Newly Diagnosed - Have a few questions

I was diagnosed with bipolar II while I was away at college this last year. I have a few questions, in general, about the disorder.

1. I read online that episodes can happen out of the blue with no trigger. Is that the case all of the time? Or just some of the time (and sometimes there is something happening in your life that triggers a manic or depressive episode)?

2. How do you know if you entering a phase of mania or hypomania? I've been realizing that I don't realize that i was hypomanic until the episode ends. How have you learned to recognize the signs? And does it help you during the episode to know that it was coming (or can you avoid the episode all together)?

3. Has anyone chosen to go without medication? If so, how do you manage your symptoms? Also - if you were on medication and chose to go off medication, how did you know that it wasn't that you felt ok because you were in a stable state between cycles?

Welcome to the forum! I'm type 1 so I'll defer on answering...I just wanted to welcome you. This illness requires a lot of support. We are here for you.

Welcome to the forum!

I will try to answer from my perspective:

1. Episodes may occur in response to triggering events and/or just out of the blue.

2. Initially, I had learned about my own symptoms of an impending episode by using mood charts and seeing trends in symptoms. I feel it's very helpful to know when an episode is brewing. I have been able to lessen the impact and the duration via early recognition. I'll do things like immediately target sleep (combat insomnia), will rearrange commitments (less stress), will stop texting or be very mindful if/when texting, will not shop or make any major purchases, etc.

Oh, almost forgot, my husband sees sign/symptoms early and lets me know as well. I trust his feedback. Someone you trust can be very helpful in recognizing subtle changes.

3. I have gone without meds and have lived with largely ineffective meds because that's all that was available until new drugs were released.
I won't be going without meds. It's critical I have effective meds. The most recent success with treatment (Latuda, for me) has made a major difference and confirms my need for meds. I was desperate for help when we'd finally decided to try Latuda and BP-2 was becoming increasingly apparent in my life.

I hope my responses help in some small way.

I also hope to see you around this wonderfully supportive forum.


WC

Hi. I"m Type I also so I'll also defer. I will share with you a webpage (he wrote a book but the webpage is more up to date and probably has more information than the book since it was written years ago) that is extremely helpful, especially with BPII. PsychEducation | Treating the Mood Spectrum It was how I realized what was wrong with me and finally got the right help, 14 years ago.

WOW! Thank you SO much for the link. It's a whole book, I'm excited. I need to read it more carefully to make sure I understand it, but I may be contributing to my insomnia by using my light box at the wrong time.

This looks like a great resource and one I haven't read yet lol. I have read up so much on bipolar disorder and I continue to do so. Knowledge is power. Thank you.

*tracking thread* I too was diagnosed with BP2 in May of this year so I too am still in that learning phase. I've been doing lots of reading/research, trying to keep at least a weekly journal (daily is much harder for me) and working on mood charting to try and keep track of what may be causing some of my varying cycles or episodes.

I also watch the amount (number of hours) of bright sunlight to which I am exposed, especially if feeling hypomania coming on.

I decrease the hours of bright sunlight.

You can read more about this in the link you were given above.
He covers this topic well.


WC

One would think that the sunlight wouldn't be such a trigger, at least in my mind. I mean, they do so that 'natural' light is supposed to be good for you, right?

Blue light is part of natural light. In the winter we don't get enough which is part of seasonal affective disorder and it is what helps with light box therapy. In the summer we can get too much and get manic from it. Amber glass therapy can help with that. Blue light also comes off televisions and computer screens so those can be activating, messing up sleep patterns. I use a program called f.lux to decrease blue light on my computer at night.

You can read more about this by searching on the link I gave above.

Some people find light restriction can really be effective and stick to it really intently; others find it somewhat helpful.

I am bipolar 2 also and I have had the same issue all my life with not knowing
I was hypo until I crashed so to speak.
If there is anything I can do or if my story could help in any way please let me know.

Anyway, that would be great if it helps my insomnia. On day three of zero sleep. None. I don't want mania. Calling pdoc tomorrow if no sleep tonight. Stress triggers my insomnia so I try to control it. The anxiety disorders exacerbate the problem. My body is exhausted but my mind is very busy. That's the problem.

I'll do my best. I have safeguards. One episode I spent $60.000 sixty thousand. Not good.

Divorce and being disabled made me poor that helps curb spending. Lol

((((( RAINYDAY )))))

Peace, Comfort, Joy and Sleep


WC