I Have bipolar
Both, to varying degrees. The manic phase is truly lovely, the world is bliss and anything is attainable. The depressed bit is a pain, but I view that as the price paid for the manic bit.
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Your Aspie score: 146 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 69 of 200
You are very likely an Aspie
So the neurologist was correct.
I am diagnosed bipolar II, and am starting to think i might have mild Asperger's. Now if i can only get my therapist and psychiatrist to evaluate me for the ASD, as i've lately been reading a lot of stuff that mirrors my own symptoms in descriptions of Asperger's. It's a challenge, because they seem to have a hangup about putting labels on me, like i'll start conforming to stereotype. I suppose they have a point--perhaps it's not so important to assign a particular issue to one "label box" or another, as it is to figure out what to do about it.
The worse thing is that BP II doesn't give me "fun" manics much-- not so much the bliss and chatty, creative highs that BP I's get, but instead I get extremely grouchy, nervous, and claw holes in my skin, punctuated by occasional flailing, screaming, and Asperger-like meltdowns. Yuck. Happily, Lithium is very effective in controlling manic episodes for me. I only wish i could find a med to help with the depression better. Effexor and Trazadone are only so-so, and other drugs like Wellbutrin, Paxil, and Abilify work practically not at all.
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Diagnosed Bipolar II in 2012, Autism spectrum disorder (moderate) & ADHD in 2015.
Yes - I have been diagnosed with both.
I find that when I am depressed I am less able to appear neurotypical. (In other words I display more of my autistic characteristics). My bipolar follows a seasonal pattern, so it is easy for me to anticipate what part of the cycle I will be in (depressed during the winter months, mildly hypomanic in the spring and early summer).
Managing the bipolar successfully has been much easier for me due to the Aspergers Syndrome (something my therapist pointed out). I was able to develop my own treatment regimen using the AS ability of being able to hyperfocus on one subject.
It has been much harder for me to successfully navigate in the neurotypical world as I am a woman with Aspergers Syndrome. I don't fit the common stereotype of Aspergers Syndrome that is based on how males with AS behave.
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"Dogs have owners, Cats have staff"
Aspie Score: 137 out of 200
Neurotypical Score: 67 out of 200
Diagnosed "genuis, borderline autism" at the age of 24 months
Level 1 Autism DSM-V
I am also diagnosed with Bipolar II, and for 22 months tried numerous psychotropic medications while under the care of one psychiatrist and one therapist. I also found that drugs like Wellbutrin, Paxil, and Abilify were useless in treating the depression.
Lithium has worked the best for me to reduce the seasonal hypomania I experience to easily manageable levels, and to reduce the severity of the winter time depression. I still experience winter time depression, it just isn't as severe.
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"Dogs have owners, Cats have staff"
Aspie Score: 137 out of 200
Neurotypical Score: 67 out of 200
Diagnosed "genuis, borderline autism" at the age of 24 months
Level 1 Autism DSM-V
I'm both. Funnily enough, my autism is more obvious when I'm manic and I'm slightly more NT when I'm depressed.
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