New with questions about Bipolar 2 depression.

Hi all,

I am Angela. I have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder since I was 13 years old. I am now a 34 year old wife and mother of 3. I have suffered through many bouts of depression since the first, but medication doesn't seem to help or makes it worse. In June of 2016, I went to a GP and told him I had racing thoughts, couldn't sleep, and was just completely overwhelmed with my life. He said he thought I had inattentive ADD. He prescribed Adderall. I took the med and I felt so much better. I all of a sudden decided it was time to go back to school. Everything was perfect. I was supermom. My house was spotless, kids were well taken care of, I was making straight A's and I had a plan for my future. It was amazing. I felt like I finally figured out life. A few months later, I wound up with shingles and quit taking the adderall because I didn't want to mix it with the pain medication. For a while, I was still okay. I was still attending school but not as motivated. I started getting irritable and moody with my family and just stressed out. In March, I ended up freaking out and quitting school and fell into the deepest depression I have ever experienced. I ended up seeking help at a county mental health department. It was terrible there, so I found my own self-pay clinic. I met with the therapist last week, and he says I may have Bipolar 2. He thinks that the Adderall triggered a hypomanic episode which eventually led to such a big crash. I have been researching and I feel that he may be right. That diagnosis would fit with some of my symptoms. I see him again tomorrow and see the psychiatrist next week.

The thing is, I am feeling better. I'm not as down. Not as negative. I am not hurting myself anymore. I still feel "blah". But no longer so far down that I am thinking about death constantly.

I guess my question is this... With Bipolar depression, do you just "snap out of it". or is it gradual. For the life of me, I can't remember how I've come out before. Plus, it's never been so bad for me. I want to believe that I'm getting over it, but I'm afraid that I'm just having a few good days and will fall again. What has been your experience?

Thanks in advance to anyone who reads through all of this.

I'm BP1 and usually a rapid cycler. My moods change at the drop of dime.
One minute I'm on top of the world and the next I have no reason to live anymore... and we're back to top of the world... within like an hour on a bad day.
I've know bipolars who come up slower, though, especially in the BP2 category.
The Adderol trigger is pretty solid. Lol.

But, even if you're not BP2, and you end up something else, the important thing is really that you're seeing someone. Diagnoses tend to change and evolve as doctors kind of get to know you and see how you respond to treatments. Sometimes they get it right the first time... sometimes they tack on things like anxiety disorder or traits from something else... but the really important thing is that you reached out to get some help, and I'm proud you did, cuz a lot of us don't.

I have the bipolar 2 Add combo. It is quite common. This is what helped me.
1 Lamictal- It pooped out after 4 months but it got the party started. It pointed my feet in the direction of sane.
2 Abilify maintena injections. Frigging miracle pill !!! It softened my maladaptive daydreaming........ if you have primarily inattentive add you will understand and if not go google the add forums. It also wiped out layers of dysphoric hypomania and a broken alcohol off switch.

3 Sertraline It wiped out layers of anxiety and depression

4 I gave up my job and went on disability allowance. I hate the low income but I have never felt better. I now have a bunch of welfare friends. I dont even know what boredom is any more. They are highly entertaining if a tad dysfunctional. I would not swap them for my high achieving friends. I guess I am out of the rat race and I dont care. Removal of stress is better than any pill.

5 A sightly bossy but highly dedicated community nurse who checks in on me once a month. She made it clear that she is doing things her way because she believes in her training. I considered pouting and sulking and then I decided to let her win. Now she makes sure I win in the long run if that makes any sense.
You will have to work towards your own sweet spot but I hope I have given u some ideas to put in the hat.

I have BP1 and it's rather slow to cycle, and primarily depression. But like Rev said, mine also happen at the drop of a dime. For instance, this morning I was feeling my usual self, and then a few hours later I got smacked in the face with bad depression. I'm almost certain that I snap out of them as quickly, but I tend to stay depressed for months on end.

I have bp2 and crashed after a long hypomanic. Big triggers hit me and I've been in the depression for 7 months. Some days better some worse. It sounds like you were beating the depression in the past. How did you do that as may be use the same principles again.... Sending hope