Bipolar Type II Support Group

Bravo MissHildy. Unfortunately if you don't function at a high level and are applying for social security disability benefits, the label does matter to some degree at least.

Actually even physical stuff isn't an exact science, it's still called the art of medicine.

barelymanic, how many times have you been denied SSD? I've heard more than once that it can take up to 2 or 3 times of being denied before you will be determined "disabled". Im sorry you have to jump through all of that red tap. The bureaucrats think they are saving money buy denying cases and weeding people out. Then those who truly need the help keep applying and more man hours are wasted going over and over the cases. When it would have saved money or balanced out the cost to just approve the case the first time.... Grrr...

Im sorry you have to deal with that BS

thank you for your kind words. I initially applied in I think it was June 2009. Was denied at initial, denied again at recon, transferred to a virtual hearing and denied again, then went to the ALJ hearing and got denied. My attorney said she refused to approve me because I worked some, even though the amount I worked was way under the SGA.

I gotta tell you my favorite parts. My so called physical. They make you bend over and touch your toes and then take off your shoes. This is to see a physical system which I claimed none. They are hoping you will prove that you are faking. That's the only reason they do it. Nice HUH!!

The funny thing about hallucinating is that you don't know if you are until you embaress yourself or till later because it is so real. I always get sideways in grocery stores sometimes cuz I'll see a lable on a box like Frosted Flakes--there great! and will see Froster Flakes-full of rat poison. I have to look again. Or when someone calls my name at work and I say "what" only to realize no one called my name. Makes things interesting.

Funny story, the ssa doc who did my evaluation asked me if i ever hallucinated. Guess what I told him, how would you know? LOL

In my Province of Canada the requirement for BP2 is that you must have also had at least three manic states in the course of one year to be considered BP2. The general mood though is depression. I know that I have at least long mixed states or full blown mania when I can become particularly more creative and some of them last quite some time. My manic states of course have also caused me financial hardship when they become more pronounced, which is not often.

It is in my record that I have mixed states, but only once can i remember being aware that i was experiencing a mixed state. Of course, I am often unaware of my mood changes.

Take a look at this site: http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/ 02_diagnosis.html#soft

I am hypomanic with no depression.... mostly ups.. not mania.. is that BPII? At 56, diagnosed with OCD, then 57, diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome and hypomania I call them my Three Graces what meds do people take for Hypomania... ?

Post edited by: YvonneEloise, at: 12/28/2011 09:25 AM

It doesn't sound like you're experiencing bp2, but it's up to your doctor to help you figure that out. Keeping a mood chart helps him see your ups. Typically with people that have bp2, there's always a crash after the hypomania and it's a big bout of depression. Meds that treat hypomania include anti-psychotics such as Geodon, Seroquel, Abilify, etc.