“be anxious before a big event, before a presentation, or in a new job or relationship. But whereas this “natural” anxiety dissipates after the event or presentation is over, or as the job becomes familiar or the relationship more solid, anxiety in bipolar II not only lingers but gets stronger with each day. Many of my patients worry about imaginary crimes and are persistently anxious about something they did or said that has no bearing on the actual reality. They often “read” facial expressions wrong, seeing something negative in people where it doesn’t exist. This anxiety builds up . . . until, usually within a week or so, the patient plummets into a depression. The anxiety is still there, combined now with feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.”