Bipolar Depression

I want to kind of do a census or survey of such if at all possible. It is directed mainly to those who suffer from Bipolar II Disorder.

How do you feel about having your disorder termed by other Bipolars and the psychiatric community as a whole as being "milder" and "softer" than the other Bipolars?

Do you feel that your anguish, issues, symptoms, agony, and depressive suicidal states should be termed "milder" and "softer"?

Just wondering.
Marie

Hi Marie,

I do think my symptoms are "milder" because I have never experienced the kind of manias that put one in the psychiatric ward of a hospital. That is a blessing.

I've never had any other people with bipolar deny my difficult life, however, just because I don't get full-blown mania.

That said, depression is, of course, just as dangerous when it is in its worst forms. But I guess I'll stick with the demons I know (not that I have a choice).

Hope you feel better soon!

Lynne
Author of The Bipolar Dementia Art Chronicles

I WAS hospitalised - for the depression. OK, so the mania is not too violent, but the depression really is bad. Actually for years I thought I was just burning out because I was working so hard. Ha! It was SAD. Cost me a job. So it didn't really help.

I'm an alcoholic. We have AA. So there's hope. What really beats me is the apparent hopelessness of the Bipolar community. So few seem to really get fixed.

I don't think that being Bipolar 2 is being "softer" or "milder" than Bipolar 1. Merely different. Our Illness is very much the same as type 1 with a few subtle twists. If anything, I think it may be more dangerous because it is harder to diagnose and therefore we have the opportunity to do more damage to ourselves before getting the proper treatment. Also, finding the proper treatment is difficult. After what I have gone through I dare someone to tell me to my face that I am not as sick as someone with type 1.

It doesn't seem milder to me.