I am on the bipolar spectrum only because I have SAD and sometimes go from Anxiety to fatigue (not depression). It's mainly because of Anxiety. Mine is seasonal. It is not like my husbands. I think his is a typical bipolar II.
I am writing this because my husband is dx with bipolar II. This time of year is the most horrible - I hate it. He is like clockwork. He becomes hypomanic twice a year, around August and then November to December. During christmas time, he woke up one morning at 4:00 and practically wrote a book on something about computer programming and getting Africans involved. It sounds a little out of it but his idea was pretty good. He lived in Africa for two years. His mind wouldn't shut off though. Then we are in the process of buying a house and found a really good one we both agree. We put our money down and everything is pretty much taken care of but NOW he is going through his downward spiral depression phase. He is very slow at thinking and has the blank look when I ask him questions. It takes so dang long for him to respond. He is in his circular pattern of thinking again. It is SO frustrating. Last year at this time, he dropped out of his PhD program. The year before last, he was without incident because he was actually on meds - Lamictal (on that, too, when not preggo and love it). The year before that year he almost lost his job and did loose two job in two years prior before that...all around the same time, this time of year. Oh, he also dropped out of another master's degree program during this time of year about 7 years ago. He is a genius!!! It is so dang frustrating.
A big trigger is when there is a little more than typical stress - hence are house! He can't handle stress like the average person. He is problem focused and hardly ever solution focused.
I just don't understand!!! I try and try but I just don't get it. I have to become his counselor during this time. I show him things that are obvious and he responds, "You are right..." yet his mind WON'T shut off.
The denial is so bad because he seems fine without meds most of the time. Then this time of the year happens, and his bipolar takes a hold. At least when he is like this, he admits he has bipolar.
During these times, I do want him to be more hypomanic because at least he was more optimistic and didn't look at me like a deer in headlights. That look is so irritating.
So, is it really hard for the bipolar brain to get out of the circular thinking? Is it hard to actually get things accompolished during these times??
I am writing this because my husband is dx with bipolar II. This time of year is the most horrible - I hate it. He is like clockwork. He becomes hypomanic twice a year, around August and then November to December. During christmas time, he woke up one morning at 4:00 and practically wrote a book on something about computer programming and getting Africans involved. It sounds a little out of it but his idea was pretty good. He lived in Africa for two years. His mind wouldn't shut off though. Then we are in the process of buying a house and found a really good one we both agree. We put our money down and everything is pretty much taken care of but NOW he is going through his downward spiral depression phase. He is very slow at thinking and has the blank look when I ask him questions. It takes so dang long for him to respond. He is in his circular pattern of thinking again. It is SO frustrating. Last year at this time, he dropped out of his PhD program. The year before last, he was without incident because he was actually on meds - Lamictal (on that, too, when not preggo and love it). The year before that year he almost lost his job and did loose two job in two years prior before that...all around the same time, this time of year. Oh, he also dropped out of another master's degree program during this time of year about 7 years ago. He is a genius!!! It is so dang frustrating.
A big trigger is when there is a little more than typical stress - hence are house! He can't handle stress like the average person. He is problem focused and hardly ever solution focused.
I just don't understand!!! I try and try but I just don't get it. I have to become his counselor during this time. I show him things that are obvious and he responds, "You are right..." yet his mind WON'T shut off.
The denial is so bad because he seems fine without meds most of the time. Then this time of the year happens, and his bipolar takes a hold. At least when he is like this, he admits he has bipolar.
During these times, I do want him to be more hypomanic because at least he was more optimistic and didn't look at me like a deer in headlights. That look is so irritating.
So, is it really hard for the bipolar brain to get out of the circular thinking? Is it hard to actually get things accompolished during these times??
