Bipolar ii Disorder and Bipolar I disorder- what is the difference?

What is the difference between Bipolar ii Disorder and Bipolar I Disorder? Do you know the answer? Many don’t though it’s very specific.

Bipolar ii disorder has all of the same symptoms as bipolar I disorder with one MAJOR difference. Bipolar I disorder has full blown mania that often comes with psychosis. Bipolar ii disorder has hypomania that rarely comes with psychosis. My dear friend Alena has bipolar I disorder. She has to be very careful as her mania is always lurking around and waiting to take over. She takes lithium and zyprexa to keep the mania and psychosis at bay. I have bipolar ii hypomania. Mine is very euphoric though it can be agitated. Mine doesn’t have psychosis- my bipolar psychosis can be around without any other serious mood swings though I am usually depressed.

Bipolar I disorder was the only bipolar disorder recognized for many, many years. Recently, the bipolar ii disorder diagnosis has become more common as doctors now know the signs of hypomania.

I have just as much trouble with bipolar ii disorder as my friend Alena has with her bipolar I diagnosis. Just in different ways.

This is a fascinating topic- there is a lot of information on the right that describes the difference between the two bipolar disorder diagnoses. Which one do you have? If you care about someone with the illness? What is their diagnosis? Knowing your diagnosis is extremely important as it determines the medications used to treat the illness!

Julie

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