What is Bipolar II (2)?
545791
You are likely Hypo-manic. I am Bipolar II also. I had very deep depressive episodes and very few periods where I felt normal. I was never happy.  So yes, you can definitely be bipolar and not have manic episodes.\n\nAs a point of reference I am including a link to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). It is a very good source of information for you. Just click the link below to visit the site. It will open in the bipolar section.\n\nIf you would like more info or just to communicate with me click my name and see my profile. I really hope this clears things up for you. I will be glad to help in anyway I can, just ask.\n\nSincerely,\nTerry
551705
That sounds pretty weird that your doctor after only 2 visits would diagnose you with bipolar right away. It's really tricky to diagnose because it's so complex. Bipolar has a lot of similar symptoms as other disorders. The best way to really find out what's wrong with you is to tell your doctor EVERYTHING that you feel. Write stuff down between visits so you don't forget to tell her about some things that may be important. Plus, you might be feeling different when you go see her and not be able to explain how you were feeling inbetween. Communication is SOOO important because there's no other way they can tell what's wrong. As far as meds goes....you've got to be patient because different meds work for different people and the side effects are different from person to person too. It's trial and error and the same thing applies....you HAVE to tell your doctor everything that you're feeling.
1084330
I read both of your questions, Rosey. It is too bad that you were not diagnosed correctly to begin with. A good psychiatrist would not have put you on antidepressants without a mood stabilizer if your diagnosis was Manic Depression (Bi-Polar Disorder). \nI think the drug you are inquiring about is LAMICTAL, an anti-seizure medication. You can read about it at : http://www.lamictal.com/epilepsy/hcp/indications/faq.html\nI don't think this medication will cause bloating, and most people have no problems with it. You have had a bad reaction in the past and it is causing some anxiety, I think. What I know for certain is that if you are Bi-Polar you need a medication. Living without the meds is miserable. You won't know if Lamictal is a good medication for you or not unless you try it. The Depakote you were on does not usually cause serious stomach problems, so maybe you have a sensitive stomach. \nYou have discovered a lot about yourself : 1.you cannot take antidepressants without a mood stabilizer because it triggers the mania, 2. you have a sensitive stomach, 3. you are currently anxious. .......  Start keeping a daily diary about how you feel after you start on the Lamictal. If you have adverse reactions, call your doctor. Take your diary to your doctor on your next appointment. It will help the doctor assess your progress. There are other anti-convulsants that are available if this one doesn't work, and as a responsible adult you will be able to help your doctor make informed decisions. ...... Good Luck ! I understand EXACTLY how you feel !
190261
Bipolar is a lifelong condition that affects people all over the world.  It tends to run in families.
706202
There are two major Bipolar types (I and II).. There are also some subsets.  All have to do with type and frequency of mood changes.  Doctors use something called the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual.  You could get a copy and read all the choices, but then, if you're like me, you'll probably think that you fit all of them.  Ask your doctor about it and he/she will be able to explain it clearly and to explain your particular diagnosis to you.
1170450
Manic Depression - Highs & Lows\n\nIt is like riding a roller coaster. The HIGH part or MANIC is when you are riding UP to the top. Everything is FINE, GREAT, Fantastic, Wonderful etc\n\nThe LOW PART or Depression is when you are going DOWN. Sad, Worthlessness, Failure, Depressed etc.\n\nThere is MORE th BiPolar than what you can get on  here. It is also sometimes confused with PMDD  - Pre-Menstral Dysphoric Disorder, PPD - Post Partum Disorder & other illnesses.\n\nA psychiatric evaluation will help with diagnosing BiPolar disorder. \n\nA Psychiatrist writes the presriptions for medication\nA Psychologst does Therapy, gives recommendations etc.\nA Social Worker does the Intake/Evaluation Process.
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Well, what you've described are sort of the symptoms of bipolar disorder, but not really, so I don't understand the question. What you describe would barely count as cyclothymia, to be honest. Have you been diagnosed as bipolar, or do you just think you may be?\n\nHere's the lowdown: OK, so it's a mood disorder and a serious mental illness. It has a strong genetic component, but appears to be triggered environmentally. There are no diagnostic tests for it, just psychiatric evaluation. Most sufferers are not diagnosed until middle age, and it takes an average of around 8-10 years to get a correct diagnosis. In recent years bipolar disorder has become an 'in' diagnosis, and many more people are being diagnosed at younger and younger ages.\n\nIt is characterised by episodes of severe clinical depression and mania or hypomania (for definitions of those, see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Current_diagnostic_criteria_for_bipolar_disorder The extreme end of mania often turns into psychosis, complete with hallucinations and delusions. During manic phases, the persons judgement and perception of reality is severely compromised, leading to risky actions with potentially damaging consequences (financially, sexually and relationship-wise). Untreated, episodes generally worsen over time due to an effect known as kindling. Untreated Bipolar sufferers are at a very high risk of suicide: 20-25% attempt it, and and 15% succeed.\n\nThe cycles in bipolar disorder are much longer than people generally believe. Anyone whose mood changes from minute to minute is very unlikely to be bipolar. Bipolar 1 is characterised by mood episodes lasting many months, while Bipolar 2 has episodes in the region of weeks to months. Rapid and ultra-rapid cycling bipolar disorder is rare, and cycles last days to weeks.\n\nThere are many drugs available to treat the symptoms of bipolar (there is no cure). These are either anti-convulsants or anti-psychotics (personally I take both), and the most well known of these is Lithium. Most patients will go through a number of different drugs before finding one that works for them.\n\nIf this really isn't you, then be thankful. Best wishes.
1185919
bipolar disorder, as mood stabilizing drug
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Medication is the only answer. Bipolar Disorder is a serious mental illness and untreated, it will only get worse and carries a 20-25% suicide risk.\n\nYou need to see a doctor if you have not already been diagnosed.
1183021
This medication is used to treat manic-depressive disorder (bipolar disorder). It works to stabilize the mood and reduces extremes in behavior.
1147166
First let me say that DODA is wrong about maina.  Those with bipolar II cycle between depression and hypo-mania.  Perhaps DODA will check the link below. We are all learning, that's the reson we are here asking and answering..\n\nhttp://www.webmd.com/drugs/mono-9095-PAROXETINE+-+ORAL.aspx?drugid=6969&drugname=Paroxetine+HCl+Oral\n\nI am bipolar II and also would rapid cycle.  I am currently taking 100mg Seroquel 20-30 minutes before bed time.  This is an anti-psychotic.  It stabilizes my mood and helps me sleep at night.  I'm also taking 20mg Paroxetine (Paxil) each morning.  Paroxetine is a SSRI antidepressant.\n\nThis combination has been working well for me for about 4 months now.  What a relief!  I do plan to as my doctor about reducing the Seroquel because it does make me feel fatigued for half the next day at this dose.\n\nOne secret to tell you about.  The cost between say a 50mg bottle and a 100mg bottle of any medication is very small.  Ask your doctor to prescribe a dose double what you need, then buy a pill cutter and cut them in half.  I you pay for your prescriptions you will pay a few dollars more when you refill, but you get twice the medication.  I pay $40 for my Seroquel since I have insurance. So I pay $40 every 2 months instead of $40 every month.  Some doctors will do this, some won't.  Also not all pills can be cut, especially controlled release, or coated tablets.\n\nCheck out the links below for loads of information.  You may contact me if you need more info or just want to talk.\n\nSincerely,\nTerry\n\nMY MISTAKE\nAFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION DODA WAS NOT WRONG. HYPOMAINA IS A MOOD LEVEL ELEVATED ABOVE THAT OF "NORMAL", THOUGH IT IS NOT AS SEVERE AS FULL BLOWN MANIA.
602496
I have type II Bipolar(mostly depression). I take 100mg lamictal, 300mg Zonegran(not frequently used by doctors)Relatively new still around here, but it is a seizure type medication, and 20mg prozac. These work great for me and i am able to live a normal life. In the past I had been taking 2500mg Depakote and felt terrible. I kept gaining weight and got up to over 200lbs, I was tired all the time and did not want to leave the house, My hair began falling out and I had so much edema that you could dent me like rotten fruit and I had to take lasix and aldactone to counter some of the fluids. My doctor would not switch my medications so i found one who would. With current medications I lost the 70 lbs. that I gained from depakote, I am able to work full time, manage my home and care for my children. Life is good again.
1158059
Bipolar disorder (previously known as manic depression) is a diagnostic category describing a class of mood disorders where the person experiences states or episodes of depression and/or mania, hypomania, and/or mixed states. Left untreated, it is a severely disabling psychiatric condition. The difference between bipolar disorder and unipolar disorder (also called major depression)  is that bipolar disorder involves "energized" or "activated" mood states in addition to depressed mood states. The duration and intensity of mood states varies widely among people with the illness. Fluctuating from one mood state to another is called "cycling" or having mood swings. Mood swings cause impairment not only in one's mood, but also in one's energy level, sleep pattern, activity level, social rhythms and thinking abilities. Many people become fully disabled - for some period of time - after being diagnosed, and during this time may have great difficulty functioning.   \n\nFor more info got to:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder
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Yeah you should check with your doctor.  Bipolar is a very severe illness and you shouldn't ingest anything without knowing what affect it will have on your mood
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Bipolar or manic depressive is a chemical imbalance in the brain.  A person who is bipolar experiences either very high highs in moods or very low moods.  The mood can last for days, weeks months.  Often when in a high mood (manic), the person will be so hyper, often unable to sleep they are so hyper.  When in a low mood they will be very depressed, often tearful, angry, and unable to cope.\n\nIf you draw a straight line midway of a sheet of paper across the paper, and label this as a normal person who gets up in the Am and feels like this is just like every morning....normal....then 1/2 inch down draw a line.  This is the same person who felt normal when the day falls apart and they are at the pits of  depression.\n\nDraw a line 1/2 inch above this and this is a normal person who is so happy, they just won the lottery.....life is great.\n\nNow the bipolar person.  You would go 4 inches up the top of the midline of the normal person and draw a line.  The is the bipolar high.  They are on top of the world filled with energy, this is their normal high.\n\nGo 4 inches below the middle line in the middle of the page and draw a line.  This is the of the bipolar in depression.\n\nA simple salt derived tablet called lithuim can control a bipolar person.  But, here is the trigger.  A bipolar person cannot hand feeling normal.  They cannot handle not feeling the mania they feel above the halfway line.  They cannot handle life's little ups and downs like us.  So they don't want/can't handle the normal feelings we have to face day in and day out in a normal life.  So they don't want to take the medication.\n\nGo down to the bottom line on the page 4 inches down from a normal persons normal feelings.  This is depression unimaginable by the normal person.  A bipolar can never reach the normal leval.  Even with the lithium.  And when the depessive stage hits they hit rock bottom.  And, yes, suicidal thoughts are common.\n\n\n_______________Bipolar high\n\n\n\n\n\n\n_______________Non bipolar high (normal person)\n\n\n_______________Normal day in nonbipolar\n\n\n------------------------Normal person lowest point of depression\n\n\n\n\n\n\n_______________Bipolar depression.....deep depression, sense of inability to cope.  Suicide in this state is high.\n\n\nHope this makes sense.
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i dont know about the combo you're on now, but i do know that wellbutrin is the worst medication to take for bipolar. it makes it worse.
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Bipolar and mania are MILD mental disorders?  I'd like to know how you came up with that definition!\n\nPeople with bipolar are usually aware of when they are depressed, but not necessarily when they are manic, as mania is often experienced as a positive feeling - being ultra happy, feeling invincible etc