Avatar Posted by vanilla 59 days ago (Question)
Could someone clarify the differences between depression and bipolar II/2?

I've read that bipolar II has mostly depression, with some delusions (paranoia or grandoise), mood swings, and a handful of other things.

What's the difference?

Can't some depression symptoms be similar?
Such as, if you're depressed, wouldn't you be more inclined to make riskier decisions or sleep more/less anyway?
If you're depressed and sleep all day, wouldn't be you less likely to be social, and thus end up with some disconnection from your friends.. and possibly be somewhat paranoid or anxious about getting out of the house to see your friends? Or, if you don't sleep enough or are nervous, couldn't that also be a cause of rapid speech and ideas? And, if you're less depressed one day, you'd focus more and be more active temporarily, because the depression subsides.

Are the treatments for bipolar II and depression very different? If you're diagnosed with depression and are treated with an SSRI, would that make someone with bipolar II go crazy in some way?



Answers

Written by Chemar 59 days ago Rating: 0 | Rate Answer: + -

Hi

I dont have answers re the clinical symptoms that differentiate the 2 but I do know of people with BP who have reacted very very badly to SSRIs

hopefully someone with more knowledge on the 2 disorders will be along soon to answer more completely

Written by Thumbelina 59 days ago Rating: 0 | Rate Answer: + -

Hi Vanilla,

I was misdiagnosed for many years with major depression. They put the word "recurrent" after my diagnosis because I had it over and over. The antidepressants never seemed to work very long. I was first diagnosed when I did have a major depression. That was 24 years ago. This was before SSRI's existed. Over the years, I took all kinds of antidepressants.

In 2004, I was correctly diagnsosed with Bipolar II. I have had several psychiatrists disagree as to whether I have Bipolar I or II. It really doesn't matter because the medication I take works so that's all I care about. Yes, if persons who are bipolar take SSRI's only, it can induce a manic episode. Both mania and depression vary greatly in severity from person to person in bipolar illness. In me, my depressions are worse. But I take what it called a Mood Stabilizer for the manic part and an Antidepressant for the depression. I take these daily and my illness is pretty well controlled. The number and doses of medications vary greatly from person to person. Some people have psychosis with their mania or depression. This means they lose contact with reality. There are other symptoms like delusions and paranoia that vary.

In Bipolar II, the mania usually is hypomania, a milder type of mania where a person has more energy, needs less sleep, thinks quicker, might have delusional thinking but won't have psychotic episodes, but these hypomanic periods are easily mistaken for simple high functioning. This is what happened to me and was why I was not diagnosed for so long. Unfortunately, what goes up must come down and after the hypomania came the depression and I could not function at all sometimes. It made it impossible to understand what was going on in my life most of the time.

I am one of the lucky ones who eventually was able to manage my illness with medication. I have met many individuals who are taking medication and trying very hard to live their lives but, in spite of their best efforts, it is very difficult.

I hope this has answered some of your questions.

Written by Clyde 46 days ago Rating: 0 | Rate Answer: + -

Very good Thumbelina.

Also, if you just want something to read, click on these:

http://psychcentral.com/disorders/depression/

http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx20.htm

Best,

Clyde


Log in to answer or register here.