Loading ...Bipolar II Disorder
ByBipolar II is one of the three types of bipolar disorder, formally known as manic depression. Bipolar II disorder is characterized by episodes of depression and hypomania.
Hypomania is a mild form of manic episodes. Hypomania can cause euphoria or irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and insomnia.
The common symptoms of depression are hopelessness, helplessness, feelings of guilt or shame, lower than usual sex drive, suicidal thoughts, and difficulty sleeping or oversleeping. The symptoms of depression can be debilitating.
Hallucinations and delusions can be symptoms of severe depression. Hallucinations and delusions from depression reflect the depressed mood of the individual. An example is feeling that the world is a painful place and then having the delusion that they must kill their children in order to save them from the pain.
Studies have shown that bipolar disorder is at least partially hereditary. Having a family history of depression, bipolar I, or bipolar II makes the person have a greater risk of developing bipolar disorder.
There is no cure for bipolar II disorder. People with bipolar II can struggle to cope with episodes of the illness. If severe, symptoms of bipolar disorder can interfere with the persons ability to function.
With treatment, most people can be gainfully employed and lead normal lives. Severe symptoms can cause problems for the person that affect their jobs and relationships. Some people struggle with the symptoms and need support like Social Security Disability.
Bipolar II is typically treated with both therapeutic treatment and medication. The typical medications used are a mood stabilizer like Lithium or Depakote, and an antidepressant. Care must be taken to not take too much of an antidepressant or it could cause a manic episode.
Hypomania caused by antidepressants can be referred to as bipolar III. Bipolar III is not an official diagnosis. If someone diagnosed with bipolar II has a manic episode, the diagnosis is usually changed to bipolar I.
I came here looking for advice on Vegan medication for bipolar… What has this post got to do with vegetarian solutions? "Typical medications used are a mood stabilizer like Lithium or Depakote" – these are not vegetarian, they have been tested on animals. So what options do I have as a vegan?