According to WebMD, bipolar II is similar to bipolar I disorder, with moods cycling between high and low over time. The less-intense elevated moods in bipolar II disorder are called hypomanic episodes, or hypomania.
A person affected by bipolar II disorder has had at least one hypomanic episode in his or her life. Most people with bipolar II disorder suffer more often from episodes of depression. �About 2.5% of the U.S. population suffers from some form of bipolar disorder – nearly 6 million people. Most people are in their teens or early 20s when symptoms of bipolar disorder first start.
During a hypomanic episode, elevated mood can manifest itself as either euphoria or as irritability. Symptoms during hypomanic episodes include:
Flying suddenly from one idea to the next
Having exaggerated self confidence
Rapid, "pressured" (uninterruptable) and loud speech
Increased energy, with hyperactivity and a decreased need for sleep
People experiencing hypomanic episodes are often pleasant to be around. They can often seem like the "life of the party" -- making jokes, taking an intense interest in other people and activities and infecting others with their positive mood.
Hypomania can also lead to erratic and unhealthy behavior. Hypomanic episodes can sometimes progress onward to full manias that affect a person's ability to function. In mania, people might spend money they don't have, seek out sex with people they normally wouldn't and engage in other impulsive or risky behaviors with the potential for dangerous consequences.
Untreated, an episode of hypomania can last anywhere from a few days to several months. Most commonly, symptoms continue for a few weeks to a few months.
In my experience, bipolar isn’t usually pleasant, but it oddly enough can be. Even in a depressive episode, I constantly feel like I’m being pulled in a million directions at once, which isn’t fun. But at the times in my hypomanic episodes, and sometimes manic episodes, where I’ve been untreated have been the highest points of my creativity. I write more and my writing is of a higher quality. The medication they give for bipolar either numbs you, or makes you feel like you’re running on a slower motor, so for me, it kind of kills my writing ability. My thought process gets slower. Music and food are different experiences whether you’re medicated or not in my experience as well.
I’m not saying that leaving bipolar untreated is a preferable option. It’s not. At the worst times of having bipolar, I get highly disturbing intrusive and obsessive thoughts, paranoia and delusions. These are the kinds of things I can’t talk to people about. Things like cutting my face with scissors. That’s one thing that separates bipolar and other “scary” disorders from other mood disorders like depression – it makes it very difficult to talk about with your friends, even with professionals, because more likely than not, what you say will freak them out. That makes it harder to get help.
If you have bipolar, know that you’re not alone. If you know someone with bipolar, support them, no matter what their symptoms are.
