[bos314489]

Hi, I was diagnosed with bipolar 1. I have only had one manic episode in my life and that was 20 years ago. I have had 2 or 3 hypomanic episodes as well about 10 years ago lasting only a couple days. Whenever I research bipolar information, it talkes about swinging from one high mood to a depressed mood. I never have a high mood. I am either "baseline mood" or depressed all the time. On a scale of 1 to 10 on a good day like a 6 or 7. Sometimes I wonder if I am misdiagnosed although I was treated for major depression for 20 years with numerous meds that did not work and then finally went to the Mayo clinic to a psychiatrist who did diagnose me with bipolar type 1 and I did feel better on the meds he put me on. Does anyone else with bipolar mostly feel depressed?

[cocoabeans]

Yes, not me I've got what they think could be one but two just because professionals are never around to witness it and I don't go into a lot of details with em, what's the point? Heck, I don't even take medication or have a doctor now, but all you need for a bipolar 1 diagnosis is a single episode of full blown mania, you can never be truly manic again and that doesn't change it.

Now, are your depressions a lot of mixed states? Again, they can call that bipolar 1.

Really though the drug guidelines seem about the same for both and symptoms are treated as they come frequently deviating from those guidelines. There is a lot of hit and miss so, of you're find with your current situation, don't worry about the label.

[Victoria'smom]

I'm mostly mixed part depressed, part manic.

[BipolaRNurse]

I've had mixed episodes. I should think I'd end up with a BP 2 dx because I've never had what I've heard described as full-blown mania, but if you count the mixed moods.........well, I still don't see how that alone could make somebody a 1??

ETA: By the way, I may be a registered nurse who knows a lot of medical stuff, but when it comes to my own health issues, I tend to turn stupid and act like I've never even heard of the condition. So if I sometimes sound like an ignoramus when I post here, now you know why. LOL

[Anneinside]

I am diagnosed Bipolar 1 because I have had numerous mixed episodes some years back. Now I just have hypomania and depression and depression and depression... yes, much more depression than anything else.

[bos314489]

Thank you for the replies. I think maybe I am having mixed states. I have a really agitated, irritable depression and I feel restless yet I am extremely fatigued. I also have crying spells a lot and have anxiety with a lot of ruminative thoughts.

[usbusi]

Yes and Yes here.

I have had 3 full blown manic episodes, and I used to get a bit hypomanic but not anymore. So I mostly struggle with depression. Although I am BP I because if you have ever had a full manic episode than you are categorized BP I.

[bunnifoo]

I mostly have struggled with depression with some hypo mania or mixed state. I think I've only had 1 or 2 true manic episodes, although my current pdoc said those were more mixed state, but they were most severe mania episodes I've had.

In fact I was originally diagonsed with depression as a teenager and then with "atypical" depression (because it was bipolar disorder).

I don't know what my diagonsis is other than bipolar disorder and social anxiety and agoraphobia (although it's not that bad). The medications work (for the most part) and that, I think, is more important than trying to figure out what kind of bipolar disorder you have.

[~Christina]

Anger irritable is signs of Mania.. Not everyone get the happy I can conquer the world stuff.

[Odee]

Originally Posted by bos314489

Thank you for the replies. I think maybe I am having mixed states. I have a really agitated, irritable depression and I feel restless yet I am extremely fatigued. I also have crying spells a lot and have anxiety with a lot of ruminative thoughts.

My world of Bipolar 2.

Of the 'hypomanic' symptoms I have experienced, they might as well be indiscernible from depression.

MoreThingsWrong is right: No euphoria here.

[Moose72]

Bp 1 here.

[OutlawedSpirit]

I was bipolar 1 until my dx changed to schizoaffective bipolar type, but I have a lot more problems with mania than I do depression, but I don't see why it wouldn't work the other way too.

[Christa87413]

I'm a raging BP1 here

[bos314489]

So can symptoms of mania be considered irritability, anger, restlessness, anxiety, agitation and not feeling "high" because I always associated manic symptoms with the high feeling. But the symptoms I mentioned are all symtoms of depression too, so how would I know if I am going through some mixed states with manic/depression or if my symptoms are just depression?

[Christa87413]

Well, when I am in a psychotic state due to my mania, and even the times leading up to it, I start feeling high. I'm irritable because no one understands me, or are able to keep up.. Also goes for the anger and agitation...

Most people who are going threw a manic episode, start feeling a hyper/high feeling. Well, me and a few people I know say that...

What are your thoughts during these time periods?

[rossiv46]

I feel exactly the same way after a year. I was being treated for Major Depression and took all kinds anti depressants and then after a suicide attempt I was rediagnosed Bipolar I. I feel I am mostly depressed, but do have highs but not like you normaly read, really high or really low.

[bos314489]

Christa, I only had one manic episode and it was a very good high on life feeling with lots of energy, etc. I did not feel any depression at all during that time. This was over 10 years ago and I have not felt manic like that since. I think I am suffering from depression now. I seem to be either normal mood or really depressed with my bipolar, never up except for that one time. How many times do you cycle from manic to depressed?

[Anika.]

I also am dx'd with Bipolar 1. I had many many full blown manias, with lots of depressions. Honestly and I know unlike a lot of people here the mania always caused me more problems than depression. When I was younger I got a lot of the euphoric mania, tho I would say this... Mania only remains euphoric untill a point and when I would become so manic the euphoric good feelings would flee, and being so out of my mind would cause me to become scared, paranoid and psychotic, tho not really depressed. It's a hard thing to describe because I do not feel like that fits into dysphoric mania either and it not really a mixed episode either and I know those well. For me this does not include rage or irritability, neither of which I have ever had much of. Tho I do become extremely physically and mentally aggitated...not irritated beyond a point that is even really workable at all. Maybe I am a bit alone on that not sure. I should say used to, I have not been that way in a very long time. So maybe the mania just become dysphoric at a point, but without the rage type feelings that others talk about. What ever is is, I has made me never want to experience mania again.

The idea that mania is great and fun and so good feeling I think is a bit of generalization. Mania can indeed be very scary, depending maybe on how we feel about not feeling in control. How we perceive mania to feel might make a big difference in experience of it. When people talk about good manias all I can relate that to in myself is hypomania. Which is pretty short lived. The length of my manic episodes usually lasted months which might be why it became unbearable. I always seemed to be maybe a little more on the manic side but I learnt early on many good coping skills for depression that really seemed to help.

[bos314489]

Anika, can you share some of your coping skills for depression? I am struggling.

[Christa87413]

Originally Posted by bos314489

Christa, I only had one manic episode and it was a very good high on life feeling with lots of energy, etc. I did not feel any depression at all during that time. This was over 10 years ago and I have not felt manic like that since. I think I am suffering from depression now. I seem to be either normal mood or really depressed with my bipolar, never up except for that one time. How many times do you cycle from manic to depressed?

my cycling USE to go a month of manic, 2 weeks depression, then back to manic.. My manics would take a week before it would get worse, it would always start with odd lil signs.. I'd start feeling less tired during the day, I'd get excited easier, then before I knew it, I was leaving my daughter with my dad while I was going out all night doing stupid things.. Then it would start to leave me. And I had time to think. Then that would send me into my depression.. Since July, my moods started changing weekly, then before I knew it, my moods started changing daily. One day I was manic, then next depressed. It kinda sucks.... Still trying to battle it all, but my pills are helpin me bounce back a tad quicker, and not send me into a crazed state.