withavengeance's Page

From what I've learned, bp II can often be diagnosed late in life. A typical age is in the teens, 20's or 30's, but it can be diagnosed much later. For myself, I'm in my 50's and newly diagnosed in spring of 2009. I've been hypomanic, then 'normal', for as long as a 7-year stretch, but with depressions occurring sporadically that have been worse each time. My last depression lasted for over a year, the longest and deepest ever. I wasn't suicidal, but I just wanted to die. I don't ever want to go there again and am keeping a close eye on my moods.

When hypomanic, I'm learning to control my impulsiveness, talking too much or over others, shopping too much, irritability, etc. I have close friends who are also helping me by reeling me in when I seem to get too high. These include my very good friend (bipolar type I), therapist, and my sponsor in AA. It was actually my therapist that I've been seeing for about six years who made the bp II diagnosis.

I haven't been deeply depressed (thank God) since I've been on the new meds. I've been a little low, but that's all. I have had some hypomanic 'break through', but was able to keep it in check. This was August, September, October. I was extremely productive, getting things done around the house that had been neglected for years. Then I went a little down and the pdoc added an antidepressant to my meds cocktail. Now I actually feel balanced. I miss the hypomania though. Maybe it'll break through again for a while!