[TaubTaube]

I just got Dxed with Bipolar 2. It's kind of a difficult thing to catch and diagnose. Reading Marya Hornbacher's Madness gave me a hint that something else was wrong and my father was a Bipolar I.

Some stuff that I notice about me:

1) My depressions are SUPER ROTTEN BAD. Like can't leave the house, always suicidal and just plain horrid.

2) I get into these hypomania things that I find super annoying.
a) I spend more money. Not to the point of HOLY CRAP, but luckily I was able to catch myself and think "Holy crap, I better get a hold on this before super bad stuff happens.
b) I get SUPER irritable and have snapped at my husband for stupid reasons. I always apologize, but I am pretty upset that it gets to that point.
c) I do this stupid multiple busy work. I start a bunch of stuff, nothing gets done and then that's when the irritable happens.
d) Racing thoughts. It's like some smartarse decided to turn the tennis ball pitching machine on full blast and I can't hit all the balls with the racket.

Still deciding on what other meds to use other than the Cymbalta I am on now.

I just hope I don't wind up with Bipolar I the way my father had. =( That would be scary and awful.

[Sunflower123]

I am diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder as well. Everything you've described fits with that diagnosis. Best wishes.

[scatterbrained04]

I'm bipolar 2 as well. I experience all the symptoms you listed. Pretty spot on. I wish you well. Like you, I'm just over here hoping I never get full blown mania because these horrible depressions and mixed episodes are enough for me!

[Guiness187055]

The only difference between 1 and 2 is 1 has full on mania. They are both treated the same. Welcome to the club!!!

[tiltedyogi]

This list of symptoms all rings true for me too.

Calming down the anger/craziness took antipsychotics for me (not as scary as they sound!), but also SNRIs were a disaster for my irritability. As always, YMMV.

Good luck!

[ShanDoll]

This sounds just like me. I was also just diagnosed with Bipolar 2. I have started on Lamictal and now Gabapentin. I hope you find the right medication and therapy.

[UpDownAround]

BP 2 also. I never get suicidal; strong self preservation impulse. But I get really depressed. I do a lot of the things you mention but I go more into the conceit with hypomania, interrupting people to explain my better ideas but not completing some sentences and completely skipping others so people have this blank look, confirming that they cannot keep up with my awesome intellect. At its worst, I think I am immortal but still know better than to tell others.