What is Bipolar 2 Disorder?

A lot of people wonder how bipolar disorder looks any different from “normal” people and to be honest, those with bipolar disorder can live wonderful and fulfilling lives, and nothing about them is really different. However, if you interact with someone who is in an episode (like depression, hypomania, or mania) they can act just like you would expect someone in that state to act. They can be depressed, irritable, have pressured speech, and act in very irrational and impulsive ways. If someone in your life is acting this way, it’s best to not address it until they are out of that episode, and then simply mention that you have noticed they haven’t been themselves and you are happy to help them get some help in any way you can. The goal is to express our worry, and get them professional help, not judge them, so try to keep that in mind when you are preparing what you want to say because we want to make sure they really hear us. Also keep in mind that in my experience, most people are more apt to hear us and want to get help when they are in a depressive episode rather than a manic or hypomanic episode, so if you are able to catch them then it could be better.

I'm Kati Morton, a licensed therapist making Mental Health videos!
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[rachelmorgis]

As someone with Bp type 2, i appreciate this!

[AutomaticDuck]

The worst part about bipolar that nobody talks about is never knowing who we are. I look back at a depressive episode/manic episode when I'm out of them and I don't recognise that person, but I'm always switching back and forth. I hate it.

[maid]

Does anybody else get insanely creative during a hypomanic episode???

[altheaunertl]

I have absolutely never been able to tell if I'm experiencing hypomania or just having a really productive few weeks. The irritability should be a tip off, but that just comes and goes all the time.

[alyssadickinson]

I also want to make sure that people know that Bipolar II is NOT a milder form of Bipolar I. It is considered a separate diagnosis in itself underneath the umbrella of Bipolar-type disorders. In fact, research has shown that in the long-term, Bipolar II can have as much impact on your functioning as Bipolar I because the Depressive episodes in Bipolar II seem to be more long-lasting and the episodes themselves come and go more frequently.

[NovaKJ]

The book “I’m Bipolar 2, You’re Bipolar 2” really, really helped me a LOT. Highly recommend.

[vishnusubramanian]

Diagnosed with bipolar 2 today. Knowing what is wrong with me after a long time is a relief. Started medication . Feeling hopeful.

[carriechildress]

One of the things I struggle with is constantly chasing difficult jobs I can’t handle, degrees & hard certifications, thinking I’m great & I can do it (at the time I sign up.) It always ends up in a downward spiral that leads to massive depression with suicidal ideation & anxiety that lasts for months. I always swear it will be the last time, but then I repeat the cycle. Ugh.

[andreav]

My hypomania makes me feel this intense connection with everything... kind of hard to explain but I don’t have pressured speech or racing thoughts. Everyone is different.

[majorbootyful]

I’ve been formally diagnosed with BP2 and this is actually very informative! My hypomania usually makes me lose sleep for up to 3 or 4 days and I usually end up cleaning my house or getting advanced on homework. But I still go to school and I’m more talkative in class. To give an idea, because I’m also a psychology major, I’m still able to moderately function when I’m hypomanic. My time for dysfunction is when I’m depressed; I usually have problems getting out of bed and I have hypersomnia and binge eat.

[VolcanoVaulting]

One major challenge that I've seen in my personal experience is that those with bipolar disorder spend most of their time in a depressive state, and that the self perception is that those hypomanic episodes are what "normal" should feel like. Thus, we never consider that what we think of as normal isn't actually normal. People like us more, we achieve more, we think faster and function at a high level. When in those seemingly perpetual depressive episodes family and friends tell us we're not ourselves and we get so frustrated that we can't be in that flying, elevated state. As you mentioned, people are commonly misdiagnosed with depression and may continue to do so because the deceptive self perception doesn't recognize hypomania. When prescribed with antidepressant medication that pushes some people with bipolar disorder into hypomania or mania, they get that feeling that they are normal again.

We can only communicate what we can perceive and usually peoples' self perceptions are quite distorted. This is why it's important that friends and loved ones who know is best to approach us whem appearing to be going through these mood cycles and to encourage us to seek help. Thank you Katie for addressing the importance of timing to make this approach and for encouraging the process for seeking help.

I would like to raise one more point that is not commonly raised when discussing bipolar disorder. Often people think that hypomania and mania--because it invokes a sense of invulnerability and elevation--that it feels blissful and euphoric. It can feel that way at first but that state of overdrive and hypersensitivity to everything is actually becomes quite uncomfortable and even painful. People around those with bipolar disorder can't see what those suffererd are feeling. How can feeling good be painful, right!? A lot of impulsive behavior can be driven (usually subconsciously/instinctively) by that state of discomfort to ease the unrest and hyperdrive. This impulsive can manifest in many ways. I think that the underlying pain is a big catalyst for substance abuse; the desire to feel good but to numb the extreme discomfort that underlies mania and hypomania.

I know the experience is different for everyone who falls within the bipolar spectrum. From personal experience and those who share their own, all express this simultaneous uncomfortable bliss. Despite it's painfulness hypomanic and manic states are still seemingly better to feel intensely than to be in the heavy and numbed state of major depression.

Driving a car at high speed is exhilarating and fun but when the engine revs too high the car begins to vibrate and the driver can lose control with the slightest bump or diversion.

"Next time I'm feeling hypomanic/manic I can behave myself, control it and make some progress in life.". Until ZOOM, CRASH!

Thanks again Katie for all you do to promote mental health support.

[bobtailor]

Thank you for telling me to write down my moods because one minute I can remember the feelings and the next minute iv completely changed moods so its hard to recall and explain how i felt.

[ZorroTomas]

Thanks for splitting the parts of text up to distinct, colored chunks Kati. It makes it easy to keep concentration and read :) Stellar video as always, keep up the great work!

[AuthenticMentalHealth]

Thank you for making the content you do and helping those who suffer in silence❤️

[elzanievorster]

Kati Morton: our number 1 source for mental health information❤

[renepeters]

I wasn't diagnosed with this but I thought I was having signs of it. Now I'm definitely going to talk to my psychiatrist about it. Thank you for this video. 💜

[brookerickert]

Kati, thank you thank you thank you for making this video! As someone with bipolar disorder type 2, I'm so excited to have someone help eliminate the misconceptions about bipolar disorder!

[sadc]

I started noticing that I had these episodes 2 years after it started.
I'm 13 now and I got diagnosed today.
I already got diagnosed with ptsd at 12 and adhd at 8.
I'm getting medicine, working on the ptsd and adhd.
Best of luck to everybody.

[Mollieblurr]

I was just diagnosed today. At age 29. I never sought help before. This video really helped me to understand this disorder better. Thank you for this video.

[jaredbrown]

As someone with bipolar II, I really appreciate this video. In particular, thank you for stating explicitly that the hypomanias are not enjoyable. Mine feel closer to a drug-fueled paranoia than they do anything that resembles happiness. The way I describe my episodes is that in the hypomanias I dig my hole, and when the depression follows I lie in it.