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Originally Posted by Phoenix_1
I find that the more I read the less I know about the difference between hypomania and mania. Karla Dougherty in her book "Less than Crazy" says that for BP II the hypomania shows up as anxiety. I can be depressed and anxious at the same time. Is that then a mixed episode? And when I'm hypomanic I feel great and take on big projects, go into business, spend money, etc. etc. Am I BP I then instead of BP II? I've never hallucinated etc., is that the difference between BP I and BP II? It's all really confusing. I know I've been this way since the age of 14, maybe earlier. (I'm now 57 and was just diagnosed June 30). John McManamy at www.mcmanweb.com believes that anti-depressants may cause BP. He talks about the various versions of the DSM and how the diagnostic criteria have changed over the years.
Frankly, I'm confused as heck.  |
I have read tons and tons, trying to get all the info I can over several years.
From what I understand hypomania, is elevated, and euphoric still, but still able to actually be quite productive and have some control, and the episodes does not last too long. Mania, is same thing elevated, euphoric, just to a higher degree, making the person less productive after a short period, and loss of ability to take control at all, psychosis maybe present and episode lasts longer. Depression and anxiety together, well would not be hypomania because of the depressed mood, mixed mood maybe, depression with with anxiety. Anxiety and agitation can go hand in hand with any mental illness or no mental illness at all. It is the body's way of dealing with stress. I'm not saying this as the gospel , this is just they way I understand it.
The DSM-VI is does not cover every aspect, it's a bit narrow, and leaves a lot of room for questions. To me it seems bipolar wears many masks and is very good at morphing itself at any given time. I have read many books that have wrong or misleading info in them, so just because it's published does not mean it is accurate.
"Specifically, hypomania is distinguished from mania by the absence of
psychotic symptoms and grandiosity, and by its lesser degree of impact on functioning. Hypomania is a feature of bipolar II disorder and cyclothymia, but can also occur in schizoaffective disorder . Hypomania is also a feature of bipolar I as it arises in sequential procession as the mood disorder fluctuates between normal mood and mania. Hypomania can occur when moods progress downwards from a manic mood state to a normal mood. Hypomania is sometimes credited with increasing creativity and productive energy."
this is from the wikipedia but I think it gives the general gist of it. That being said, who here experiences just what the text book says
