Less than Crazy: Living Fully with Bipolar II Paperback – November 25, 2008

After discovering just in the past 2 months that both my husband of 23 years and my 20 year old daughter are BOTH BP2, this book was a lifesaver.The insight shared here for those who love people with BP2 is so helpful. Seeing things through their eyes, and realizing all of the things that could impact their episodes gives us power to help maintain in the good times, and recognize when the bad times might be coming.

Helpful and informative - I was able to identify with many of the characteristic of bipolar 2 disorder that I've never found in other books. I, too, experienced many of the same thoughts and feelings the author experienced throughout her life from childhood. Things like walking into a room with a lot of people I didn't know, and believing that they didn't like me. Although this may be difficult to understand, this wasn't a true paranoia; rather, it stemmed from a deep-seated sense of inferiority as well as depression, yet the bipolar disorder added an intensity to those feelings that resulted in my belief that just by looking at me, people did not like me. Therein lay the difference, and what others couldn't relate to. As I relayed this to my therapist while reading this book, asking if this similarity between the author and myself was coincidence or actually consistent with bipolar disorder, she informed me that it was very consistent and not unusual at all. The author provided many other examples of typical thoughts and feelings associated with having bipolar 2 disorder, and emphasized the fact that many, if not most, individuals with bipolar 2 disorder are undiagnosed, or are diagnosed late in life because of its often elusive (cyclical) nature, and tendency to mimic other disorders, and/or manifestation as primarily monopolar depression. In short, helpful and informative for those of us dealing with bipolar 2, and for our friends and family.

This book is an excellent resource for those living with bipolar 2 or for their families. It is informative and hits on emotional issues that often can not be understood or identified by those not living with bipolar 2. It is encouraging to know that someone has gone through the same struggles and has learned to proactively manage their symptoms and care. Sometimes it feels like your reading your own story. Excellent book, exceptionally written!!

I had just been diagnosed with bipolar II a few years ago and downloaded this book to see how others experiences were in relation to mine. I share many similar experiences to the author which helped to validate and understand my feelings and help me notice when my moods are out of whack. This book also gives some helpful tips on how to maintain creativity while on your medicine and other ways to take care of yourself as part of your daily regimen.

Very focused on the medical model, and not much new here. To be fair, it was written in 2008, and a lot has been learned since then. Most of the information in the book could be found in a google search.

I am the mother of a bi-polar II child who was diagnosed at the 20. after reading several books on bi-polar, I still wasn't satisfied that I was armed with enough or information on a level I could understand. I came across this book, written by someone with bi-polar and knew this was the book for me. Several pages into it, I knew this would be just what I wanted. It is written in an easy to understand manor. Gives you lots of tools to work with, and doesn't paint neither a doom and gloom or a rosy every thing is going to be okay picture. It keeps it real and honest, it is a disease or illness that needs to be managed. I have since recommended it to several others, including my son, who recommended it to his psychiatrist.

I found this very helpful and insightful. I denied the diagnosis of BPD over 15 years ago because I read the books of the day that detailed wild manic episodes and that just wasn't me. This book solidified my understanding that I do have bpd2. I related to the stories and had to giggle along with some of them they so closely resembled my own recollections. Thank you for writing this, I am just sad it took you so long to find your answers.

Best book ever written on the subject! Not much is written on Bipolar 2 and some things that are written ( as in any book) are too generalized and forget that every person does not have every symptom. but this book is really good! I have never been able to get through a whole book on anything like this or any self-help book but this one is good enough that I have purchased it several times to give to different people

De gran utilidad. Lenguaje práctico. Buena investigación. Muy recomendable para un tema tan poco comprendido. De cabecera si padeces la enfermedad

I this book helped me a lot to understand myself

This book was very insightful and was full of information with regards to Bipolar II, and the other mental disorders on the bipolar spectrum. As well the book had a lot of information on how to manage the disease, how to be diagnosed, knowing whether or not you are suffering from Bipolar and treatment/medications that work so you can have better quality of life. The book is easy to read and understand yet at the same time is professional and very educating.

It was an easy read. It was some insight on bipolar II. It helped me realize it is a continuous journey.

As someone newly diagnosed with bipolar II, I was looking for a book that would provide solid explanations as well as personal experiences. This book truly delivered. Well written with sections on everything from the science of the brain to meds to getting support and finding the right therapist, the author clearly knows what she's talking about. Well worth the cost.