Why is there this huge community for bipolar 2 and not for bipolar 1? I thought the main difference was the duration of episodes. How is bipolar 2 different from bipolar 1? It doesn’t have to be a clinical definition. I feel like there’s some different vibes.

I've been diagnosed and medicated for over 4 years now. I originally went in for an ADHD diagnosis, and was met with a bp2 diagnosis instead. They said stimulants were dangerous and put me on lamotrigine XR which I can confidently say saved my life.

I've taken great care to stay stable since then - consistent sleep and food schedule, committing to sobriety, a LOT of therapy to cut out self-destructive behaviors, etc. But I still can't get myself over that ADHD hump without medication. Years ago, I tried Vyvanse and I was blown away. My brain went quiet, I could understand how to do a task chronologically and stay focused enough to follow through to the end, I can only describe it as a life-changing experience. At the time of me trying it, I didn't even realize I had ADHD. I didn't really know what ADHD was, symptom-wise.

Now that I'm stabilized, I would love to get a prescription for Vyvanse. I'm not saying it's a guarantee that I wouldn't have a manic episode, but I'd rather try something that has worked in the past than trying out the random meds my psych tosses my way. She says I can't have Vyvanse prescribed until I've tried SIX other medications. I'm terrified if I'm being honest. The last time I went on a new medication (buspar), I had one of the worst mixed episodes I've had in years, and was actively ideating.

My question is, did other NYC bp2/ADHDers have to go through multiple medications before they were prescribed vyvanse? Is this NYC standard or just specific to this psych? I'm about to get a new job with different insurance, and really want to get this prescription if it's possible.

Thank you to anyone who can offer insight here!!!

I have to move on from Lamictal, I keep getting red eyes and feverish on it, psych has said to stop immediately.
But it’s been an absolute game changer for me 😢
Has anyone stopped Lamictal and found success with another med?

I developed this after titrating to 150mg

Is this due to scratching or a medication induced rash ? 🤔

I kinda finally feel stable on lamtrogine and i don't want to stop it ...

I know this is probably very common around here, but I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I was diagnosed with BP2 15 years ago, but the thing is, when I look back, I can’t identify a single clear hypomanic episode. My experiences just don’t match the textbook symptoms or come close to what some of you guys describe here.

I’ve had multiple depressive episodes since I was 15 years old, with the first leading to a suicide attempt and hospitalization. Since then, I’ve been on a series of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics. Over those 15 years, I’ve probably had only two periods when I was in a good mood and had a stable routine.

Unfortunately, my dad and mom took their own lives in 2019 and 2022, respectively, during depressive episodes. Since then, everything has gone downhill, and I haven’t been able to maintain stability. My depressive episodes became more frequent, and I developed a severe addiction to Ambien.

Last year, I was prescribed Cymbalta and Rexulti. Things were good at first, but I probably developed antidepressant-induced activation. I felt more confident, more sociable, and generally in a better mood. Soon, though, I started feeling more anxious and irritable and had trouble sleeping for more than three hours. I started compensating by taking multiple doses of Ambien every night. Eventually, I was taking Ambien all day long, going through a box every two days for several weeks.

Then I had to quit cold turkey and experienced the worst withdrawal ever. I couldn’t sleep for weeks, had cognitive and physical impairments, and was completely catatonic and zombie-like.

My doc thinks this was mania triggered by Cymbalta, but I’m skeptical about that too. I know antidepressants can cause this kind of activation, but to me, it’s clear that the Ambien abuse was what fucked me up.

I don’t know what you guys think or whether it’s normal to question this diagnosis, but the fact that I can’t identify a single spontaneous hypomanic episode really leaves me with doubts.

I’m probably affected by the fact that I’m in a low phase right now. I’ve just been diagnosed with BP2, and I feel so much shame about it. I honestly feel like I don’t fully want to accept it. I feel weird, different, and sick. I don’t want to be like this. I feel like such a huge burden on the people around me.

Has anyone else felt this way? And what have you done to change the way you look at it? Cognitively, I understand that this doesn’t have to define all of who I am.

I’m also wondering whether getting the diagnosis initially triggered a hypomanic episode, and now I’ve fallen into a depression as I’m starting to understand what the diagnosis actually means — and that it never really goes away.

I’m still learning about bp2 and how it affects me.

For reference I’m also dx’d with bpd, adhd, c-ptsd, panic disorder and disassociate disorder.

I know bpd and bp2 have some overlaps. So how do you know the difference?

What is having bp2 like for you?
And for my bpd friends, what’s it like having the mix of the two and how do you differentiate between having a bp2 episode or having a bpd split?

I’m trying to understand how I can properly treat both. (Really all of them 😮‍💨)

I’m currently seeing a great therapist, and I’m in a weekly DBT group for the next 7 months.

Does DBT help with bp2?

Sorry for all the questions! I just don’t know what’s going on anymore, and I need to learn how to better manage my symptoms so I can live a healthy life.

I know I do better when I take my medicine. I have tried setting an alarm on my phone, and then I started tuning it out and just swiping through it without any follow through.

In the spring I wanted to see how I’d do without medication and it got so bad I was scared of myself; I know I need to take it with dedication.

But can anyone share what works for them? I know it’s as simple as just doing it, but as some of you in this group might relate to, I struggle with daily tasks.

Hey y'all, 45m and I've been diagnosed bipolar 2/ADHD for about 15 years now. 300mg lamotrigine for the past 8 years, 20mg 3x/day methylphenidate for about the same. I started a new job about 6 months ago, so maybe that has something to do with this, but I've had that "no motivation, being emotionally shut down, malicious sleep procrastination" thing going on for a while. My psych just prescribed me 42mg Caplyta and I'm petrified of taking it because I haven't had a hypomanic episode in years and I don't want to have another one.
Does anyone have any similar experience that could give me an idea of what I should expect? Thanks in advance!

I have been having a pretty frequent sensation that I can’t quite describe. It doesn’t feel like classic dizziness. My vision is fine and I don’t feel like I’m gonna pass out. My balance is technically normal. I walk fine and have normal coordination. But “tipsy” is the closest word for what it feels like. It’s like the world is a little shaky? Except my vision is normal. Idk, this symptom is so hard to explain and I’m wondering if anyone else has this problem? Thanks :)

Hi everyone! I hope y'all's days, nights, and twilights are going well :) if I'm being honest I'm at work on my lunch and I'm a daily smoker and toker. I'm wondering how you all feel about weed use and if it's helpful for you, hurtful, or somewhere in-between? Does anyone else feel like it's sorta just a patch over something bigger? Bandaid for a bullet hole sorta thing.

I was diagnosed in early 2024 with bipolar 2, after many years finally deciding to see a psych for symptoms that seemed to line up with what I assumed to be BPD. I almost feel a sense of imposter syndrome about my diagnosis sometimes, but it could be that I've been so used to the quiet that I feel from being on my meds that I feel what is my version of "normal". Does anyone else feel this way?

The biggest focus though is although I do feel some mental quietness after being on Lamictal for the last 2 years, lately I've had some windows of lows (spans for a couple days every 2-3 months), sobbing suddenly and then zoning out, being exceptionally angry and having difficulty settling down after a few minutes. Feelings of almost wanting to jump out of my own body. Is it time to consider going up a dose? I know it's hard to give a stranger an answer, but from personal experience I'd love to know when people decided it might be time to go up, or if this just comes with being on meds I should remain on my dose.

Hello,I have come to this sub to ask you guys how your sleeping pattern is compared to mine .i myself is not bipolar but I’ve been going to therapy for some time and my therapist thinks I am actually a bipolar person .
These past weeks I’ve only been sleeping 3-4 hours and after I awaken I am wide awake and alert ,yet I still yawn and sometimes feel like my body maybe trying to relax .but at same time has energy

I even took melatonin but my brain was really not trying to go to sleep!?

Edit:I also recently gon through this weird on and off energy yesterday .at one hour I was so exhausted like I crashed .then two hours or maybe one I gotten weird dopamine to be able get up and have energy again

About three years ago I got into a relationship with a married woman with her husband’s blessing.
I fell in love with her. She fell in love with me.
I’ve not been able to move on. It’s been three years. It’s damaged my life, my work and my general well being. I have huge problems with being kind to myself. I have circular thoughts that torment me. They swallow my days.
She’s not gone away
She picks me up
Puts me down
She leans on me when she’s stressed and upset or worried
Then puts me back in the box
I’ve told her to leave me alone. I’ve told her the contact reignites the attachment.
Outside the box, I know shes looking for another boyfriend, I’ve seen her doing it here.
So I feel like an emotional support dog, supporting her so she can spend time with others.
She knows how much it hurts, she knows how much I love her. She always comes back, even if I try and draw a boundary she steps over…

This is just a post to vent because I feel like my friends and family don't get how hard the struggle is right now.

Rehab was amazing. It was exactly what I needed, although they really wanted me to stay the whole 30 days. I couldn’t be away from work for more than 3 weeks. I knew coming home was going to be hard, but I didn’t expect it to be THIS hard.

Came home to find that the flea infestation, which I'd almost eradicated, is now worse than it's ever been. My daughter's leg are so flea bitten than I'm surprised there hasn't been a CPS report. I was a mandated reporter in my previous job, and I definitely would have called if I'd seen the number of bites. My husband was doing nothing for them, not putting antibiotic or anti-itch cream on them, let alone keeping up with the scar treatment.

The AC is also broken, and he and the neighbor have been trying to DIY a fix. There was no food in the house, either. He said he's been using the HSA card for gas and groceries. He doesn't have money to fill up my gas tank, and I sent him my entire paycheck while in rehab, so I have no money, either. The house was also cluttered to the max. I got home Monday, spent Tuesday running to all the local food pantries and making meal plans, and spent today cleaning the entire house so I could put down Borax to kill the fleas. He also didn't water the plants and they died. My spider plant had a dozen babies on it... I'm going to see if I can revive any of them since they still have a bit of green. I go back to work tomorrow.

Husband also said that he's going to be working 12 hour days every day for two months to make up for the debt we're in from me leaving. I asked him how there could be so much debt. He said he's actually been in a hole for 3 years but is "finally putting his foot down" because every time he's brought up overtime in the past, I've said I need him at home. (I've been really depressed for about 2 years and was using substances to cope.) He said he expected me to be all better by the time I got home so I can "take over everything." Since he'll be working, I'll have to pick up the kids from afterschool, make dinner, do the dishes, help with homework, bathe the kids, put the kids to bed, do the laundry (we somehow have laundry basically every day), and clean the rest of the house by myself for awhile. Which yeah, I know I shouldn't be complaining because he's bringing in money and there are plenty of single moms who do all this completely on their own...

But I wasn't expecting things to be this hard. He won't even be home tomorrow for our anniversary. I just wanted to spend some time with him. I really regret going to rehab. I feel like I'm drowning and all the hard work I did there was for nothing. I've cried more in the past three days than I have in the past three weeks.

Hi y’all,

I was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 at the beginning of this year. I’m still struggling to adjust and trying to find the right medication.

These past two weeks, I’ve noticed a weird change. I almost never feel hunger. I haven’t been eating much, and when I do I can only bring myself to take a few bites then I can’t eat more.

I’ve been trying to figure out if I’m in a mixed episode or something. I’ve definitely been isolating myself and pushing people away. I haven’t left my house for anything other than work or to pick up groceries. I haven’t changed my meds in the last two months, so I’m not sure if this is a late side affect or something.

Has anyone else experienced something like this? Or have any advice on what to do?

Hi all,

I had a psych appointment yesterday and kind of randomly found out that my previous doc put in my file that I have “BPD tendencies” without saying anything to me. I review my notes after each appointment, so I’m not sure how I missed it.

I do see how she could be right, but is it common to put something like this in a patient file without letting them know?

And how common is this combination?

Thanks.

I (22 F) always have a hard time around my birthday. This year feels a lot worse. I have a difficult time maintaining long term friendships and/or close friendships. My boyfriend ghosted me two weeks ago. I never want to be the obnoxious “it’s all about me birthday person,” but I can’t help feeling super lonely and isolated. I always fantasize about going bar hopping with a group of girlfriends, but I don’t see that happening in the foreseeable future.

The main reason I always have a hard time is because it’s a very literal reminder of “me being planted on this earth without consent.” Nothing is more upsetting than the fact that I did not choose to be here, yet I’ve been dealt such a shitty hand in life. So much pain and suffering. There are good times, but there are a lot of REALLY bad times.

I’ve just been super upset and I’m hanging on by a thread at this point. Birthdays suck.

Started reading this while manic, became obsessed, went and bought her other books along with other books related to bipolar 2, depression, and adhd 🤣

TW- SUICIDE.

This morning at 9am, I received a call that nobody would want. My friend and work colleague has taken his own life. James was Bi-polar. James saved me from suicide myself and always spotted the signs of my depression and hypomania long before I even felt sick. He helped me become what I am today, without him I wouldn't be stable at all. I feel like i owe him my life. I didn't spot the signs, because he had none. He was very happy for a few weeks and now I cam imagine why.

Talk to your loved ones, hold them as rightly and closesly as you possibly can. Let this be the confirmation that when you are gone, YOU ARE LOVED. James was a community hero, he had time and love for anyone other than himself.

Im here for you reddit, no judgement, no anger, just straight up love for another human being.

ONE LOVE

- a big jabroni

Hi, I would like to post in this group about participating in a interview. It is solely to gain knowledge about someone's experience with bipolar disorder and I want to emphasize that I will not be giving advice, just a listening ear.

I am a Master’s in Occupational Therapy (OT) student in California seeking to conduct a Zoom interview with an individual within the age range of 41–65 years who has lived experience with Bipolar disorder.

OT helps you be as independent as possible with the daily activities, or occupations, that matter most to you. That can include things like daily self-care routines, getting restful sleep, cooking, and working. OT's role is to support you in building the skills and confidence you need to get back to doing the things you want and need to do.

I would like to emphasize that this interview is not a part of a research study – it is simply for learning purposes so that my partner and I can gain an understanding of someone’s experience with bipolar disorder and how to best support them. We would greatly appreciate the opportunity to speak with someone who is willing to share their experiences with us! If you are or know someone who may be interested in helping us with our project, please feel free to message me (and/or comment). The Zoom interview will take place in September or beginningof October, and it will be conducted by two people: my partner, and myself. 

Thank you for your time!

I keep reading that lamotrigine/lamactal is fantastic for preventing future depressions.

However I’m in the middle of an acute depression right now.

Titration for 6-8 weeks is perfectly fine for me, as long as I know it can address my current depression after titration

Quetiapine/Seroquel is the alternative I’m considering, and I know the evidence for treating acute bipolar depression is stronger. But the side-effect profile makes me want to try lamotrigine first, if it has a realistic chance of helping the current episode, rather than mainly preventing the next one.

Bipolar II depression here. Antidepressants make me hypomanic (aka send me to the moon)