E.A.
First, I want to help people here understand what bipolar 2 is. It presents itself mainly as deep dark depressions that are debilitating. Secondly, our reaction to stress is to partake in risky behavior. Many of us have addiction problems (I smoke, not around the kids and not in the house). Focusing is difficult because of the rapid mood cycling, one minute I'm fine, the next minute I want to rip someone's head off. Also, the depression can present itself as irritability and anger, not always crying and sadness. We don't necessarily experience mania, we get hypomania, which is less severe, but causes us to fly off the handle and engage in these risk-taking behaviours. I used to leave the house and go drink myself to oblivion (among other things). After I was on meds, I stopped a lot of that behaviour, and I have to take Visteril for anxiety, because it's non-addictive.
Besides the meds, I watch my diet. I have to be careful about sugar, especially. I also DO have to walk outside and keep my mind busy, so I listen to a lot of podcasts. My therapist has helped me a lot to identify stress triggers and how to avoid them.
Remember that your disease is not YOU, it's something you have to manage, like someone with diabetes. I have to allow myself extra down time after a hectic day. It takes more time for me to process my day in my head, even if that kind of day may not seem stressful to someone else, it just takes me longer to "put all the pieces together", and I have to work hard to fight the feelings of "oh I shouldn't have said that" or " I can't believe I forgot to do X".
I make a lot of lists, I try really hard to be very organized and put aside time weekly to get my head in order for the week ahead. I let a lot of things go that others would feel necessary, like the dishes aren't always done at the end of the day, my "down time" at the end of the day is more important. My husband realizes that I both need a lot of time alone and some kind of socializing every week and has helped me find a good balance for that.
Because of my cycling moods, I have lost friends. But those that understand know not to take it personally, and have stuck it out with me. If I sound irritable over the phone, it's not them, and they know to give me some space or offer up some support.
The depressions are the WORST, but the meds have helped me so much. I still get depressed, but those times last a few hours at most now, not days and weeks. So I try to soldier on, for the sake of my kids and family. My oldest knows about my dx, and it's helped our relationship now that he understands that when I say "let me be alone right now" it's not because I don't want to spend time with him, but rather that I need to process things and feel better for his (their) sake.
Hang in there, I understand.