I am currently in my 13th severe month-long depressive episode in the last 20 years with little hope to recovery. I have done a fair share of psychotherapy and adopted different medications yet it seems as stressors line up as they do in life I have not really developed any coping mechanisms and the downward spiral starts very quickly to a state where hospitalization seems to be adquate. Needless to say it has impacted my life in every possible dimension to the point of solopreneurship being my only. professional option and adopting a nomad lifestyle becuase of the negative memories in many of the places I stayed for longer times.

One thing I am noticing this time that prior to this depressive episode I was highly functional. Very disciplined in my routine and habits, highly productive, and quite outgoing for someone with social anxiety.

So with that the difference between the non-depressed and depressed phases could not be more accentuated.

As I seek to restart medication once again I wonder if I need to consider effective treatments for Bi Polar Type II. It hasn't come up in the past with any psychiatrists or psychologists but then the focus has always been on the ongoing depressive episodes and less on the non-depressed states in which family usually tells me to slow down and not overburden myself. I read that not diagnosing the maniac phases is quite common.

Outside of sharing my thinking/concern with my psychiatrist and psychologist, are there any recommended diagnostic tests to take that allow for classifying potential maniac episodes? If anything I would consider them of soft nature which may put me in Type II?

Thanks in advance for any guidance or pointers.