Bipolar 2

[Depressed in SF]

I've recently been diagnosed with Bipolar 2 disorder. For those who aren't aware of the differences between Bipolar 1 & 2, here's the wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_II_disorder

I'd previously been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder with acute panic attacks. It was difficult for my doc to accurately diagnose me because I was always on cocaine. I got clean for a while and she felt confident in diagnosing me as Bipolar 2.

I'm having trouble reconciling with this diagnosis and navigating my "recovery" or whatever. The "B word" was tough to hear and I've somewhat resisted the diagnosis. Anyway, here is my current med mix:

Propranolol
Vraylar
Lithium
Trintellix
Trazodone
Clonezapam

I've recently returned from a 3 month leave of absence at work and I'm having lots of trouble concentrating, focusing and retaining information. My motivation is not where it needs to be and I fear I'm not meeting the expectations of my role. (I'm in a high paying, high expectations type of career)

Anyway, that's enough about me. Do any of you have Bipolar 2? What has been your experience? Do you have any advice for someone who's new to the diagnosis? Any tips? Any meds that have worked well for you? etc....

Thanks!

 

[BananaAnna]

I don’t have B2 but I do have B1. I also have GAD and PTSD. So a little the same a little different. I’ve struggled with pill addiction and wish you the best on your journey.

Medicines react differently for everyone but here is my experience with the ones on your list I’ve taken.

Lithium: I was on for a very short time. I wasn’t on it long enough to really know it’s effectiveness. I had bad side effects so I discontinued.

Trazodone: I took for insomnia but it was not effective for me. No side effects that I noticed.

Clonazepam: this effectively treated my anxiety and helped me sleep. Has “potential for abuse” so most doctors won’t do long term treatment at least where I am. It worked really well for me though.

I’ve also been on latuda, lamitical, Prozac, risperdone, depekote. I’ve tried loads of other meds as well. It can be extremely difficult to find the right combo. Plus the side effects can be a bitch.

Accepting a diagnosis (ugh hate that word) can be hard. That I completely understand. I was diagnosed 4 years ago. There are times that I still question it. I learn everything I can about it. I read articles and blogs and any material I can read to better understand everything. That’s helped me a lot. I try to keep track of my mood cycles the best I can. It’s easier to keep track of depression for me. I get a little...uhhh.. crazy with mania. I do have more depressive episodes than manic though.

Bipolar can be very different for different people though. I’ve met 2 people with B2 in group therapy I had to do. They were very different. One had more hypomanic than depression episodes and the other had episodes similar to mine she just didn’t go full on manic like I do.

My mother also has B1 and she’s a recovering crack addict. One psychiatrist told me that crack and cocaine are stimulants so they put you in a euphoric state similar to what some experience with mania and hypomania. She said it can make recovery more difficult when a bipolar person is in a depressive state because they want that euphoria again. I haven’t done any research on that and I’ve never done cocaine so I don’t know how true that is. Just thought I would share in case it helps any.

 

[Depressed in SF]

My mother also has B1 and she’s a recovering crack addict. One psychiatrist told me that crack and cocaine are stimulants so they put you in a euphoric state similar to what some experience with mania and hypomania. She said it can make recovery more difficult when a bipolar person is in a depressive state because they want that euphoria again. I haven’t done any research on that and I’ve never done cocaine so I don’t know how true that is. Just thought I would share in case it helps any.

Thank you so much for the response and for sharing so much about your experience...super helpful for me.

As for the cocaine, your doctor is correct, it is a stimulant with euphoric effects. As someone with depressive episodes, I can attest to the fact that you definitely want to escape your miserable condition and chase that euphoria. The lows that follow the highs are brutal though...debilitating.

 

[BananaAnna]

Don’t hesitate if you have any questions. Other than a doctor, I didn’t have anyone I could really talk to when I first got diagnosed. Well I had my hubby it he doesn’t have it so it’s hard for him to understand. What am I talking about? I don’t have anyone now I can talk to about it who gets it lol.

Bipolar is like a dirty word. I haven’t told many people I have it. Most have pretty poor knowledge about it. I told one person who I thought was my friend and she had a bad reaction. She was telling me all about her depression and I tried to sympathize with her and told her how I totally understand. Mistake!

 

[cymbele]

Hi I am bp2 also but have been on meds for so long I have been so stable I almost have forgotten what the highs were like. Major depressive too when I get depressed. But I remember telling a GP - who didn't listen - that I wanted something to lower the highs and raise my mood a bit rather than the swings I was having. Now I am relatively stable as I have said. Doesn't kill all the moods high and low but I don't swing like I used to. I haven't changed any medication but the pdoc says some people find the magic formula and do well. I am on abilify (generic) lamictal (generic),and venalfaxine which is generic for Effexor. And I do well.
I don't talk about it to anyone but have a lot of people encourage me to drop the meds. But I resist and usually that when I tell them I'm bipolar then they stop encouraging me to stop the meds.