Stupid Question

Wendy - posted on 03/03/2009

Here's the link to Types of Bipolar Disorder on the Depression and Bipolar Support alliance website. http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServ...

K - posted on 03/02/2009

You have to be diagnosed with a type of bi polar if you look in your medical files from the past it should be in there as type 1 or 2 for example. These are some terms your doctor should help you become familiar with and some brief definitions:

Here are the proper medical terms for Bi Polar Disorder

Type 1 -example: both depression & mania, very rare cases only mania. Depression is generally milder and mania lasts longer than the depressive phases.

Type 2 -more severe depression and more milder manic phases.Hypomania is more common.

Mania -risky behavior, promiscuity, rapid thoughts, etc etc

Hypomania -common more in type 2 similar to mania tho lack of delusion

Cyclothymic Disorder -alternate between hypomania and mild depression not as severe as the former with sometimes no break in symptoms. If left alone untreated this can ultimately become full blown bi polar.

Rapid Cycling -To be considered a rapid cycler, you must have at leat 4 mood swings in a year

Mixed Episode -Highest suicide risk. The excitability and agitation of mania combines with depression and irritability.

I really recommend you see a doctor it's medically proving that bearing children can actually make bi polar more difficult to manage. I recommend trying to find a doctor that specializes in Bi Polar disorders or something similar though they are very few and far between. Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN has a wonderful team there and their website has lots of helpful information on it if you're interested. I wouldn't let anyone without a proper medical degree diagnose what type of bi polar you have because it's often times easily misdiagnosed.

I wish you the best of luck and if you have any other questions about bi polar terminology or episodes feel free to send me a message I'd love to help if I can or try and point you in the right direction :)

Kate CP - posted on 02/11/2009

It depends on a lot of things. I'm a fast cycling bipolar when I'm off my medications. I have a tendency to swing from one emotion to another quickly, pick up projects and drop them before they're finished; I've even stayed up all night painting a room because I just *had* to do it. Some people can control their manic and depressive cycles without medication-and I say kudos to those who can! I'm not one of those lucky people.

If you have been having a lot of manic or depressed episodes recently (or it seems more severe than normal) you should talk to a doctor about it. Only they can really tell you more about your disease. Good luck!

Kate

Chrystal - posted on 02/11/2009

But i do some times still have episodes( like twice a month maybe)