From the submitted article: "In later Internet research, I found several articles suggesting that—for unknown reasons—bipolar II is one of the most lethal of mental conditions, possibly more lethal than major unipolar depression and even bipolar I, with a suicide rate estimated up to 20%. (One Medscape article, for example: 'bipolar II depression. . . carries the highest suicide risk among all subtypes of major mood disorders.')"
This is some of the most important information in the article. Just before the quoted paragraph, the author notes that it is unusual for people in the hypomanic phase or manic phase of a mood disorder to seek treatment, because most people in that mode state feel great. Treatments vary for mood disorders between those with manic and hypomanic phases and those without, because of course many treatments that elevate mood can cause vulnerable persons to switch into hypomania or even mania from depression.
It's a bit early (over the course of the author's lifetime, and in terms of the number of patients who have tried to apply his advice) to conclude that what he thinks helped him function better would work for a lot of other patients. He sometimes concedes that, in his own words in his article, but seems to end with a flourish and announcement that he has found a general answer. Anyone dealing with this issue would be well advised to do what the author advised in one part of his article and check with an experienced M.D. before figuring that self-treatment will do the whole job.
What about the countless people that likely suffer from some form of problem like that described, that will never go see a psychiatrist, psychologist, or any other doctor about the problem because of whatever reason? Or, how about the people that have tried, and found the experience to be less than satisfying? How about the people that simply suffer, maybe cognizant of the fact that they aren't completely normal, but have lost hope? Maybe, for these people, the article will provide some hope. Maybe not, but certainly worth considering.
Comments
From the submitted article: "In later Internet research, I found several articles suggesting that—for unknown reasons—bipolar II is one of the most lethal of mental conditions, possibly more lethal than major unipolar depression and even bipolar I, with a suicide rate estimated up to 20%. (One Medscape article, for example: 'bipolar II depression. . . carries the highest suicide risk among all subtypes of major mood disorders.')"
This is some of the most important information in the article. Just before the quoted paragraph, the author notes that it is unusual for people in the hypomanic phase or manic phase of a mood disorder to seek treatment, because most people in that mode state feel great. Treatments vary for mood disorders between those with manic and hypomanic phases and those without, because of course many treatments that elevate mood can cause vulnerable persons to switch into hypomania or even mania from depression.
It's a bit early (over the course of the author's lifetime, and in terms of the number of patients who have tried to apply his advice) to conclude that what he thinks helped him function better would work for a lot of other patients. He sometimes concedes that, in his own words in his article, but seems to end with a flourish and announcement that he has found a general answer. Anyone dealing with this issue would be well advised to do what the author advised in one part of his article and check with an experienced M.D. before figuring that self-treatment will do the whole job.
What about the countless people that likely suffer from some form of problem like that described, that will never go see a psychiatrist, psychologist, or any other doctor about the problem because of whatever reason? Or, how about the people that have tried, and found the experience to be less than satisfying? How about the people that simply suffer, maybe cognizant of the fact that they aren't completely normal, but have lost hope? Maybe, for these people, the article will provide some hope. Maybe not, but certainly worth considering.