The three types of bipolar disorder, formally referred to as manic depression, are bipolar I, bipolar II, and bipolar III. Bipolar II causes episodes of depression and hypomania.
The symptoms of hypomania are feelings of euphoria, irritability, higher than usual sex drive, insomnia, and difficulty concentrating. An episode of hypomania is a milder form of a manic episode.
An episode of depression can cause debilitating symptoms. The person may have suicidal thoughts, feelings of hopelessness, feelings of guilt or shame, lower than usual sex drive, irritability, feelings of helplessness, and insomnia or hypersomnia.
Hallucinations and delusions can be symptoms of severe depression. Hallucinations and delusions from depression reflect the depressed mood of the individual. An example is feeling that the world is a painful place and then having the delusion that they must kill their children in order to save them from the pain.
Bipolar II has been shown to have a hereditary component. People with family histories of depression, bipolar I, or bipolar II are at greater risk than the general population for developing bipolar disorder.
There is no cure for bipolar II disorder. People with bipolar II can struggle to cope with episodes of the illness. If severe, symptoms of bipolar disorder can interfere with the persons ability to function.
Though most people with bipolar II disorder lead normal lives, the symptoms can cause problems with employment and interpersonal relationships. If the problems persist despite treatment, they may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits.
Both therapy and medication are an important part of bipolar II treatment. The medications usually used for bipolar II are Depakote or another mood stabilizing medication and an antidepressant. Too much of an antidepressant can cause hypomania.
Hypomania caused by antidepressants can be referred to as bipolar III. Bipolar III is not an official diagnosis. If someone diagnosed with bipolar II has a manic episode, the diagnosis is usually changed to bipolar I.
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