work starts failing and I start thinking that I'll put of the work until tomorrow.

My Fav Self Help Book

Worth it, even if it just helps a little.

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy [Mass Market Paperback]

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy

by: David D. Burns

Amazon Price: $4.40 (as of 02/14/2012)

This book is arguably the best self-help book available for anyone suffering from depression. It presents the basics of congitive therapy in a format that the average person can use. Cognitive therapy and the overwhelming scientific evidence for its effectiveness are described in the first few chapters. Dysfunctional thought records are introduced as the primary self-help technique for the reader next (in a chapter labeled as self-esteem so do not skip it).

Living and Coping with Bipolar Disorder

Personal Link List

Bipolar disorder is found in disproportionate numbers in people with creative talent such as artists, musicians, authors, poets, and scientists, and it has been speculated that the mechanisms which cause the disorder may be related to those responsible for creativity in these persons. Bipolar I disorder, the diagnosis of which requires over the entire course of the individual's life at least one manic (or mixed) state episode which is usually (though not always) accompanied by major depressive episodes.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is the nation's leading patient-directed organization focusing on the most prevalent mental illnesses - depression and bipolar disorder
Bipolar World: We are a support and educational web site for individuals diagnosed with Bipolar Affective Disorder (Manic Depressive Illness), and for the families and friends who care for them.

"We have walked many miles in your moccasins and truly understand the need for understanding, support and empathy, whether you are newly diagnosed or experienced with the illness.
Extensive Mental Health Information on Specific Topics: Bipolar II is a version of Bipolar Disorder: depression is obvious but mild phases of high
energy ("hypomania"), which can just look like anxiety and insomnia, are also present.
This doesn't look at all like "manic-depression", just big mood and energy swings. But
Bipolar II can be as severe as other forms of Bipolar Disorder, maybe even more prone
to suicide. Bipolar II is an "official" diagnosis in the Bipolar Disorders group
Starting a Self-Help Group: If you'd like to start a self-help group in your area, I strongly encourage you to first find a mental health professional
Bipolar Support and Self-Help: Living with Bipolar Disorder: Managing bipolar disorder starts with proper treatment, including medication and therapy. But there is so much more you can do to help yourself on a day-to-day basis. The daily decisions you make influence the course of your illness: whether your symptoms get better or worse; whether you stay well or experience a relapse; and how quickly you rebound from a mood episode.

Important!

Plan for Life

Plan for Life: Create a Plan for Life
Many depression-related suicides occur during the first three depressive episodes before a person learns that an episode of suicidal thinking is temporary.

As people learn from experience that any given episode will eventually pass, the likelihood that they will actually act on suicidal impulses drops sharply. It is important to have a course of action ready before thoughts of suicide occur. Some people find it helpful to develop a Plan for Life. The Plan for Life lists warning signs you should watch for and actions to take if you feel that you are slipping into suicidal thoughts

Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide

cc licensed flickr photo shared by photomequickbooth

"When I'm happy I feel like crying, but when I'm sad I don't feel like laughing. I think it's better to be happy. Then you get two feelings for the price of one."
- Lily Tomlin as Edith Ann

An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness

An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness [Paperback]

An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness

by: Kay Redfield Jamison

Amazon Price: $7.37 (as of 02/14/2012)

Over the past 20 years I've had several friends who suffered from manic-depressive illnesses. It's abundantly clear to me that the disease is primarily biochemical and "not their fault." But I had trouble understanding why these people refused to take their medication (or stopped taking it after they started) and otherwise engaged in massive denial. Jamison's frank and well-written book was a revelation: now I feel I have a better sense of the seductiveness of mania, and why creative, intelligent people are often willing to risk the lows of their illness for the sake of the highs.

Bipolar News

Source: Medical News Today

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He's bipolar, She's bipolar, Don'tcha wanna be bipolar too?

"I'm bipolar."

"What's bipolar?"

"Manic Depression."

"Oh, isn't that what Patty Duke had?"

"Yeah, but mine's not a Brilliant Madness, it's a pain in the ass."

I once told my mother I was destined to be a great writer. Why, she asked. Because I've met the requisite hospital lock ups and suicide attempts. She wasn't amused.

my lifelong struggles with depression and mania: Excellent articles, very real!!!

Bipolar Disorder for Dummies

The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know [Paperback]

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More Great Info

Bipolar Disorder & the Creative Impact on Society - Associated Content: Robin Williams:
Born in 1952, Robin Williams began his early career on the television show "Mork and Mindy". Most notably considered a comedian full of excitable energy. Although not openly acknowledged, Robin Willliams is believed to be a sufferer of bipolar disorder as exhibited through his creativity and impulsivity.
Bipolar Support: It Takes Skill to Be a Supporter - Associated Content: As a supporter, don't you sometimes feel unappreciated? Underrated? Taken for granted?