The Downside

Unfortunately those that have bipolar 2 will suffer from varying episodes of depression, referred to as manic depression. It’s the hypomania that may not make its appearance as often.

It has been estimated that approximately 2.5% of the entire population of the United States may have some form of the bipolar disorder, though these number seem to vacillate a bit. This translates to about 6 million people, thus it’s easy to comprehend that most people with bipolar 2 do lead very ordinary lives with the interspersed episodes of either hypomania or manic depression.

Bipolar Support Groups

Bipolar support groups are extremely helpful, regardless if the person that has bipolar 2 is a child, or an adult. Parents also receive a lot of support and a tremendous amount of up-to-date information about bipolar 2.

Bipolar Support groups perform myriad forms of giving out information as well as offering tips on how to deal with bipolar 2. Helping yourself is difficult without a support group, and bipolar support groups also provide links to find new studies about bipolar 2, help you to communicate properly with your doctors, as well as finding innovative services and products to help the person suffering from bipolar 2. Over and above the wonderful things they do, they also inform sufferers about any pending legislation that may alter mental health funding and how it will affect that person.

Does Not End There

That still does not end there. Support groups also bring you online resources for you to use, as well as testimonials and personal stories. It is tremendously helpful to hear other peoples trials and how they surmounted those trials or dealt with them in a self-empowered manner. Bipolar support groups for bipolar 2 are usually patient-to-patient groups that due to their involvement, create greatly improved treatment compliance, and cause a dramatically improved reduction of in-patient hospitalization.

What Causes Bipolar 2?

Bipolar 2 support groups encompass a tremendous mass of people, as bipolar 2 will affect all races as well as ages, though there does seem to be some proof that those with bipolar relatives may find that bipolar 2 is hereditary. Remember again that bipolar 2 support groups constantly supply medical updates to the patients and their supporters.

“Knowledge is power” was a quote promulgated by Sir Francis Bacon, (1561 – 1626) who was an English author, courtier as well as a philosopher, however his meditations are still as important today as they were back then, for participating in a bipolar 2 support group will give you that very precious power, through knowledge, to deal with yourself, if you are the patient, or one of your loved ones who has bipolar 2.

What is Bipolar 2?

Bipolar 2 is a mental health problem that is similar to the traditional form of bipolar disorder in the sense that it involves mood swings from highs and lows. The main difference, however, centers on the fact that the highs do not reach the stage of full blown mania. Specifically, these up swings are commonly referred to as hypomania. While these up swings are serious, they do not present the extremes of bipolar 1 mania.

The depressive phase of bipolar 2 is essentially just as severe as what one that suffers from bipolar 1 would embody. As such, it is important to stress that the inclusion of a “2” at the end of condition does not mean this is a minor condition. It is simply a different manifestation of the disorder and remains a serious condition.

Of course, just as bipolar disorder is a serious condition for an adult, it is even more difficult for a child. This is because the child may understand there is a problem but cannot ascertain that the problem derives from mental health problems. This is why it is important for parents and guardians to recognize the common symptoms of bipolar in a child.

Bipolar Disorder Children Symptoms

Bipolar children cases will share many of the same common traits that adults with the condition will present. Namely, the children will embody mood swings and episodes that will surely be indicative of a problem. For example, the child could swing from calm, happy, and placid to engaging in aggressive behavior and temper tantrums in a short period of time.

Also, bipolar disorder children cases have a tendency to go hand in hand with behavioral problems at school. Often, teachers will comment that the child can be quiet, calm, and behaved at one point and then disruptive and problematic with little or no provocation. Of course, this is the result of the bipolar 2 manifestation and not a behavioral or conduct problem.

Far too often children that are struggling with the onset of bipolar 2 are dismissed as having conduct issues. The child is then usually (and condescendingly) referred to as a “bad kid”. The real issue here is that the child is suffering from a mental health disorder. As such, proper professional help is needed.

Professional Help

If your child is embodying these problems, it becomes necessary to seek a diagnosis from a qualified mental health professional. This is the only way to truly ascertain the specific problem that is contributing to the child’s behavior. And, of course, it is the first step in reversing the ravages of the condition as well.

Unhappy bipolar 2 patient

Symptoms of Bipolar 2

Bipolar 2 patients do have highs as well as lows; these are the hypomanic episodes mentioned above. While not as severe as the manic states of bipolar one patients, these episodes lead to patients walking, talking, thinking and working faster. There is a sense of optimism and great enthusiasm in bipolar 2 patients during these episodes of hypomania.

The Ups and Downs of Bipolar Type 2

Bipolar 2 is often diagnosed after a patient has had at least one severe depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode without any manic episodes being experienced. In the event that there is no other explanation for these symptoms, a diagnosis of bipolar 2 will be made.

Depressive Episodes

A major depressive episode is exactly as the name suggests; a period of severe depression. The symptoms of these episodes are identical to those of clinical depression and include:

–A decreased interest in life in general, including favored activities.
–Feelings of sadness, anxiety, or irritability.
–A loss of energy.
–Changed sleeping patterns.
–Restlessness.
–Difficulty making decisions.
–Having trouble concentrating.
–Feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
–Feelings of hopelessness.
–Thoughts of suicide or death.

These depressive episodes can be quite severe; while the hypomanic phase of bipolar 2 makes patients feel good about themselves and are generally quite productive at these times, the cost of these upswings is high. Coming down from these euphoric states into a severe depression can be very difficult to cope with.

The person may feel energetic, talkative, have increased (maybe even "inflated") self-esteem, have "racing" or very rapid thought processes, and perhaps make inappropriate or impulsive choices that they later come to regret.It should also be noted that hypomania can actually lead to full-blown mania, the type seen in bipolar 1.

Along with the hypomania, those with the disorder often are also irritable, and have anxiety besides. Oftentimes, they are misdiagnosed as having depression with anxiety disorder, or simply anxiety disorder. The problem with this diagnosis is that if they are only given an antidepressant and not treatment for their hypomania, they can actually be pushed into a manic phase. If that happens, their moods can swing in and out of depression and mania.

What's the difference between hypomania and mania?

As you can probably tell by the names, "hypomania" means, literally, "low mania," and in fact, it is simply a less severe form of mania. However, left untreated or treated improperly, it can actually progress into full-blown mania.

With hypomania, as it occurs in bipolar 2 disorders, the person may actually feel very productive and happy; indeed, even to people witnessing someone experiencing hypomania, they may think that this is in fact a "good" thing. This is one of the things that make hypomania difficult to diagnose. Of course, being productive and happy is a good thing in and of it, but as part of the disorder, hypomania puts the patient at risk making rash decisions if their hypo manic behavior includes this type of occurrence. In addition, if they are taking antidepressants, they can be pushed into a full manic episode.

Unfortunately, if someone has bipolar 2, antidepressants alone can't help them (and of course can make the situation worse as described above).Bipolar 2 also includes a propensity to cycle rapidly between depressed and hypo manic states. And if the rapid cycling is misdiagnosed, the patient may be prescribed sedatives in addition to antidepressants, which will push moods even further out of balance.

Treating bipolar 2 disorder properly

With bipolar 2, it is imperative to treat both the depression (which can be very severe) and the hypomania at the same time, so as to avoid prescribing only antidepressants for the depression, which can make the hypomania, escalate into full mania.

In actuality, treatment of bipolar 2 disorder actually uses a lot of the same medications as bipolar 1 disorder does. Common medications include mood stabilizers like lithium and anticonvulsants like Tegretol.Low-dose antidepressant medication can also help. Because people with bipolar 2 do not generally have psychotic symptoms or behavior, they usually don't need antipsychotic medications.

It may take some time to find a proper medication regimen, since every patient is different. Therefore, it may take some time to stabilize and find the right dosages for patients even once properly diagnosed. If patients have demonstrated suicidal tendencies during depressive phases especially, they may need to be hospitalized temporarily to keep them safe while medications are properly adjusted.

Using medication with cognitive behavioral therapy

Most bipolar 2 patients respond favorably to a combination of medication and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Contraindications

Women who are thinking about becoming pregnant or are pregnant may not be able to be on some of the anticonvulsant medications usually prescribed for bipolar 2.Therefore, if you have been diagnosed with bipolar 2 and you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, you should talk both with your psychiatrist and OB/GYN or obstetrician about proper medications and their use.

Leading a normal life with bipolar 2 disorder

If you or someone you love has bipolar 2 disorders, don't despair. In fact, this is one of the most treatable conditions you can have. Rest assured that as long as you receive proper treatment, you can recover fully from bipolar II disorder and live a completely normal life.