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TiredMama is sort of correct, but not entirely.

A bipolar person has BOTH mania and depression - regardless of if they are bipolar I or II. The difference is in the intensity of the manias or depressions. That's why it's called "bipolar" : "bi" as in two and "polar" as in opposites. So literally it means "two opposites."

bipolar I - is MOSTLY mania related...and those manias can include full-blown manic episodes, which can be really scary because some can even turn into psychotic episodes. And yes, after a manic episode the body and mind can be quite spent (especially since a manic person usually doesn't sleep much, if any at all) and it is quite typical for the person to become tired as they start "coming down" and they can even switch into the depression side of things.

Depression is just as typical a symptom in bipolar I people.....it's just not as much a problem as the mania so the mania is usually what is focused on controlling.

The good thing is that bipolar I is MUCH easier to treat successfully with meds than bipolar II.

A tell-tell sign that mania is coming on or is already in progress is lack of sleep. The more manic a person gets, the less sleep they typically require.

bipolar II - the person deals MOSTLY with depressions, but also can have manic episodes...tho most have what are known as hypo-manias (much less severe than full-blown mania). I believe I was in a state of mostly hypo-mania for about 6 months before my depression ever started.

This person often suffers deep depressions for years unless proper treatment/meds can be found and often is accompanined by major depressive episodes. The M.D.E.s usually bring the person to a place where they are mostly unable to function or care for themselves....and it can last for years unfortunatly (I'm currently fighting my 3rd).

Rapid Cycling - can be a part of either bipolar I or bipolar II. And can make diagnosis and treatment a little more difficult. What it is...is just as it sounds...it is a cycling back and forth from depression to mania in a short amount of time. Non-rapid cyclers only flip sides about 2-3 times a year (i could be wrong on that part tho as it's been a while since refreshing my memory on the time), but rapid cyclers such as myself can switch several times a month, week, day, hour or (believe it or not) even several times minute.

I, myself, typically switch several times a week or if my mood stabalizers are working a little better then perhaps only a couple times a month or so. But, the first time i was hospitalized, the day my family checked me out, i cycled about 20 times in an hour and that basically continued for a day. That was the worst time i've ever experienced rapid cycling and i literally went from being manic and talking a mile-a-minute, to switching mid-sentence to the depressive side and being so slowed down that i couldn't finish the sentence at all. All i could do was studder b/c my mind would simply not think fast enough to remember what i was even trying to say.....then all of the sudden i'd switch back again and finish the sentence and continue talking at warp speed.

It was quite exhausting emotionally and mentally and the only time in my life i've had issues with studdering either.


And yes....paranoia is a part of bipolar disorder, but the level of it is different for different people.

And yes....it is VERY typical for a personal newly diagnosed with a mental illness to fight with themselves and others about not wanting to take their meds. You also have to remember that....most of the time....her manias feel good and that the meds are going to make her feel "flat" compared to what she's use to. It's going to take time and you are going to also have to understand that this is a lot for a person to take in about themselves.

When I figured out that i was bipolar...the first person i tried explaining it to was my mom (even tho i knew very little about it at the time). And you know what i said to her to try to get across to her what i was feeling about it all and how scared i was? "Mom! Do you realize what this means?! This means that i am literally and legally insane!" I was very wrong of course, but at 27-28 years old, with a college degree in journalism, i still hadn't yet figured out there was a giant difference between mental illness and insanity.

So perhaps that may help you understand that your daughter is going through a WHOLE mess of thoughts and emotions that even SHE doesn't understand right now.....so that's probably a big part of why she's not talking to you...she's scared, she's confused, she's angry, she's hurt, she's ashamed, she's also dealing with the illness itself at the same time.

It really is a lot for a person to bare.

Lov and hugs,
Jenna