[coolibrarian]

Is there anyone here who has a Dx of Bipolar II, and is in therapy? I have some questions...thanks.

[LonesomeTonight]

I suspect I'm bipolar II, as does my p-doc, but not really formally diagnosed. But she said my recurring episodes of major depression (starting before age 18) and the fact that most SSRIs and SNRIs not only don't work for me, but negatively affect me (aside from Zoloft and Paxil), suggest I could have bipolar II. Though I think my hypomania is more of the irritable type.

I am bipolar, we dont differentiate between 1 and 2 in my country. Ask away

I have a diagnosis but am not in therapy currently. I chose not to take medication so far. Had a recent post that addressed some interesting points and strategies:
Motivation

I don't seem to experience the textbook patterns though, e.g. many "mixed states" that are typically more associated with Bipolar 1, but I have never experienced full-blown mania and my depressive episodes tend to be low-grade. Lots and lots of hypomanic and mixed states.

Originally Posted by Xynesthesia

I have a diagnosis but am not in therapy currently. I chose not to take medication so far. Had a recent post that addressed some interesting points and strategies:
Motivation

I dont want to derail the thread perhaps you can pm me, how do you get to choose not to take meds?

[eye2797]

I am BP2 and in therapy for several years.

[jaysmotogp]

Yes BP2 but not in talk therapy, if thats what you meant

[MickeyCheeky]

I hope everything is ok, coolibrarian

[coolibrarian]

Originally Posted by LonesomeTonight

I suspect I'm bipolar II, as does my p-doc, but not really formally diagnosed. But she said my recurring episodes of major depression (starting before age 18) and the fact that most SSRIs and SNRIs not only don't work for me, but negatively affect me (aside from Zoloft and Paxil), suggest I could have bipolar II. Though I think my hypomania is more of the irritable type.

I've had chronic, but "mild" depression since I was 6 years old; I'm now 59. Didn't get any treatment until I was nearly 30. My T diagnosed me with dysthymia, and when this supposedly "mild" depression got really bad, she said I also needed to see a Pdoc, to be put on some meds. He at first thought I was having so called "double depression," that is, dythymic disorder and a major depressive episode, at the same time. I have been on a variety since then. At one point, my now ex-Pdoc (he retired) thought that I might have Bipolar II, so he put me on Lithium. Nothing happened, so he took me off. But I more I read about it, the more it seems to describe me.

When I'm not depressed, I can be a pretty funny and happy person. When the little irritations and annoyances happen, and I become sad and angry, I usually feel that a depression is coming, because this has always been my pattern. But what if the irritation and anger, etc., is really hypomania? And would anyone consider this a mixed state-type disorder? Last week I brought my wife with me to see my current Pdoc, but things didn't go as I'd planned, and I got angry, upset, and sullen, and couldn't talk to my T, because my T is on medical leave. She had cancer surgery in November, caught a bug in the hospital (but no one knew it at the time), became sicker at home and was re-hospitalized. She might be out until mid-January or longer. I am just trying to keep it together, if you know what I mean.

T is allowing me to text her whenever I want to, with the caveat that she won't always respond. And she said she will update her voicemail's outgoing message. There's more I could say about this, but I don't want to right now, because it saddens me.

What type(s) of medicines are used to treat Bipolar II? Currently I am on Prozac, Seroquel, Amitriptyline (sp.?), and a variety of medications for different types of pain. I've been on the Proza forever, these last few months at my highest dose, 80 mgs daily. I'm afraid that I'd have to decrease it, if my Pdoc chooses to treat the hypomania. Help!

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by BlessedCheeseMaker

I dont want to derail the thread perhaps you can pm me, how do you get to choose not to take meds?

Unless you are under a psychiatric commitment or legal order, no one can be forced to take meds.