Bipolar Type 2
A Bipolar Type 2 Disorder Can Be Difficult To Detect
A bipolar type 2 disorder is a special type of bipolar illness. In general, the principal symptom of bipolar disorder, formerly referred to as manic-depressive illness, is a succession of mood swings, oscillating episodes of mania and depression. While treatable, bipolar disorder is not curable, and its exact causes remain unknown.
A type of bipolar disorder that is particularly difficult to diagnose is bipolar type 2 disorder. A person afflicted with a classical case of bipolar disorder will often fluctuate between highs and lows, or mania and depression. This will occur in a very pronounced fashion, often reaching extremes in both behavioral episodes. A person diagnosed with a type 1 disorder may experience frequent episodes of mania, often with very extreme symptoms, and seldom, if ever, experience swings to a state of depression.
In the case of the bipolar type 2 disorder, a person will swing from a manic to a depressive state and back. However, during a manic episode, the symptoms may be mild, and barely noticeable. This is said to be experiencing an episode of hypomania, or low-level mania.
Similar to episodes of mania in general, a person experiencing an episode of hypomania may have feelings of high self-esteem and self-confidence. He may feel very ambitious, and while symptoms of irritability or aggressiveness may surface from time to time, they are often absent.
The type 2 individual rarely experiences manic behavior to the point of becoming delusional, or otherwise losing touch with reality. He may appear quite normal in every respect, be a good performer, and considered to be an achiever, if not a super-achiever. If you were to meet him, you would probably think of him as just an ordinary, but rather high-energy person, though maybe a little high-strung at times.
In this respect, the bipolar type 2 disorder can be difficult to detect or diagnose. The person involved may be quite unaware that anything is wrong. Trouble usually arises when the person experiences an episode of depression. When this occurs, the person suddenly finds himself unable to do what before was easy. In fact, the type 2 individual may have difficulty in performing even simple tasks, or not feel like doing them at all. The effects of the mood swing can be devastating to the individual, and to those around him.
It is extremely important that the person receive professional help at this time, and support from those around him. He has gone from a position of having gained high respect, to a position in which he may feel he has become an absolute failure. A bipolar type 2 disorder is a particularly dangerous breed of cat, in that its symptoms are at first so difficult to detect, and suddenly can bring on such severe consequences. Once detected however, bipolar type 2 is treatable.