What is Bipolar II Disorder?
Bipolar II Disorder is a mental disorder that consists of episodes of hypomania, depression, and a mix of those two states with periods of normalcy in between.
Hypomania
Hypomania had been difficult to treat in me because it’s hard to recognize something as disordered when it feels good. To me, hypomania feels awesome! It feels like I can do anything I want, and I have the energy and confidence to pursue it. However, there are some drawbacks to this state. For example, the impulsivity that comes with it causes me to do destructive things, such as spending significant amounts of money on unimportant things. Here are some symptoms that I commonly experience during a hypomanic episode:
- Little to no sleep
- High energy
- Euphoria
- Agitation or irritability
- Decreased appetite
- Impulsivity
- Increased productivity
- Increased creativity
- Racing thoughts
Depression
Sadly, hypomanic episodes don’t last forever and are usually followed by an episode of depression. I feel like depression is self-explanatory enough, so I’ll skip over the explanation.
Mixed Episodes
A mixed episode is exactly how it sounds – a mix of a hypomanic and depressive episode. Unfortunately, this is when people feel the most suicidal because they feel depressed and have the energy to act on their feelings. If you are ever feeling suicidal, please call 911 or the national hotline. I promise you that it’s worth getting help.
Decidedly Disordered 