BP I or II?

I have had a number of pretty severe depressive episodes for the past 8 or so years before being diagnose BP this past January. In hindsight, I guess I've had some mania/hypomania as well. My memories of my summers at home by the beach are incredible. Gym, beach, work, party, get a couple hours sleep, repeat. I really miss it, but most people miss the summer. In January I had my first full-blown manic episode with psychosis and it lasted about a week or two. My psychiatrist diagnosed me BPI and gave me meds. My therapist tells me I'm BPII. I know they're both bipolar, but I still feel like I need to know. My therapist only really sees me when I'm depressed because I usually just stop seeing him when I feel better. I can't help but think that maybe my full-blown mania was just an accident or like a one time thing. I almost want to go off my meds to see what happens. Which I know is an awful idea but I miss my high and want to know if it was real or not. Anyone else not sure?

Considering there are no objective tests for either one, I'd say don't get too hung up on the specific labels. They're just different opinions, albeit professional opinions. As I understand it, the psychotic episode means type 1, but I've had psychotic episodes before and had professionals tell me I'm type 2. (My psychotic episodes are pretty tame though...)

For some people, knowing they are type 1 or type 11 is very important.
you can get into micro-diagnosing. Bipolar with hypomania, bipolar with psychosis, bipolar with borderline personality disorder...

It doesn't make any difference to me. My medications are working and that is all that matters.

I can sure relate to the great summers when I was in highschool... Beach, work, party...

Don't worry about 1 or 11. just get your medications right, and go on living.

take care,

It's even worse, in Europe and America they are diagnosed differently. Since I had psychotic episodes, I should be BP I in America, but here I am BP II because I haven't been hospitalised. Go figure.

I agree with Skilsaw anyway. As long as the meds work, I don't care much.

I agree that it's probably more helpful to focus on getting effective treatment for the symptoms that are affecting your functioning, rather than the question of whether you have Bipolar I or II.

As Oliveira says, they're diagnosed differently in Europe and the U.S anyway. I'm in the U.K, and in 12 years of seeing psychiatrists they have never mentioned a type to me. My official diagnosis is simply written as 'bipolar affective disorder'. (From reading up on it, I'd say I would be given the label of Bipolar I, because I've had two full-blown manias with psychosis). However, the treatment for each type is likely to be similar. For example, I'm on a mood stabiliser for maintenance treatment.

I understand that the energy that comes with hypomania/mania can be seductive, but please don't be tempted to 'experiment' by stopping your meds, as it's a risky game to play. It can take time to adjust to the feeling of stability and to find medication that suits you and works well.

I also think that the important thing is being stable rather than diagnostic labels tho I understand that you may want to know for sure. In terms of diagnosis in the UK the Drs tend to make the formal diagnosis (therapists will have an opinion too) tho I am not sure if this is the case where you are. please dont mess with your meds tho as this would be a really bad idea.

Cracked

My doc drew the line at...

hospitalized, arrested, lost job over actions = BPD 1
vs
getting very close to those things, but they didn't happen = BPD 2

I personally have danced right on that fence... I agree it's more important to focus on what you know and how the symptoms affect YOU... and what you can do to fight them.

I know there's no real physiological line between the two and it's really not a very important distinct, but the problem is I'm really tempted to go off my meds. I need to know if that rush and that feeling like anything is possible was just an exaggerated mania and a one time thing or part of my bipolar. It doesn't make sense, and I know it doesn't because I study biopsychology, but I miss that time. I keep reminding myself it's not worth it because I went insane and I don't know if I'd be able to handle it again. I guess I'm just rambling haha

MikeHooty wrote:I'm really tempted to go off my meds.

Please think carefully about this and about your reasons for doing it before making a decision about this. And if you do it then please do it with medical supervision and dont just stop them yourself.

Cracked