Bipolar TWO, Married to Moods

I am writing this blog as an ex spouse to a Bipolar sufferer. We were together for 17 years and have two beautiful children together. After being divorced for 2 years I still find the need to Analise this again. It seems to help to make sense out of a lot of things. It also, sadly, reminds me to remember why I got divorced when my ex seems so normal at times.
So, my first blog will just be some facts around Bipolar. I chose to write about Bipolar Two as I think his diagnosis and pattern is closer to B Two.
Unlike Bipolar One (manic depression), Bipolar Two does not involve manic states. However, the person afflicted suffers from extreme mood swings. Hypomania being one of the main states.
People in a hypomanic state may experience increase anxiety, sleeplessness, good mood, or irritability. The hypomanic state can last for more than four days and the patient will find a remarkable difference in feelings from when they are in a depressed state. Hypomania may also cause people to feel more talkative, resulting in an inflated self-esteem. During a hypomanic state the person may find themselves extremely productive and happy. This can make diagnosis difficult. They can seem totally normal and even come over as a very nice person, making it difficult to understand when they strike the other extreme.
Those in a state of hypomania are typically the life of the party, the salesperson of the month , which is why so many refuse to seek treatment. But the same condition can also turn on its victim, resulting in bad decision-making, social embarrassments, wrecked relationships and projects left unfinished. Racy thoughts may lead to rash decisions, such as indiscriminate sexual activity or inappropriate spending sprees.
Hypomania can also occur in those with raging bipolar and may be the prelude to a full-blown manic episode. For some there may be long symptom-free periods between episodes. Episodes can last for days, weeks or months. The average person with bipolar disorder has four episodes (manic or depressed) during the first ten years of the illness. A minority of people may have several episodes of mania and depression with only brief periods of normal mood in between.
If properly controlled by medication, a person can lead a full, productive life. If left untreated, moods will continue to swing from one extreme to another and cause severe impairment in functioning. The time period between episodes usually narrows and episodes become more severe. In such cases, suicide is a real danger especially if the person abuses substances and/or suffers from anxiety. Substance abuse is often the case. Sufferers don't always know what is wrong, especially when thoughts starts to race and substance abuse silences the head. To some it may sound as a lame excuse, but to the sufferer a single joint may just turn a potentially hectic day into a normal one. Unfortunately it contributes to confusing the chemicals and adds to dysfunctional relationships and other social problems.
Being a spouse or a child of a Bipolar sufferer is certainly trying. And even though I divorced him, I am adamant to find out how this could have been treated. He went to several therapists and councilors over the years, but was never diagnosed correctly or at all. After our divorce our suspicion was confirmed and he was diagnosed with Bipolar (and severe ADD). So what happened? The incompetent psychiatrist handed him a subscription for drugs and wished him good luck. What a mess - no life wholeness plan or any help in that direction. It is so much easier then, to go back to the conditioned coping mechanisms. For now this is as far as this ex-spouse is going with the first post. I want to contemplate further.