EVERYONE! Stop what you’re doing and prepare for some
learning!
I’m just kidding, keep on doing whatever it is you’re doing.
This is however, going to be a bit of an educational post.
Hopefully at least one person reading finds it interesting. I am going to talk
about the different types of bipolar disorder. Yes, there are different types.
Bipolar disorder is basically classed in three different
ways: Bipolar type 1, Bipolar type 2, Bipolar not otherwise specified.
Bipolar type 1: For a bipolar type 1 diagnosis one would
have to have had at least one manic or mixed episode. I’m not going to go into
what makes a manic episode cause I’m sure you all have a very good and accurate
idea. However for those of you who do not know what a mixed episode is, it is
an episode where there are both manic symptoms and depressive symptoms. You only
have to have one manic or mixed episode in order to get a bipolar type 1
diagnosis. You don’t even need to have had a depressive episode. Bipolar type 1
is all about the mania.
Bipolar type 2: This kind is defined as having recurrent
major depressive episodes with hypomanic episodes. Hypomania is mania, but less
extreme. With hypomania you are still able to function, whereas with full blown
mania it becomes difficult to function day to day.
Bipolar not otherwise specified: This is used for someone
who has the symptoms of bipolar disorder but does not meet all the criteria for
one of the other diagnoses.
In addition to these different classifications, someone with
bipolar disorder could also have rapid cycling or psychotic features.
Rapid cycling: When someone with bipolar has more than four
episodes a year. Believe it or not, and a lot of people don’t know this, but
someone who has a “regular” bipolar diagnosis has less than four episodes in a
year.
Psychotic features: When someone with bipolar also
experiences psychotic features along with an episode, either manic or
depressive. Psychotic features would include delusions and/or hallucinations.
(I have both rapid cycling and psychotic features)
Up until my recent hospitalization I had bipolar type 2. The
hospital diagnosed me with bipolar type 1. Which I was confused about because I
have never had a fully manic episode. After thinking a lot about it, I’m
assuming my diagnosis was changed based on the episode I had in August. In that
particular episode, in a space of a week I experienced days of being really
depressed, and days of being (what I thought was) hypomanic. My thinking is
that they classed this as a mixed episode as I also had psychotic symptoms. So,
that is where I got with that.
Enough of that. Moving on to a quick update…
I’m feeling the best I’ve felt in a really long time. I don’t
know if it is just a coincidence, or if it’s the new medication already working.
I was thinking it was the start of a hypomanic episode, however my thinking is
still really clear. So I’m hopeful it’s the medication working.
I met with my therapist today. After talking at length about
it, I am most likely taking a six month break from seeing him. One of the DBT
programs offered to me was to start seeing one of the program’s therapists and
going to a weekly group workshop/meeting. It would be a six month program and I
would not be able to see my current therapist. Originally I said I didn’t want
to try this more intense program, but after doing some thinking and talking, I
am pretty sure this is what I’m going to do. I am going to call tomorrow and
ask if I can do that one instead of the other that I said I was more interested
in.
Ok, I think that’s enough. Sorry that this was super long!
**All the information I provided about bipolar disorders is
from my own general knowledge from school and the DSM-IV**
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