Bipolar Disorder - Blog Posts
cant tell if i just finally have motivation to do things or if im entering a (hypo)manic episode
what if i just never took my medication again
I really have to take this medication for forever huh.....
It’s like walking through a field of flowers
wearing a white flowy dress and you’re happy
you’re picking flowers and it’s a joy so immense
nobody can stop you, you’re free but then
you hit a wall, the flowers in your hands are not there
they’re replaced by rubbish, and then you look back
and it’s no longer the field of flowers.. it’s a mess
a mess that you have no choice but to fix
so you do, you walk back
and start piecing it all together and you’re sad
you’re guilty because you created such chaos
you beat yourself up about it as you see everything;
the people you hurt, the mistakes you made,
the good ideas that were actually bad ideas
then once it’s clean you’re excited.. it’s the field again
and you’re running through it again and it’s scary
because you never know where the wall is
when you’ll be stuck looking at the mess again
but you still enjoy it, you still love the flowers..
MSI
< Bipolar Disorder In My Words >
Reminder: Spring is coming so take the time now to update your mania crisis plan
You're neurologically simple. That's what we should call them. 😂😂😂😂This is @andrewrusso is the only reason why I have TikTok. His mental health skits and because of Timmy. If you don't know Timmy check @andrewrusso on IG, TikTok and YouTube.
Finally got around to making an ADHD, Bipolar and Autism Diagram to show the overlapping symptoms.
(Both low self-esteem and inflated self-esteem are listed for Bipolar - this is because it is made up of a depressive and manic stage. When they’re in the depressed state, they have low self-esteem, but have high self-esteem in the manic stage.)
For anyone wondering what the difference between type 1 and type 2 bipolar disorder (BP-II), this graphic is really nice. For the record, I’m type 2.
Unipolar Major Depression is also known as Major Depression Disorder. Another Graphic that helps compare the two, and provides references for normal moods, bereavement depression (after a loss of a loved one, for example,) and Cyclothymia:
Other facts about BP-II:
Bipolar Type 2 Patients do not receive full manic episodes, which means they will not exhibit the psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations associated with Manic episodes in BP-I patients.
Bipolar Type 2 patients are more likely to commit suicide than their Type 1 counterparts
Those with bipolar type 2 cycle from Hypomania to Severe Depression more frequently than Type 1 does from Mania to Severe depression
BP-II are more likely to experience rapid cycling than Type 1
BP-II patients typically experience longer depressive episodes than their Type 1 counterparts.
this is so petty but i hate how bipolar is treated like one of the big scary disorders but never talked about as one. people on here will talk about ending the demonization of ‘scary disorders’ like personally disorders and schizophrenia and did but not include bipolar despite being seen and treated by the general public as a ‘scary’ disorder. I had a mental health advocate tell me bipolar doesn’t count because it’s a mood disorder and therefor treated the same as gad and depression and i just. have you met a bipolar? listened to our symptoms? have you listened to doctors talk about us? our abuse rates? our suicide and alcoholism rates? the distain the public has for us? just include us in your positivity and advocacy please. im not asking for much
i feel like a fake bipolarian bc it feels like my episodes DO match that cartoony "mood shifts in a couple of seconds" instead of gradually shifting over the course of weeks. it feels like i have no stability i'm either depressed or hypomanic.
It's completely normal to question your diagnosis--I did for many many months following mine. The most important piece of advice i can give you is to speak to your doctor if you feel like you've been misdiagnosed. I can't diagnose you, all I can do is tell you my personal experience.
in my experience, though, there could be explanations for how you feel while still being a "real" bipolarian!
"my episodes DO match that cartoony "mood shifts in a couple of seconds" instead of gradually shifting over the course of weeks."
this is called emotional lability. one explanation is, actually, hypomania. it's not a symptom spoken about frequently, but hypomania can cause intense and frequent mood swings, including intense sadness that mimics the hopelessness we see in depression. it is one of the reasons hypomanic people are often misdiagnosed with bpd.
another explanation is mixed episodes, not just feeling both at the same time, but switching from one to the other over the course of days or within a day. I think there's a misconception that mixed episodes aren't very common. talking to other bipolar people, i think they are pretty common, and this will lead me into this next point,
"it feels like i have no stability i'm either depressed or hypomanic."
this is normal in bipolar disorder! These are called sub-syndromal symptoms. between episodes, some bipolarians experience symptoms regardless of not being in a full-blown episode, and it can feel like you're never really stable.
That being said, if you experience frequent mixed states and sub-syndromal symptoms, two traits common in atypical bipolar disorder, its completely possible to feel the way you feel!
Again, I cannot tell if you are Really bipolar through an ask on the internet, and if you feel that you have been misdiagnosed, please speak with your doctor! They will know more than a blogger on tumblr dot com. But as far as I Know, these are normal bipolarian experiences.
I hope this helps, I hope you figure it out soon, and I hope you’re well! <3
if you feel like your bipolar doesnt present in the same way as other people’s its okay.
if you feel like you dont relate to other people with bipolar disorder its okay.
if you feel like you dont experience symptoms that you “should” or you do experience symptoms that you “shouldnt” its okay.
youre not secretly faking.
bipolar disorder is a complex mental illness that wont look the same on everyone. whatever it looks like on you is a normal way for bipolar disorder to look. you’re valid and loved and welcome in our community.
Hi! I’ve been diagnosed with BP2 just today, I will start with the meds tomorrow and I am looking for friendly blogs to follow.
I am new to everything and don't even know what I need but your blog looks nice 🙊 also, what is your propic? Is it a pride flag? Does BP have one?
Looking for advices as someone completely new on the matter! 🙈
welcome to the community! im glad you found my blog helpful and if theres ever anything i can do to help just let me know! As for your questions:
some friendly blogs to follow
@lumberjackloving // @bipolstar // @bxpolar // @bipolarbotany // @bipolarpng // @basicbipolarbitch // @actuallybipolar2 // @hypomania-dreams // @bipolarblueberries // @bipolarbuttercup // @lamiictal // @bipolar2andbpd // @bipolarmoss // @bipolar-type-2-confessions //
and @compassionatereminders, @positiveautistic, and @recoverystuff aren’t bipolar specific but they are my favorite reovery/positivity blogs!
that should get you started!
My profile pic
My profile pic is indeed the flag that I made for Bipolar Disorder! It’s a redesign of a slightly more popular flag which can be found here.
Some Advice
Comply with your meds! If you have a problem, speak to your psychiatrist, don’t just go off of them yourself, it can be dangerous.
Set a regular sleep schedule. sleeping too much or too little can induce or worsen depression or hypomania so going to bed and waking up the same time every day is a good idea.
Try tracking your mood with an app like Daylio or Bearable, that way you can see patterns and swings at a glance
Just like winter can cause depression in people without bipolar, spring can bring hypomania in those with bipolar. Just a heads up since spring is right around the corner
Blue light, the kind of light phones and computers give off, can cause your brain to stop making melatonin, the sleep chemical. That can cause or worsen hypomania during spring time so consider using an app or program designed to block the blue light from around 6pm until you go to bed during springtime.
your symptoms might not look exactly like other people’s symptoms and that is absolutely okay. bipolar presents in different ways for everyone. dont worry about faking or ‘doing it wrong’
make some friends in the community! this community has made me feel a lot better about my diagnosis. its a very welcoming and friendly group of people! Welcome, and congrats on a diagnosis <3
somewhere around 60% of bipolarians are unemployed, and bipolar disorder is the sixth leading cause of disability in the world so here is a reminder that youre not alone. your worth is inherent and not linked to how well you can do a job. you have worth because you are alive not because you are able to produce labor for someone else. happy disability pride month to all the bipolarians who don’t or can’t have a job. I’m proud of you.
and for those who do work, 88% of bipolarians surveyed said that bipolar disorder affected their ability to perform at work, so if you work and struggle, here is a reminder that you’re not alone. I recognize the struggles you face, from those caused directly by your illness, to discrimination, to working hard to appear “normal,” your efforts dont go unnoticed. your worth isnt defined by how well you do your job, either. happy disability pride month to all the bipolarians who struggle through their work but still manage to get it done. I’m proud of you, too.
Leia Organa - Bipolar Pride
“I’m not crazy- That bitch is!” - Carrie Fisher
(bipolar pride flag by @bipolarings !)
friendly reminder that bipolar ii isnt the “easy,” “soft,” or “lesser” bipolar disorder. just because we dont experience full-on mania doesn’t mean our experiences are somehow invalid.
hypomania has the power to ruin relationships.
depression has the power to ruin lives.
we end up hospitalized for depression.
we’re more likely to rapid cycle and contrary to popular belief, our depression can cause psychosis
our suffering is real and cant be discounted solely because we experience a lesser form of mania.
I found this table describing two different ways bipolar disorder can present, classic and atypical. It’s interesting because while we talk more about the classic presentation, the atypical presentation is actually more common (it was discovered second, hence the name)
The most interesting thing to me personally is while many with bipolar disorder will fully recover between episodes, many won’t–they will experience subsyndromal symptoms. which is why i, and possibly many of you too, find myself in a sort of depression lite™️ even when im not in a full-on episode.
Here’s a video that goes over the chart and explains the difference between the two and a little bit of the history behind their discovery.
I haven’t seen anyone talk about this on tumblr, so I thought I’d bring it up. It‘s not diagnostic material, but psychologists do use these terms when deciding what medication will (probably) best treat your specific case, with the classic presentation responding better to lithium and atypical responding better to anticonvulsants and atypical antipsychotics
isn’t that neat?
A while ago, I made up the word bipolarian to mean someone with bipolar disorder.
There's nothing wrong with "people with bipolar disorder." But it takes a lot of characters, and sounds too much like person-first language.
Bipolarian amuses me because it sounds like "planarian." Cut our heads in half, and we'll become one body ruled by two heads. Seems appropriate.
Here's a plushie two-headed planarian. Aww, such a cutie
It’s the masterpost that no one actually asked for, but I really wanted to make. I’ve found a lot of resources, but they were never in one place. So instead of searching all over the place all the time, I decided to make this.
This also includes resources for schizoaffective disorder, which I’ve never seen a masterpost for! I didn’t include things like “Dealing with a bipolar loved one”, but I might make a separate post for friends/family.
Basic information:
About Bipolar Disorder (DBSA)
Bipolar Disorder (NIMH), Bipolar Disorder (Mayo Clinic)
Overview of Bipolar Disorder (pdf)
Bipolar I (WebMD)
Bipolar II (WebMD)
Cyclothymia (Mayo Clinic), Cyclothymia (WebMD)
What is rapid cycling? (DBSA)
Schizoaffective Disorder (NAMI), Schizoaffective Disorder (Mayo Clinic)
Diagnosing bipolar disorder NOS (verywell)
The secret life of manic depression (pdf)
BPD vs BD (post by homojabi)
Mania and hypomania:
Mania symptoms (psych central)
What is mania and hypomania? (WebMD)
What is a manic episode? (healthy place)
Coping with mania (healthline)
Dealing with this manic episode (living manic depressive)
Behavioral strategies for preventing mania (pdf)
Cognitive strategies for preventing mania (pdf)
How to prevent a hypomanic episode (pdf)
Hypersexuality information post (OP deleted, so it’s on bipolarnet)
Depressive episodes:
Depression in bipolar disorder (black dog institute)
Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about bipolar depression (bphope)
Cognitive strategies for preventing and managing depression (pdf)
Behavioral strategies for preventing and managing depression (pdf)
Depression laundry tips (depressionresource)
Mixed episodes:
Mixed episode symptoms (psych central)
How to treat mixed mood episodes (bipolar burble)
Bipolar episodes with mixed features (WebMD)
Schizoaffective disorder:
Living with schizoaffective disorder (psych central)
Living with schizoaffective disorder (brain blogger)
What is schizoaffective disorder?, self care, + treatments and support (mind.org)
Psychosis:
Talking to friends about psychosis ( @therapidcyclist )
Surviving halloween with psychosis ( @mentalhealthwarrior )
How to deal with paranoia when you’re alone ( post by skailu )
How to handle hallucinations (post by schizotiger)
Treatment and medication info:
crazymeds (mood stabilizers, anti-psychotics)
Bipolar medication guide (help guide)
Bipolar disorder - What medication is available? (mind.org)
Bipolar disorder - treatment (nhs)
What to do if your parents refuse to let you have access to mental healthcare (posted by abusedkidproblems)
Self care / executive dysfunction:
Dysfunctional’s guide to functioning ( therapidcyclist )
Grounding kits ( @depressionresource )
What to do when showering is too hard (depressionresource)
lowspoonsgourmet and no-more-ramen
articles on college and bipolar disorder (ibpf)
Fact sheet on recognizing and preventing future episodes
Bipolar self care post (unfortunately OP’s theme is nearly impossible to read, so it’s on bipolarnet)
Apps:
Bipol-app, Booster Buddy, Daily Feats, Daylio, Emoods, iMood journal, Mango Health MediSafe, MoodPanda, Pacifica
note: I’ve tried to make sure all of these apps are free!
This ended up being really long already, but feel free to add to this. If your post was featured here and you want me to remove it, let me know! Please let me know if any links are broken.
Another thing people don’t talk a lot about in hypo/mania is that it can cause your emotions to be very intense and switch very quickly. doctors call that emotional lability
so while the bi in bipolar represents mania and depression which last an extended period of time, switching emotions quickly and intensely can still be a bipolar experience in hypo/mania
The Bipolar II Disorder Workbook | Managing Recurring Depression, Hypomania & Anxiety (Full Text)
Chapter 1: What is Bipolar II Disorder? [⇄]
Chapter 2: Understanding the Treatments for Bipolar II Disorder and a Guide to Using This Book [⇄]
Chapter 3: Applying Acceptance to Bipolar II Disorder [⇄]
Chapter 4: Recognizing the Symptoms of Bipolar II Depression [⇄]
Chapter 5: Modifying Your Thinking and Behavior to Cope with Depression [⇄]
Chapter 6: More Strategies for Modifying Your Thoughts and Behavior [⇄]
Chapter 7: Hypomania-What Is It? [⇄]
Chapter 8: Taking Action to Manage Your Hypomania [⇄]
Chapter 9: Anxiety-What Is It? [⇄]
Chapter 10: Taking Action to Manage Your Anxiety [⇄]
Chapter 11: Involving Your Family and Friends [⇄]
Chapter 12: Putting It All Together to Create a Personalized Wellness Plan [⇄]
you might have seen this bipolar flag around and i really liked the concept but i thought i’d take a spin at it and recolor/redesign