Bipolar Type II Support Group

Can a person with Bipolar II have Mixed States and Rapid Cycling or does that only happen with Bipolar I? Also, would those conditions be different fot Biplar II compaired to Bipolar I?

I'm honestly not sure which I am, but I have definitely had rapid cycling I've learned from my last inpatient stay.

I rapid cycle also but dont know anything about mixed states but wpuld say i frequent those also, but i am no professional.

I was diagnosed with BP 2- Rapid Cycling - I have never had a mixed episode, but my mood changes very quickly. On average I will be hypomanic and depressed witin two weeks. I will wake up feeling energetic, but irratable, will spend money left right and centre, will talk like I will never get the chance to speak again, my mind will be all over the place and I always want to start a new project at home like paving, painting etc. I am also very productive at work and will work late. Even my typing on my computer is then faster and at night time I will not be able to fall asleep at all even on sleeping pills. But within 14 days I can get very depressed and be unable to get up in the morning and I just want to stay in bed with the curtains drawn and no one should speak to me and I do not answer my phone. I will sometimes just cry and cry and cry. I can not concentrate at work. Some days I cannot even start working. I just stare out of my office window. My episodes can last longer sometimes. Two years ago I had a hypomanic episode that lasted about 3 months. I did not know it was a manic episode at the time, but now I am sure it was. I was spending money like crazy and went on a Image Consultant course, I presented workshops etc. and no I am this shy, withdrawn person. What I am trying to say is that it can change, but most of the time I am a rapid cycler and get very easily triggered by stress or if I am tired. Now that I know what is wrong with me (only diagnosed in Feb 2012),I make sure that I do not get to stressed or tired. My husband really struggled to come to terms with my diagnoses, but he is now so supportive and that helps alot. I think a mixed episode is when you feel very down, but have energy and are irratable at the same time. (Apologies for spelling. I am Afrikaans speaking)

I personally have had severe mixed episodes. My typical depressions rob me of all motivation - for anything at all. I don't care about work, home, hobbies, nothing. On the other hand, in mixed episodes, I'm super productive, talkative, constantly active, basically hypomanic, but simultaneously full of profound existential despair and constant suicidal thoughts. It is one of the worst mental states to experience.

Hi there, I rapid cycle and have mixed episodes and I have bipolar II, so it can happen. I don't know how the symptoms would compare to that of bipolar I; I just know that my mood will either change from depressed to hypomanic sometimes within a few hours, and when I have mixed states I talk fast and my mind races but I have no motivation and am basically a zombie running at 100 mph.

I don't cycle, but do get mixed states. It's when you have depression and hypo-mania at the same time. It's not a good time and can be dangerous for some people. The difference between bipolar 1 & 2 is that bipolar 1 gets full blown mania and has more mania than depression. Bipolar 2 only gets hypo-mania, a lesser form of mania, and is more on the depressive side getting depression more than hypo-mania. I'm not a doctor though, so this is just what I have learned.

Thanks everyone for your input. I believe I do have both but not happy about it, of course. But good to know that others with Bipolar 2 get this as well.

Ello, I suggest to get Bipolar Breakthrough, by Ronald R. Fieve MD. This book breaks down both BI and BII. The "big" condition in this book says that BI will have episodes of Mania while a BII will have Hypomania.

A little break down of Bipolar spectrum,

"Mania characterizes the fundamental mood episode of Bipolar I"

"Hypomania, meaning, literally, "mild mania," is an essential mood state4 that characterizes Bipolar II"

The book delves more into the depression side, some characteristics of depression but it makes it clear you must have either top to be categorized as Bipolar. Some other symptoms that may occur are Mild to Moderate Depression, Major Depression, double depression, secondary depression, chronic treatment-resistant depression.

If Bipolar II is misdiagnosed with something else you will essentially get half or a band aid treatment which will lead to Hypomanie: Moodswings with mild mania or Bipolar II with Rapid-Cycling, Bipolar III: Antidepressant-Induced Bipolar disorder etc..

So far what I read I've come to the conclusion the wide variety of "symptoms" that can occur with BII and other disorders except for the hypomania and if you don't know you are having a hypomania episode due to the incredible energy, feeling very happy/euphoric which most people see as an advantage but then follows the depression.

Everything is explained fully and there are lists and mood questions to help you out with a positive diagnosis.

Hope this helps. Another book I'm going to pick up which is suppose to be a better explanation in this area is Mood-swings by Five Md. (same guy).

Post edited by: bluntaskunt, at: 03/23/2012 06:24 AM

I was also diagnosed with bp II rapid cycling mixed state. Although I am basically stable I dont c cycle a frequently but still havw mixed states when I do. Very frustrating for the family when it happens as they dont know how to approach me and for myself as I can't control my ups and downs. I do love the hypomania though. It is when I catch up on all the things that I let slide during the depressed state. It did take time to get the right cocktail of meds top get me to the point where I am but I am not well enough to return to work. I tried to in july but that was my mistake thinking I was well enough and the failure has made things more frustrating. When I am in the depressed state I can not function even ast home and this still happens at least monthly. I keep a detailed journal so I can look back and see how I am feeling. Also a mood tracker is extremely helpful.