[Bipolarchic14]

I have noticed that when I get really severe depressive symptoms they happen at night and can last several hours. This is the time of day when I slow down. I am not necessarily always consistently depressed. When I am at work for example, I am preoccupied and symptoms aren't as bad' most days anyway. I do fluctuate between irritable and suicidal sort of like rapid cycling but it can happen within a day and sometimes I get so irritable that this will trigger feelings of suicide just simply because I get tired of dealing with people. I am wondering if other people with bp2 are in a constant state of depression when they relapse or if they have it more intense then symptoms subside and then repeat?

What time at night do the symptoms start? When do you take your medication? What do you mean by "relapse"?

I have BP2, and I know that I feel more depressed, cranky, and/or have racing thoughts starting ~7-8pm when my medication wears off. These are side effects that I've learned to be aware of and accept. I cope by scheduling earlier bedtimes (e.g. 9.30-11.30pm), because I know that I'm less productive and stable when my medication wears off.

[jesusplay]

I'm bipolar I and I've been depressed for 8 months so what are you saying? Depression is exclusive to bp2?

[swheaton]

It sounds like when you allow yourself time to stop...you think too much. I can fall into depression rather quickly and it will last a long time. Maybe your meds are at there end time.

Jesusplay, what it the difference between BP1 and BP2?

[swheaton]

I'm only asking because both include. Depression and mania.

[Bipolarchic14]

I take lamotrigine. I just started meds a few weeks ago and so I do not get them as often now but still some. This was prior to meds. I was reading some of the symptoms and I understood this as being in a state of constant depression. It's possible I have been this way for so long that I really just notice it more when it's more severe. I had an argument with a past therapist one time when I was having really strong suicidal thoughts and I was trying to argue logically about these thoughts. I had mentioned that I feel suicidal even when I am not depressed. I would ask myself when I was in a stable state if I still wanted to die. The answer was still yes. His argument was simply when I am not depressed I am still depressed.??? And my argument was I would know if I was depressed...I have been there too many times to not know. This argument took up most of our session and ended short with me running out of therapy early. I was really angry and confused. I so desperately want this to be a wrong diagnoses. I Also don't recall a lot of racing thoughts. I had a bad episode a few years back where I only slept two to three hours a night for a little over a month. It did leave me in a really bad place on the other end. My memory of that time is fuzzy so I can't remember all the symptoms. The medicine is helping though so I
may not be able to deny this much more

[Bipolarchic14]

No Jesus play not saying that at all. I am simply trying yo figure out if I m bp at all. I was asking specifically bp2 because that's what I have been diagnosed with.

[swheaton]

I'm BP2 as well. I was in a major well of depression with a stopped suicide attempt which led to hospitalization in 2012. I've only had a couple of hypo manic episodes.

Bipolarchic14 I understand exactly what you mean. I experience the same thing.

[Bipolarchic14]

Are you consistently depressed swheaton when in a depressive state or do you have some normal moments with waves of really bad depression.

[swheaton]

I have normal moments and I fall into depression pretty quickly. That depression can last days, weeks and many months.

[Bipolarchic14]

Thank you