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There are actually several types of bipolar disorder, classified by their symptoms.
Chelsea Victoria/Stocksy/Adobe Stock
Bipolar II disorder is characterized by depressive and hypomanic episodes, a less severe form of mania.
SELF spoke to people with bipolar I and II about how theyre dealing with re-entry anxiety.
You might find inspiration and comfort in their stories if youre unsettled by how quickly things are changing too.
(These interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.)
Ive been extra strict about tracking my bipolar symptoms recently.
I was diagnosed with bipolar II in 2016, and having a regular schedule is very important to me.
Before the pandemic, a big part of my routineincluded socializing.
I contracted COVID-19 in March 2020 and was cut off from social connections early on in the pandemic.
I couldnt even walk from my kitchen to my living room.
Once Id recovered, everything had already shut down.
I feel like that isolation happened very quickly for me.
Now that Im fully vaccinated, Im still limiting my social interactions.
After being vaccinated, I thought I would jump straight back in and start doing things.
I’m having to take things more slowly than I anticipated because re-entering society is exhausting.
I use a mood-tracking app, and Ive been paying close attention to how Im feeling.
Ive been trying to keep as much of my schedule the same as I canespecially sleep.
Andrea Weaver, 27
2.
Ive been working from home with one day in the office every week since 2018.
I still had a lot of social contact with others, which is important to me.
People assumed I was fine when things closed down because I alreadyworked from home.
But Ive learned my triggers after being diagnosed with bipolar in 2013and I know thatsudden changes are a trigger.
Ive absolutely loved having my family at home for over a year.
My husband is going back to working in the office soon.
My oldest son just moved outthe first child to leavewhich has definitely been an adjustment.
My youngest son is going back to in-person schooling, and the other one is going back to college.
At the moment, my work doesnt plan to have us back in the office until the fall.
I have bipolar II, and I tend to have more depressive episodes.
My last depressive episode was in the winter of 2019, so Ive been stable for a while now.
What gives me hope is that summer is around the corner.
I also have seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and can become depressed in the winter.
Erin Lorensen, 43
3.
When you have bipolar disorder, having a routine is like exercising a muscle that strengthens your mental health.
I got my formal diagnosis of bipolar II at the beginning of 2019.
When you have bipolar disorder, having a routine is like exercising a muscle that strengthens your mental health.
All of a sudden, I had to stop what I was doing and find new routines.
In particular, work has always been a safe space for me, mental health-wise.
I work in retail and my store closed, so I was furloughed for three months.
That really impacted me.
If I didn’t have to go to work, what was the point of getting out of bed?
Im lucky to have the greatest husband in the world, and he gave me purpose.
Im aware that COVID-19 protocols could affect thehealth and well-being of my associatesand me.
I’m doing pretty well.
I feel like if this was a test, I would have passed.
Emily Fuller, 30
4.
Im not afraid; Im cautious.
During 2020, in addition to coping with the pandemic,I was processing grief.
She was one of the best people at helping me manage my bipolar disorder.
During the past year, I also had a friend pass away from COVID-19.
Throughout COVID-19, I have been one of those people who mostly stayed at home.
I have adult daughters who do the shopping for me.
In addition to looking after my mother, I have been homeschooling my seven-year-old niece.
Ive hadboth of my vaccine shotsnow, but Im not really out there yet.
Im not afraid; Im cautious.
Things were really gearing up for me professionally when COVID-19 shut everything down.
But I believe that God controls everything and it just wasn’t the right time.
I’m still masking up.
I only recently went to a restaurant for the first time in a year, and that was wonderful.
Im looking forward to being able to talk to more people about mental health when this is over.
Charita Cole Brown, 61
5.
I have anxiety in addition to having bipolar II and amprone to manic episodes.
The first few months of the pandemic and into summer 2020 were heavy.
The uncertainty about the virus was compounded by my anxiety and racing thoughts, which can become overwhelming.
I was on edge and I struggled to sleep.
I was constantly waking up and wondering, Whats next?
I still feel uncertain about whats next even now that everything is opening up.
It feels too sudden.
With more time and morepeople getting vaccinated, I would feel like it’s safe to go out.
Ive been trying to take baby steps to get back out there.
I started doing my side hustle, a grocery delivery service.
Doing that made me feel like I could handle going to church.
I kind of freaked out.
I dont know when Ill be able to go backmaybe in a month.
Im going to a wedding in August, so that trip is my next step.
Morgane F., 31
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