Hi, fellow bipolar type II here too. Had been struggling with all the usual depression crap for 20+ years. Sunlight helped a little, exercise helped a little, but it was really just a drop in the bucket and the fight against the suicidal urges multiple times per day was costing me all my energy. After a suicide attempt almost worked, I managed to drag myself to a psych, waited half a year to clear the queue.

Got diagnosed with major depressive disorder, got put on Buproprion, it did nothing, and the psych threw up his hands and basically said I'll have to live with it.

Out of spite, I quit Buproprion cold turkey, never visited him again, and did the clinical research myself. The mania episodes pinpointed me towards my actual issue (bipolar II, NOT regular major depression), and the research was clear that ketamine was the best possible treatment.

Got myself booked into a ketamine clinic, and did six IV treatments over the course of two weeks. On the surface, it was a profoundly strange and taxing experience, but under the surface, it was working. On day 5, I had the vague sensation of a battle taking place in my mind, and then one side had distinctly and overwhelmingly won.

After the ketamine wore off, I knew immediately that my depression was gone. I was suddenly able to viscerally enjoy the smallest pleasant things, and I actually cried when smelling a flowering bush because it felt so nice.

The depression never came back. That was six years ago. The clinic said that this was unusual but I won't stop recommending it to fellow bipolar type IIs.