Bipolar Type II Support Group

Hi...been awhile since I've been on this board, but was just wondering if bipolar 2 gets worse with age? I'm 44 and went thru the worst year of my life last year til I was properly dxed with BPII (instead of unipolar depression). My aunt and uncle on my mom's side of family had BP I. My uncle got progressively worse as he aged but went off his meds many times.

What has been your experience?

Thanks so much!

I have heard that the earlier it starts and the longer it goes untreated that it can get worse. I am in the same boat as you. My last 2 years have been hell and I was Dx about a year and a half ago after 27 years of Depression.

I've been through a lot since I was dxed 7 years ago but its nothing compared to the life in hell of self medicating. I'm usually stable about 2 years at a time and then we got to switch meds. I don't think I'm getting any worse. I've only had one major depression since starting treatment, and that was situational.

there is a hypothesis that all types of bipolar get worse with age (the 'kindling' theory) but as i understand it - it is just that: a theory. my view is that bipolar is very complex and people have very different times of it with the disorder, with and without treatment

This is all very interesting, Karlie! I hadn't heard about it possibly getting worse as we age. Thanks for the post.

I have heard it can get worse with age if you are not medicated. If you are medicated you are controlling the symptoms therefore, it doesn't get worse. I don't know if it's true or not, but that's what I've heard.

Mental illness is a regressive illness, like cancer and other illnesses. If medicated, the illness can be stabilized. Sometimes the symptoms can even be erased with meds, but not if you stop them.

I was only given a definite diagnosis last year at 43 after a serious episode. Looking back I feel like a lot of the signs of the illness were there but it took my hectic life and a massive amount of stress to finally push me over the edge. I am now working on piecing my life back together. I am glad I found this group today, still trying to figure out how to use this site.

Karlie, your story is identical to mine... I've suffered (unknowingly) since I was 21 years old.. until finally diagnosed in July, at age 43.... I have taken antidepressants over the years.. (probably a total of 18 months, spread out of 2 or 3 tries).. so never a significant amount of time.. I'm still not stable, but working very hard at it... I, too, worry about it getting worse. But, I look at my dad.. I am absolutely certain he has BPII, but has never been diagnosed... or treated... and he is actually much better now than he was in his middle age.... so, I'm hoping with treatment.. once we get me stabalized... that perhaps I won't get much worse over the years... But I do know, that worrying about "what may happen" was the way I thought pretreatment, when I wasn't able to think clearly... now that I'm thinking clearer... I realize how destructive those kind of thoughts are to my state of mind.. so, I guess what I am saying is.. stop worrying abut what might happen... and just think about today...

I wonder if there are any studies to back this up. Where would I go to to look into this. Anyone know.