#bipolar disorder II

[marshmallow-biscuit-blog]

Can we please normalize some people not having empathy, or having low empathy.

Sorry that the low to no empathy neurodivergent person doesn't understand why they should apologize for your dog dying. Sorry that they don't see how it's their fault. Maybe you should've asked to vent too, because I know your ass didn't.

[autumnbell32]

The coffee I’ve made the last few days- electing to make it hot rather than over ice- has been pulling at my guts. While reading or attending to some task, I’ll smell it and the grief makes a sucking sound. It reminds me of the coffee I’d buy from the machine in the university basement- a warm, sweet comfort while I pored over my textbooks with my highlighters. I was one of the best students, one of the most eager. I aced tests and was asked by competitive classmates with knives in their eyes, “How did you do that?”

I try to remind myself that she is still there, despite how far from academia she’s been blown. Lacking purpose, other than survival, is painful and I was just about to be able to take the training wheels off and start living again (after 15 years). I had reached that level of stability. Would I have started listening to Marina and the Diamonds or M83 again? Start my aquarium hobby back up? Ponder going back to school for another degree or my master’s? Go to some writing clubs? Bake for people again? Last week’s hypomania, subsequent depression, facing abelism at work, panic attacks in the work bathroom yesterday and resulting ocular migraine told me, “No, not yet…if ever.” I squinted while I folded clothes and helped customers- I couldn’t see anything out of my right eye except a floating, scythe-shaped anomaly, the insides of it black, white, purple, flashing. How alone I felt. And scared.

[bipolarmango]

Things people should know about bipolar disorder

1. We don't all the time jump from mania to depression from one moment to another. Rapid cycling means that a person experiences four or more episodes in one year. Rapid cycling only occurs in 10-20% of people with bipolar disorder with women and people with bipolar II being more likely to experience periods of it. In short, for an episode to be even counted, a hypomania should last minimum four days, mania for a week, and depression for two weeks. The exception to the rule is the times when a person is suffering from a mixed episode. Mixed episodes are defined as experiencing both depression and (hypo)mania either simultaneously or in rapid sequence. Around 40-50% of people with bipolar disorder experience a mixed episode at some point in their life, some more frequently than others.

2. External and internal things do trigger episodes. These mean things like stress, big changes in life like a breakup or a move to another city, but also hormonal changes, change in the season or weather, and even changes in our sleep patterns (yes, we shouldn't randomly stay up for the whole night). Even some doctors still live under a false belief that bipolar mood changes cannot be affected by anything external or internal except the brain randomly deciding to go haywire, while various studies show otherwise. Studies also show that 1 in 4 people with bipolar also have SAD (seasonal affective disorder). The episode can, of course, also occur totally randomly and without any clear reason.

3. We are not stupid. For some reason, plenty of people seem to live under the assumption that people with bipolar are generally unintelligent. This is not the case. In fact, a study found that 12 risk genes for bipolar disorder were also linked to intelligence. In 75 % of these genes, bipolar disorder risk was associated with higher intelligence. Moreover, the connection between intelligence and bipolar disorder is largely seen in those with high verbal IQ (VIQ). This type of intelligence is associated with creativity, abstract reasoning, and comprehension through spoken and written words. However, if the illness is very serious, there is a risk that the person's cognitive skills, such as verbal skills and memory, are impaired, especially during episodes. Some medications, such as Topamax, are also associated with certain side effects that may affect your memory, thinking, and even language skills.

[that-bipolar-mood]

Anyone else with bipolar have issues with understimulation?

We talk about being overwhelmed and stressed out easily. But at night, when I finally get to my hard earned sleep, I find myself... at a loss? I can't deal without external sounds, etc.

Being bored and having to be still just gets to me. It really comes down to balance and it's impossible to maintain it...

[prenchpolar]

we need more bipolar success stories. because all you hear about are the ones who died, or had breakdowns, or struggle every day.

it will be okay. it can be okay. i'm bipolar, and i'm doing well. i'm medicated, i'm stable, i'm happy, i'm living my life. things will be okay.

[crazycatsiren]

Sometimes I forget about my bipolar disorder and then I go for a few days in a row running on way less sleep than usual and then I'm like, oh... ok...

[manicpixiedreamguy]

I wish people would stop taking bipolar II less seriously than bipolar I

I saw a comment on an Instagram meme about mania making people productive that said "that's hypomania. Actual mania isn't a silly little thing" and it seriously pissed me off because hypomania isn't a silly little thing either and people need to realise saying such things is insensitive, disrespectful and harmful. And this might be a hot take but I don't think bipolar I is worse than bipolar II just like I don't think bipolar II is worse than bipolar I and the comparison makes no sense because they're both fucking hell in their own specific way (which can and does vary from person to person).

It's not the first time I see stuff like that and I do think the "memeification" and "tiktokification" of serious mental health issues led people to believe in the false notion that bipolar II is some sort of "fake bipolar" or easy to live and deal with but it's not and I think we're better than that; just because the Internet says that hypomania is cutting your own bangs in the middle of the night or dying your hair pink while being completely functional and productive in your everyday life doesn't make it true. I wish I could give you some examples of what hypomania is actually like to me but surprise surprise I don't fucking remember, all I got is some flashes of rage and sleepless nights and incoherent racing thoughts and disordered speech and substance abuse and shadow people at the corner of my eyes and being detached from reality while still somewhat being aware of it in a way that doesn't really make sense.

What does this race for who has it worse accomplish? People with bipolar II downplaying their own hypomania and ending up in a psych ward?

Stop engaging in nonsensical wars and stupid ways of thinking.

[madpunks]

feel free to leave a reply or reply in tags/reblogs, i know there are way more experiences than these 12 but i'm extremely curious because i have repeatedly been told that SSRIs are not good for bipolar people but I see that we get prescribed them all the time, anyway. please feel free to boost this, i want to hear from other bipolar folks.

[that-gloomy-system]

Bipolar flags for bipolar people!! (Including people who are questioning or adjacent)

We were requested by our system friend who was questioning bipolar to make some nice flags for them, so yes we ourselves do not have bipolar however this was done at the request of a potentially bipolar person for anyone who is like iffy on using flags that didn’t have the approval of a bp person (idk how to word it)

Top left flag is for Bipolar I

Top right flag is for questioning or adjacent Bipolar I

Bottom left flag is for Bipolar II

Bottom right flag is for questioning or adjacent Bipolar II

(We don’t know how to do image IDs so if someone else could that would be awesome!!) Non symbol flags will be posted later

Absolutely no DNI for these flags as we want them to be accessible to as many people as possible!

If anyone wants us to make an alternative dimmer version just ask!

[cupcakehamster64]

What do you mean it isn't a Sun (DCA) and Moon (DCA) themed bunny.

This is the Bipolar II bunny from Plushie Dreadfuls! As soon as I saw it, I thought of Sun and Moon (and it is a sun and moon theme, just not OUR Sun and Moon DCA's) and the fact it represents Bipolar II just pulled me in further seeing as it's the type I personally have. This little lad shipped from China and was purchased by my sister (THANK YOU if you see this!)

Necklaces also from my sister. Purchased from Hot Topic for about $12 ~ $13 USD.

And here are some size comparisons in case you want to see how big it is (I assume the plush itself, minus the ears, is roughly 10 inches, give or take) and if it's worth the price tag ($45.00 USD and comes with a tote bag.)

1. A medium squishmallow.

2. A Nintendo Switch without joycons.

3. No country for old men paper back edition.

4. Pill bottle :)

[bigsharter666]

i stopped taking my meds and cleaning my room. my hair got greasy and i delayed all my exams. my sheets stayed on for far too long, i never left the bed for long enough to wash them. i didnt call the doctor back. i texted my friends far too often, and far too late at night. i slept through breakfast and lunch and documented dinner. i got quiet. spent money on things i didnt need. forgot about the world. i sexted strangers and lavished in the attention. me and my little blue screen alone in my room, alone in my bed. im rebuilding that world, the one that used to exist. rebuilding the place i can step inside of and leave it all behind. i am googling nitrous oxide canisters and 15L regulators. i forgot i was meant to be medicated until today, the pills tucked in the back of my nightstand. i remember suicide notes and goodbye hugs. maybe i should wait for it to come back, the waves. i miss it. maybe i should call someone. maybe i should go for a hike or swim in the lake or listen to music written by someone who didnt die young. i probably wont, though.

[glittergothgirlie]

does anyone else have those episodes where it’s hard to shower or be hygienic or get work done. like u feel gross but u physically can’t do anything about it. oh right that’s my depression🫠. please make it stop!!!!!!!!! i cannot take this

[beenovel]

I dream of things, just like anyone else. The things I dream of are so far beyond my reach I may as well be dreaming of riding a dragon.

I dream of a body that does not hurt. I dream of a mind I can trust. I dream of a life where I don’t have to down medication the second I wake up. I dream of travel, without the worry of where I’ll get my medication, without the worry of how the new environment will hurt me. I dream of holding a steady job, of being able to provide for myself, something I may never have. I dream of going through my day without having to calculate how much energy each task will consume.

I will never have most of these things. They will never exist in my life. And that is harder to accept some days.

[bipolarmango]

Currently in the state of bipolar where you're so irritated that you want to open the window to yell at the people talking under your window in a too loud voice, where your pets simply living in the same apartment with you drive you out of your mind, where everything irritates you to the point of making you want to scream, where you are about to explode at any given minute, but every psychiatrist within a three-hour drive is booked until mid-August and it feels stupid to go to ER and tell that hi I've got bipolar and I'm irritated? yes I'm on mood stabilizers. like what are they gonna do this time? tell me to chill probably

[that-bipolar-mood]

Being bipolar:

you're fine until you're not, but also

you aren't fine until you are

[prenchpolar]

maybe i'm hot and smart and interesting or maybe i'm manic. i'm probably manic. yeah, actually, i'm manic