Mania or meltdowns?

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I was diagnosed bipolar II about three years ago; however, my current psych team feels that my "higher" experiences don't really fit in with the manic framework. Current doc dxed me with Mood Disorder NOS. *eye roll*

After doing some post-AS-diagnosis reflection I wondered whether my "mania" - which used to drive me to do all sorts of productive things but now manifests itself as rage with suicidal thoughts (and attempts) - was actually a series of meltdowns upon encountering too much stimulation.


Thoughts? Anyone else in a similar situation?

I was first incorrectly diagnosed as bipolar II before we determined that I had AS. However, the misdiagnosis was primarily due to the fact that I would talk non-stop about my focused interest and that I had typical Aspie insomnia... Insomnia and talkativeness equals hypomania to the average psych doc. Add my irritability from too much stimuli and it became a sure thing in their eyes. Never mind that I had only one had a good mood last longer than six days in my life and that I had no depressive periods at all... and that whatever state I was in, I was in pretty much 24/7 and I did NOT have mood fluctuations.

Anyway, I was put on meds to treat bipolar which did absolutley nothing, but to cut to the chase, although my symptoms could certainly be mistaken for bipolar II, meltdowns are very different. Even a series of meltdowns over a short period of time is nothing like bipolar disorder... at least in any way that the criteria defines it. Now, non-autistic people have meltdowns and so you may certainly have them, but they do not mean that you have Asperger's.

I have the AS diagnosis - and I'm certainly dealing with depression. I'm still new at this and I'm trying to find out why the hypomanic part of my bipolar II experience presents itself atypically. The combination you mention in your first paragraph certainly sounds familiar, save the lack of depressive symptoms.

Mania can be really different, especially depending on what medication you are on. Some medications cause that rage to come out. Some medications just make you feel void of any feeling.

What med cocktail are you on currently?

Currently:

40mg Lexapro (this one takes most of the suicidal stuff away.)
300mg Lamictal
300mg Wellbutrin XL
5mg Zyprexa

...and I just started birth control to help regulate my hormones. I have PMDD like you wouldn't believe.