[Sterrin]

Are Mania and Hypomania treated differently; different drugs or therapy or the like? Does it matter as to which diagnosis one has?

Lysias

[Anneinside]

No, the same medications that are used for mania are also for hypomania. The only difference in mania and hypomania is that mania interferes with being able to function in basic ways and could require hospitalization. Most people with hypomania are able to function even though the symptoms are present. The only thing I that really shows my mania is the lack of being able to take care of my finances.

Originally Posted by Anneinside

No, the same medications that are used for mania are also for hypomania. The only difference in mania and hypomania is that mania interferes with being able to function in basic ways and could require hospitalization. Most people with hypomania are able to function even though the symptoms are present. The only thing I that really shows my mania is the lack of being able to take care of my finances.

I agree with that, when I am manic at first it feels good, but very quickly it becomes debilitating, my level of functioning becomes so low that it becomes hard to do simple basic things like wash the dishes, make meals ect.

Also can psychosis be present in bipolar 2, I'm not sure, however I think anything is possible.

[jack123]

My mania also inhibits my ability to manage money. My mom is now going to be managing my money and setting my budgets. It is one thing I just can't do.

[dragonfly2]

I agree - the treatments are the same, however the dosages may be higher for mania than hypomania. Also, ECT is sometimes used to treat mania, but not hypomania.

Anika wrote:
Also can psychosis be present in bipolar 2, I'm not sure

No. By definition, psychosis is not present in bipolar 2. Having said that, if psychosis is a part of a person's experience of mania, then an antipsychotic is typically added, where one might not necessarily be used in hypomania.

[Sterrin]

Thanks for replying everyone. I've been diagnosed BP II for 3 years now. Before then it'd always been assumed that I'd had MDD (including by me). The last time I was on antidepressants, after about a year of non-response my psychiatrist asked about hypomania, and family history and such.

I couldn't get over the 'euphoria' thing for some time. I found out just then that mom was schizoaffective and I also found out that 'irritable' worked instead of mania it made a little more sense to me.

So here I am, BP II. I'm in treatment and I'm taking lithium and lamictal. I've 'never' had a manic episode. The depression is much better. I wouldn't say I'm all that much more functional, but I feel better. Here's this though; One of the signs of mania is 'reckless behavior,' and I assume that means drugs, or dangerous sex, or whatever; nothing I've ever done. Then I start remembering things.

• I went out bought a car on a whim one afternoon. I'd dropped my then BP I spouse off to a therapy session. I drove to a car dealer and bought a sports car. (Now that is irony.)
• I drove said sports car as it should be driven; fast, very very fast.
• Got married to said spouse above because her family had a fit over our living together - so we got married, a few days later.
• I left said spouse on a whim. I just walked out the door one day. Didn't take anything with me, say goodbye, didn't have a plan where I would go. I tried to sleep in said sports car.
• Lived in a no pet apartment. went to pet show, bought show cat (think expensive), took cat home, 2 days later had to give cat away.
• Some time before I was diagnosed BP my then therapist would have to send me out to eat because I didn't, or wouldn't eat on my own.
• Had my car die in the middle of the street. I just got out and continued on my way on foot.
• Drove someone off the road one fine day. (I quit driving for a year after this one.)
• Me, a wall-flower, took a job as a door-to-door salesperson, out of town, because I thought that God would think it a good idea (at 17) (And as for risky behavior that job almost killed me twice.)

There's more, but I don't think I'll post them. If mania is just psychosis, then no problem, yes? Impaired functioning? I've had that a long time, so it can't be just for mania. Reckless behavior? That list sounds pretty 'manicy' if you know what I mean. Some of the ones I didn't include were more out there than those on the list. The acts weren't all at the same time, like within 2 week period or something. Just bursts of craziness. And none of them were hospitalizable, maybe.

So I'm shaking writing this. Should I Change meds? Increase meds? panic? I'm leaning toward the latter. If the drugs and treatment for mania/hypomania are the same where am I headed? I've been noticing more and more hypomanic moods recently and I never knew how close to the edge I've danced in the past and it's like I'm looking over the cliff all of a sudden.

[Trippin2.0]

I'm bp2. I experience psychosis during depressive episodes... So while it's not common,it's not unheard of either...