Defining Bipolar and the different types.

There are different types of Bipolar, Bipolar I, Bipolar II, Bipolar NOS (not otherwise specified) and Bipolar Cyclomania. There aren't major differences between the four and the methods of medication are fairly similar, with lithium for mood stabilization being commonly prescribed. Other medications may also be introduced into the treatment process, depending on what other issues the patient is having.

Bipolar I-  Also known as manic depressive disorder or manic depression, is consider a form of depressive disorder. From WEB MD , a person must have at least "in his or her life a manic episode. A manic episode is a period of abnormally elevated mood, accompanied by abnormal behavior that disrupts life. Most people with bipolar I disorder also suffer from episodes of depression. Often, there is a pattern of cycling between mania and depression. This is where the term "manic depression" comes from. In between episodes of mania and depression, many people with bipolar I disorder can live normal lives.

Bipolar 2 - (again from WEB MDBipolar II disorder (pronounced "bipolar two") is a form of mental illness. Bipolar II is similar to bipolar I disorder, with moods cycling between high and low over time.
However, in bipolar II disorder, the "up" moods never reach full-on mania. The less-intense elevated moods in bipolar II disorder are called hypomanic episodes, or hypomania.
A person affected by bipolar II disorder has had at least one hypomanic episode in life. Most people with bipolar II disorder also suffer from episodes of depression. This is where the term "manic depression" comes from.   In between episodes of hypomania and depression, many people with bipolar II disorder live normal lives.

Bipolar NOS - (Not Otherwise specified)  The main feature of this type of Bipolar, apart from depression, is rapid cycling and the key here is that anti-depressants set off a manic phase. In a manic phase, you find yourself feeling "invincible" and you can be prone to making very horrible, misguided decisions, ones you wouldn't normally make. Those include excessive spending of money or drinking highly excessive amounts. In other words, the manic periods swing incredibly high.

Bipolar Cyclomania- (from LiveStrong ; Bipolar disorder, sometimes still called manic depression, is a psychiatric disorder characterized by mood swings and thought disorders. People with bipolar III disorder, also called cyclothymia, have a less-severe disease than people with other bipolar syndromes. While they have mood changes alternating between hypomania and depression, they aren't subject to the suicidal lows and delusional highs seen in some types of bipolar disease and stay connected with reality, according to the National Library of Health.

Now I started off being diagnosed with Bipolar NOS, because high doses of anti-depressants would swing me into a severe manic state.  But then, I realized through speaking with my doctor, that I would have long-lasting manic phases  (greater than two weeks)  even when off an anti-depressant.

Why didn't I realize this soon? Maybe I could be further on the road to treatment and stabilization. I blame myself, not my doctors, for not picking up on any of this soon.

All  I know right now is my depressive state has been going on for over two months  now and it just over-whelms me, right now I feel like it controls me, not that I control it.