Cassie Talks - Mental Health

It is easy to confuse Bipolar Disorder 2 with Borderline Personality Disorder -BPD (often known as Emotional Unstable Personality Disorder) as they are very similar. Differentiating between the two can be difficult even psychiatrists can find this tricky. However although they are very similar they are also very different too, and have different treatments.  Bipolar 2 disorder is characterised by extreme mood swings. These can range from highs (hypomania) to extreme lows (depression). Episodes of hypomania and depression often last for several weeks or months. Hypomania: Elevated mood, decreased need for  sleep (feels rested after only a couple of hours sleep), inflated self-esteem, racing thoughts, impulsivity, more talkative than normal or pressure to keep talking, distractibility. Depression: Fatigue, sleeping to much or to little, loss of interest, hopeless outlook, changes in appetite (eating too much or not enough),  suicidal ideation and...

Its been a number of years since I have been hypomanic and I have to say I miss it I really do. Feeling the warmth from hypomania was my reward for being depressed, all those months of viewing the world in many different shades of grey and then seeing it in vibrant colours through beautiful rose tinted glasses was amazing. I was so productive, sociable, outgoing, happy, elated and full of energy needing little sleep to recharge my battery, creative and confident. Woah there, I have to stop myself and really think about what I am grieving today as I have realised I am romanticising it. In reality my hypomania can turn nasty turning into full blown mania with psychosis, mixed episodes and then spiralling back down into depression. In fact I wouldn't wish Bipolar on my worst enemy so I am not advocating people quitting their medication so they become hypomanic. I am grieving the loss of the happy times though, and I know, I KNOW all too well that hypomania is deceptive and ho...

A poem about the highs and lows of Bipolar and reaching stability. If you don't feel in the mood to read you can just sit back, press play and watch the video instead. Hypo/mania is a special place, life is just fantastically great. I am the life and soul of the party, laughing and joking whole-heartedly. Others dance with me to my infectious tune, everything in life feels bright, warm, and sunny I hope this doesn't end any time soon. I sing a cheerful song as I soar through the sky my bipolar wings are helping me fly very high. I fly for days, weeks and sometimes months without much rest, I feel that I can stand this test. Mania joins me and comes along for the ride flying with me by my side. The sun is too bright and I can't see what is within my sight. As I reach my peak all of a sudden everything looks bleak, my wings become weak. Adrenalin leaves my side I am not enjoying this ride. The storm replaces the sun, I am in trouble but its only just begun...