what is Bi bolar? and why is there one and two?

Question

my sister has been diagnosed with bi polar 2? I don't know what it's all about, I've never seen her "manic" but she sais she gets manic in different ways than a person with bi polar 1? I wonder if anyone could explain to me about bi polar disorder. I Love my sister and I don't want to see her hurting. She is supposed to be taking Zyprexa and also Effexor. Do you think thats necessary? is Bipolar something that can be treated with cognitive therapy or does it have to be with drugs? I'm just curious, I have nothing against them I just don't want her to have to take drugs for the rest of her life, if she doesnt have to.. if she does than no matter what I will support her. Another question is that she's trying to concieve, I think she'l be a wonderful mom, but I am wondering what will happen to her emotions during pregnancy? any info would be appreciated please. Thanks.

She is not delusional, she doesnt see things that arent there, or hear things that arent there I'm pretty sure she told me, that hers (type 2) isnt nearly as bad as a type one? I don't think its a schitzophrenia type thing at all.

Answer 1

I have been Bipolar 2 for 15 years and I want you to know that there is a lot of misinformation posted so far. Bipolar 1 and 2 are very different. Bipolar 2 is not the "long term" version and it is not more or less severe. Bipolar 2 is different because it doesn't have the extreme highs and lows that Bipolar 1 does. Bipolar 1 presents with manic phases (where a person can appear to be on top of the world, they tend to spend a lot of money and engage in reckless behavior) and with very low depressions (can become suicidal). Bipolar 2 presents with much softer swings, the mania being termed hypomania. The mania can appear differently. When I get into my "manic" phase I tend to be more irritable and angry with everything. I am easily agitated and feel excess "energy" so to speak that drives me nuts. I do not feel great, I do not think I am on top of the world and the only reckless thing I have done during these times is self-harm (which can be a symptom of Bipolar 2). My depressions actually look a lot like Major Depressive Disorder. I tend to want to sleep a lot, I get sad for no reason and become apathetic. I am taking Lamictal which works great for me, but when my depression becomes too much or when I feel a very strong urge to self-harm, I take Zyprexa as needed.
Medication is very needed as Bipolar is a chemical imbalance. Therapy is recommended to go along with it to learn ways to healthily handle behavior that comes from being Bipolar. I used to be one of those people who didn't want to be on drugs the rest of my life, but being on Lamictal makes me feel more normal. I can work regularly and don't get as angry. I actually feel happy more often than not. Maybe medication will help your sister feel better.
Pregnancy is a hard and personal question for anyone that suffers from a mental illness. For me, as much as I would like to have kids, I have made the choice not to. I know that it is not safe for me to become pregnant while taking the Lamictal and I don't want to stop taking it. Second I don't want to pass along any kind of mental illness to my child. I know how hard it's been for me.
Your sister should seriously consider talking to her doctor before she starts trying to conceive. She needs to make sure that the medication she's taking is safe for her to take while she's pregnant. I was told by my psychiatrist that mood stabilizers used to treat Bipolar disorder are not safe to be on if I wanted to conceive. She said that a lot of antidepressants are, but people with Bipolar shouldn't take them because they can actually make the Bipolar worse. Support your sister (which is sounds like you do already) and encourage her to inform herself about her disorder and treatment. The link below focuses mainly on Bipolar 2 disorder and has tons of info.

Answer 2

BiPolar disorder is what they used to term manic-depressive. What this means is that your sister has intense times of highs and than an equally intense low phase. Usually people with bipolar disorder cycle. This cycle is sort of like your menstal cycle. Instead of 5 days on and 27 days off it can be any mixture of time. Sometimes the cycle will be a set number of days and sometimes erratic. She could be a very happy giggly lovable person for three weeks and a very angry hateful person for the next three. It really in a vicious cycle.
Reference to the movie Girl Interuppted or Fatal Attraction.
Unfortunatly for BiPolar disorder it is a complete chemical issue. In order to help her they will have to find the right drugs to straighten out her mind before they can help her with any form of therapy. Untill her mind is straightened out, she won't really be listening.
As for concieving during this time... Rather or not you believe your sister will or will not be a good mother- now is not the time for her to be thinking about becoming one. First off the drugs that she is taking will have bad effects on an unborn child. There is also the fact that if she is not well enough in the mind she will not be able to give a child the type of parenting it needs.
BiPolar effects each person differently. BiPolar one I believe is what they consider as normal BiPolar disorder... type two is really Schizoeffective bipolar disorder. What this means is that she can also suffer from dillusions and hallucinations which are typical to schizophrenia.
I worked with several bipolar patients and they were all drastically different. Some of them seemed to hang on to the real world by a thread and could be set off on tangents very easily. While others just had their cycle. It's one big love hate relationship.

Answer 3

Your sister, you, her friends and family have a very long, hard, difficult and trying time ahead of you. It can be managed through proper medication and trusting her doctor. If she does not like or feel comfortable with her doctor or counselor, she needs to shop around. There is a web site called psychcentral.com that has so much information about bi-polar. My ex husband is bi-polar. I could not physically or mentally take it anymore and ended the marriage when he went to prison. He is an alcoholic, illegal drug user and became very, very violent. There are many victory stories as well as ones that did not work out. Read about this illness as much as possible. Bi-polar 2 is more serious than 1. She probably goes from one extreme to the other. Happy one minute then hating life the other. They tend to spend money carelessly without regard to anything. They think everyone is out to get them. To get them in trouble and sometimes can not even walk into a store without having an attack feeling like they can not breathe or feeling like they are having a heart attack. Simetimes while in a store they suddenly have to leave. They often start another task before finishing one they had already started. Bi-polar is often misdiagnosed and confused with someone suffering from multiple personalities. The more you understand, the better you will be as well as your sister. She will always know that you love her dearly and you know her feelings about you are probably the same. Please understand that she does hurt, it is a hurt many people will never understand. She may even say some mean things to you. (my ex and his older brother still do not speak after 8 years because of cross words - it is really a shame too because before that, they were like peanut butter and jelly) If her mood seems to be one that nothing is going to cheer her up or all is wrong, she probably needs time alone to nap or to de-stress. As far as trying to become pregnant, I don't know. She should talk to her doctor because some medications can be very harmful to a fetus. I will think about you and your sister and hope everything works out. If you think about it and have time, e-mail me (see address under my profile) and let me know how things are going. If you have questions, just need to talk or need to blow off steam, I will be glad to try to help you.

Answer 4

most of the answers so far are not accurate. bipolar1 and bipolar2 are just different levels of bipolar. bipolar1 is the most severe form and bipolar2 is less. that is probably why u cant tell if she is manic or not. I am bipolar1 and everyone around me can tell when I'm manic. but i cant tell I'm just feeling awesome. anyhow. meds are something that she will have to take for the rest of her life even with therapy its something in the brain that needs which ever medication the doctor recommends. unfortunately it takes a while to find the right combo. sometimes it happens on the first try but that is a rarity. plus some medications start to lose their effect after a while. like you build up a tolerance. I would recommend her asking her Dr for some pamphlets to bring home to you and for you to try the nami website its for people with mental illness and their family members it offers info and support information. also u can google bipolar or try webmd. hope this helps.

Answer 5

Manic depression (bi-polar) is a complicated disorder that effects people in different ways. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help but a combination of this and medication is most effective in most cases. There are two types. Type one is typically when a person has a short episode of the symptoms and it doesn't reoccur. Type 2 is when the person has had several episodes and it is long term. There are lots of websites for patients and friends/family of patients that can help enlighten you on bi-polar. Seldom are people living with bi-polar "typical" of other people with "bi-polar." It varies in many degrees. Your sister needs to check with her doctor before concieving because the medicines can cause problems with pre natal care. Those are both pretty common meds for bi-polar. Often a mood stablizer is given also (lithium or depakote). NAMI.org is a great website (national assocation on mental illnesses) Hopefully she is seeing a psychiatric to get her medications. They know much better than a family doctor or general practioner and are better are figuring out what medication works best for each individual patient. Go to doctor appointments with your sister and therapy appointments with her. The more you both know the better. Good luck. (PS There are many celebrities with bi-polar, Carrie Fischer (Princess Leia) is the first one that comes to mind.

Answer 6

From what I know of the disorder both cog therapy and drugs can help treat the condition. I knew someone with bipolar disorder and it was hard to tell if they were in a manic state or not. It is possible for someone to hide how they are feeling to that extent.

Answer 7

i'm bipolar. i'm satisfied and lively one second, then snapping at human beings and violently indignant the subsequent, and then torpid and depressed the subsequent. i'm on drugs in the present day, and it facilitates somewhat, yet no longer each of the time. that is somewhat a lengthy dedication once you bypass on drugs because that is totally trial and blunder. some human beings ought to attempt 3 or 4 drugs earlier they locate one which works. earlier i became clinically determined, I by no ability concept I had a project. i ultimately had to hunt help even as i might want to get indignant in about 5 seconds over no longer something and hit my boyfriend. That became my be-careful call. It couldn't damage to a minimum of communicate over such as your healthcare professional about bipolar. My healthcare professional instructed me that maximum individuals that're clinically determined with upload and melancholy somewhat have bipolar disease and function been misdiagnosed. bypass communicate over such as your healthcare professional earlier you do something to damage your husband the way i have damage my boyfriend (bodily or emotionally).

Answer 8

this link provides a description of the four types of bipolar disease http://www.bipolar.com/types_of_bipolar_disorder.html

go to http://www.bipolar.com for more information...

Answer 9

I am Bipolar - the only way to find out about this illness is to buy a book about it. you can also ask at a good library. pregnancy & meds don't mix.

Answer 10

i think its when they can never be satisfied