Bipolar II means low lows, and only moderate manias (so, no worries of me thinking I'm the second coming, etc).
But manias still manifest for me in getting so wrapped up in projects that I forget to do things like eat, leave the house, sleep. And that goes doubly so when preoccupied by the world.
So, from one nutjob to any others here:
Don't forget to move the soft animal of your body.
Feed it.
Water it. (But not after midnight.)
Then tell it to get its tea kettle offline and back to work.
@MLClark The hyperfocus with Bipolar II can be intense. Almost manic but .. not... quite. Don't you hate the "Where did the day go?" feeling?
Day, two days, week... 🙃
Hope you're keeping your vibes right, and/or creating brilliant things in the interim. 🤗
Huh.
I've not heard of Bipolar II.
Researching.
Pretty sure it's not me, but it's one more thing that has significant overlap with ADHD as I experience it.
I actually have structured my life to avoid hyperfocus, which puts a HUGE cramp in my creativity, because flow states almost always tilt that direction. I've jeopardized a couple of jobs because of hyperfocus.
In my father's day it was all just manic depression.
These days there's more nuance. Bipolar I has stronger manias than depressions, while Bipolar II is the opposite - and has one of the highest rates for suicidal actuation of all mood disorders.
I'm pretty cautious about how I employ labels these days; it was necessary to get me off depression meds, which were just jacking me into manias, but otherwise it just provides me with a way of understanding my highs and lows.
@tyghebright @MLClark @Graci I'm beginning to wonder if bipolar, like borderline personality disorder, is one of those things people get diagnosed with when they actually have ptsd.
cPTSD is in my mix
@tyghebright @AskTheDevil @Graci
My first diagnosis was PTSD, at 19, after a super shitty childhood, and it definitely fit: sleep paralysis, strong disassociative states, a difficulty managing panic triggers to the point of doing direct impulsive harm to myself... all the goodies!
I still remember the first time I had an emotional response *directly* after an event, after years of super delayed emotional processing.
But bipolar later fit as well!
I have a "fun" brain. As do many of us, eh?
Mine's great. It spookle vorp neglit mydar.
@AskTheDevil @tyghebright @Graci
I feel like @BosmangBeratna would agree with our remarks.
We've got a Full House of nutters here. :) Which is great for allocating household tasks! Who's on Rocking in a Corner duty tonight? 🤔
@MLClark @AskTheDevil @tyghebright @Graci
As an addict in recovery, I identify with a whole boatload of the aforementioned, lol
Here's to a steady morrow! 💜🤓🤣
Amusingly, of the four kids in my family, two have Bipolar I, I have Bipolar II, and the only one to escape that diagnosis... has ADHD!
These labels are always works in progress, as humans keep trying to find the right vocabulary for treatment protocols that will help best, but there's *definitely* something a bit wonky in my parents' contributions to the world. 🙃
Maybe not a "bad" batch, but definitely a screwy one!
There's so much overlap with ADHD, Autism, and several mental health conditions.... I feel like they're related and we just don't understand any of it well yet.
I recently found out about visual snow, which I definitely have (mild) and didn't realize was NOT the way everyone sees the world. AND it's associated with migraines and tinnitus. It's suspected to be caused by "excessive excitability of neurons in the visual cortex".
@tyghebright I get that about half the time with migraines!
Medical learning is deeply humbling. There's so much we fail to connect.
What blew my mind and changed my approach to bipolar was the realization that bipolar and epilepsy share treatment pathways, especially lithium and sodium valproate. Keto is a dietary plan designed for epilepsy, and bipolar folk eventually came to realize it could work well for us, too.
And now we know that the vagus nerve / inflammation also plays a huge role in mood disorders! One step at a time!
@MLClark @tyghebright It is humbling. Whether it is for yourself or someone you love.
Thankfully, I didn't have the capability to research myself (no Internet yet).
I have that, too. The trifecta.
@MLClark @Graci
I've dismissed the possibility that I'm bipolar because I don't get strong manias, and I've had chronic depression since I was a kid.
Something to bring up with a therapist.