Can you live a normal life with bipolar 2?
Bipolar disorder — or manic depression, as it is also still sometimes called — has no known cure. It is a chronic health condition that requires lifetime management. Plenty of people with this condition do well; they have families and jobs and live normal lives.
How do you live with bipolar 2?
Developing and sticking to a daily schedule can help stabilize the mood swings of bipolar disorder. Include set times for sleeping, eating, socializing, exercising, working, and relaxing. Try to maintain a regular pattern of activity even through emotional ups and downs.
How bad is stage 2 bipolar?
Bipolar II disorder has one or more severe major depressive episodes with at least one hypomanic episode. Hypomania is a lesser form of mania. There are no manic episodes, but the individual may experience a mixed episode. Bipolar II doesn’t disrupt your ability to function as much as bipolar I disorder.
What is the difference between bipolar 1 vs 2?
The main difference between bipolar 1 and bipolar 2 disorders lies in the severity of the manic episodes caused by each type. A person with bipolar 1 will experience a full manic episode, while a person with bipolar 2 will experience only a hypomanic episode (a period that’s less severe than a full manic episode).
Is there a cure for bipolar 2?
There is no cure for bipolar II disorder. The imbalances in the brain cannot be permanently reversed and people who do not effectively treat their symptoms go on to have more episodes. A regimen of medication and preventative measures like adequate sleep and regular exercise can keep bipolar episodes to a minimum.
What medications are used for bipolar 2?
Common antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft) are also sometimes used in bipolar II depression, and are thought to be less likely to cause or worsen hypomania than is the case in bipolar I disorder. Psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, may also help.
Which is worse bipolar 1 or bipolar 2?
Bipolar 1 is not worse than bipolar 2, only that it has a broader spectrum of expression than bipolar 2. People with bipolar 1 can experience manic episodes, hypomanic episodes, depressive episodes, and mixed episodes. Persons with bipolar 2 mostly experience hypomanic episodes and depressive episodes. In both cases, the patient experiences maniac episodes characterized by elevated mood, which manifests in the form of euphoria or irritability.
