Bipolar Disorder - what is bipolar ll versus bipolar l?

Bipolar disorder is probably one of the most frequently unrecognized conditions in the medical lexicon. It is very often the basis for unlimited numbers of atypical behaviors of one sort or another that have plagued many patients since childhood. We often see adults who have been treated for any number of behavior or affective disorders from ADD to anxiety to major depression to dysthymia to various personality disorders, who finally are discovered to be suffering from an underlying bipolar condition. Left untreated the symptoms usually occur with increasing frequency and severity over time. Severe cases can rarely be treated without psychotropic meds, and usually require drug combinations. Great risk accompanies the failure to treat bipolar disease aggressively. One can lose a job, a friend, or in fact a life if the condition is not diagnosed in a more timely fashion than is the norm. Most patients exhibit typical behaviors years before they are finally diagnosed by a caregiver with a high index of suspicion.

Hi 123becku, I've been diagnose with being bipolar. I also have mood swings that come and go, one minute happy the next sad. Sometimes, I feel like a yo-yo! I've been dealing with this a very long time, and been on many different medications. But I must say there is no such thing as a miracle pills, we must try to cope the best way we can. When it gets ruff go seek help with a Psych. whom deals with mental issues..As for over spending, Im a compulsive sender myself and my last shopping spree is $10,000.00 within two years..I've been working very hard on ways to over come this. I was told it comes along with bipolar behavior. You and I are not alone in this, admitting is the begaining of healing. Best of luck to you and keep us informed of how you are coming along..

as being bipolar 1 I admit there are moments that i'm on that polar high, the thing is being on that high makes people want to be somewhere else because i'm so in your face ridiculous. a lot of times I want to drive off the highway because I know people are talking about me. I don't know if it's just the bipolar 1 or all the other diagnoses combined that make it so uncomfortable to be in my own skin.i have nerve pain that never ends,sometimes I have to lay down and pass out to get through. my sister is bipolar 2, the opposite of me usually but when we are together in person or on the phone we are like magnets. I am sorry for what you have been through and this stuff we go through normal people don't get. I just want to say drugs aren't always the answer. I take 11 different meds for everything I've been tagged with and I still feel miserable. I feel for ya ' and hope things improve for you. HOPE-2213N

who looks after you ?

I have to agree with balbanese, don't get these labels get to you--- I suffer from Bipolar Disorder type II, I'm currently on Lamictal for the mood swings, depression it also help with anxiety disorder. With me I don't get the urge to go these shopping sprees... beside we don't have the money. My main problem is the anxiety, my psychiatrist told me Lamictal and Risperdal they do help with the anxiety.

These disorders are insane.

~Abby

Don't let these labels get to you. You know, the medical community has lots of paperwork to fill out, and I guess they have to call us something, ya know? Same thing happened to me because at one time in my life I was having a lot of trouble with relationships, so, bipolar!

Often times 3 different dr's will label you 3 different things. Go figure! Hang in there, hope this helps.