Info on Bipolar Disorder - Bipolar Disorder Type II

by A.A.
(Art Therapy Student, Washington)

Many people have heard of Bipolar Disorder. What is often times not known about bipolar disorder is that there are many forms of it, each one presenting a different variety of symptoms.

Bipolar Disorder is characterized by "ups and downs" in a person's mood; periods of mania alternating with periods of depression. One of the more common types of bipolar disorder is Type II.

What is the Difference Between BPD I and BPD II?

The main difference between the two types of Bipolar Disorder are the intensities of the Mania that those who suffer from Bipolar Disorder experience:

Bipolar Type One: Mania

-Mania: very high mood, feeling of invincibility, euphoria

- possible psychotic episodes, sometimes not capable
of coherent thought or communication, possible very destructive behavior

Bipolar Type Two: Hypomania

- Hypomania: less than severe than full blown case of mania, but displaying very similar symptoms, sometimes characterized by elevated mood or irritability, increase in goal oriented plans and productivity,
possible destructive behavior (but less destructive than with Mania)

Similarities Between the possible symptoms of Hypomania and Mania:
- Rapid Speech
- Grandiosity
- Sometimes unable to sit still or relax
- Decreased need for sleep
- Impulsive tendencies
- Hypersexuality
- Energetic
- Bouts of Creativity
- Less need for food
- Eating poorly (unhealthy)

In both both types of bipolar disorder, Depression is evident, but commonly more so in bipolar type 2. For those who suffer from bipolar type 2, the highs are often less intense and shorter than those who suffer from bipolar type 1.

I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when I was 16 years old. During November of my Junior year of High School I began to fall apart. I could not stop crying, I was anxiety ridden and I felt what I could only describe as "numbness" towards everyone and everything that I love. I have always been a straight A student (which now I can partly attribute to hypomania), and suddenly school was not even worth attending. In the matter of a week, I had spiraled out of control. I stopped talking to friends, cried in my room constantly, and suffered from constant panic attacks.

In February of 2009 I finally began to attend therapy. In therapy we explored a lot of issues in my childhood that my mother's bipolar disorder had caused. Everyday of therapy was like an emotional workout and through a lot of talking and honesty my therapist and I came to the realization that I was defiantly bipolar - bipolar type II, to be exact. According to The Depression and Bipolar Alliance (www.dbsalliance.org), my mother being bipolar meant that I had up to a 30% chance of also being bipolar.

Now, I am on both an SSRI (Anti- Anxiety/ Depression Medication) and a mood stabilizer.

I still have low low's - and I still have highs where it feels like I can do anything I put my mind to, where I can work on projects for six hours straight and accomplish a week's worth of work in a single evening.
I still find myself "acting out" in social situations, being the loudest life of the party, but feeling weird on the inside......or talking so fast and loud about insignificant things that I become embarrassed.
I am still the straight A overachiever....and the "crazy artist".

So, please remember, even after medication and therapy, someone who suffers from any type of bipolar disorder, IS STILL bipolar...and still needs support from loved ones.