It is a sudden, intense episode of horrible fear. It is often triggered because of many distinct reasons. Most individuals experience severe physical reactions to panic disorders. A panic disorder can cripple an individual to the point that they cannot function and even perform simple, everyday life skills.

Fortunately, the less-elevated moods displayed in bipolar II disorder are often classified as “hypomanic periods,” or as some refer to them as “hypomania events!” Most individuals with bipolar II disorder will experience at least one “hypomanic event” in their lifetime.

Symptoms associated with bipolar-II disorder:

*An individual experiencing a “hypomanic event” displays the following symptoms:

-Their thought process changes rapidly, and they often go from one idea to another.

-Often, these individuals overstate or enlarge their feelings of self-confidence.

-They speak in very loud, rapid voices and do not like to be interrupted.

-Most individuals need little to no sleep when they are in the state of “hypomania.”

-They function at a remarkably elevated level of energy!

Most people enjoy being around an individual experiencing a “hypomanic event” in their life. “Why!” These individuals seem to be “very sociable, lively, and amusing individuals.” They bring a lot of excitement and joy to a party. They tend to have an intense, outgoing personality. They enjoy cracking jokes, goofing off, acting like a clown sometimes, and displaying “happy feelings” when around others. They are considered the “Life of the Party!”

Let’s again look at the difference between Bipolar I and Bipolar II Disorders.

Unfortunately, both bipolar I & II have mood episodes. During the highs, they are basically known as “manic episodes.” While the lows are mostly known as “depressive episodes.” Depending on the type of bipolar disorder, many individuals will not experience episodes of depression with their bipolar disorder. Everyone should learn what the main difference is between bipolar I and bipolar II.

Mostly, it depends on how severe your mania episodes are. If you have bipolar II, your “mania” episode is not as severe as that of an individual with bipolar I. It is reversed where “depressive episodes” are concerned. An individual with bipolar I may not experience a depressive episode at all. Unfortunately, an individual diagnosed with bipolar II may have a major blow-out depressive episode.

The symptoms associated with “Mania episodes” include:

• The inability to sleep
• Not being able to focus
• Having a huge amount of energy
• Restlessness
• Extremely joyful/happy
• Acting out in a harmful manner

The symptoms associated with “Major Depressive  episodes” include:

• fatigue
• impatience
• distracted
• inability to sleep well
• loss of appetite
• Maybe suicidal

Bipolar disorders are based on the severity of an individual’s mood episode, the duration of the mood, and the type of mood. The difference to the International Bipolar Foundation, “One major difference between Bipolar I and Bipolar II is the intensity of manic episodes. Bipolar I involves periods of severe mania, whereas Bipolar II involves periods of less hypomania. Bipolar I and Bipolar II involve different mood swings, elevated levels of energy, and intense focusing in one area.

Different Types of Bipolar Disorders {2}

1. Bipolar I disorder.

2. Bipolar II disorder

3. Cyclothymic disorder

4. Other specified bipolar and related disorder

5. Unspecified bipolar and related disorder

Cyclothymic Disorder– often referred to as cyclothymia} is diagnosed when an individual has repeated events of hypomanic and depressive symptoms, but an individual does not experience events for a lengthy period to be considered hypomanic or depressive episodes.

 Other specified bipolar and related disorder–

When it is referred to this type of bipolar disorder the symptoms that an individual is diagnosed with (such as manic or depressive episodes), do not fit into other bipolar categories.

Unspecified bipolar and related disorder-

Unfortunately, with this diagnose it may be very much alike and tend to fall close to the “other specific bipolar and related disorder.” It is often used in emergency departments when a doctor has not been given enough information to make a complete diagnose or the individual has not been in the emergency room long enough for an ER doctor to make a complete diagnosis.

To be diagnosed with bipolar I disorder, you must have experienced one or more mania episodes. When an individual experiences bipolar II disorder, the characteristic of this disorder involves both hypomanic and depressive episodes. Individuals who experience bipolar II disorder will never have completely intense, full -blown mania episodes. The symptoms of bipolar II disorder are not weaker than those of bipolar I disorder. It is simply different in the symptoms an individual may experience.

Research has shown that bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder are just two of the major forms of bipolar disorders. The American Psychiatric Association (APA} has included research studies that have shown there are at least five diverse types of bipolar and related disorders.

Summary

If you or someone you know are experiencing symptoms of any type of bipolar disorder, please see a doctor as soon as possible for a referred to a professional mental health provider. Always be upfront about your symptoms. Remember that it is particularly important for your overall health to keep an open, honest line of communication to receive the proper diagnosis and treatment plan for you. Treatment plans vary differently depending on the individual’s symptoms.

References:

1. National Institute of Mental Health. Bipolar Disorder.https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder

2. Toler, Lindsey {Updated 2022. Aug.06. https://www.verywellmind.com/are-there-different-types-of-bipolar-disorder-5194673

3. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. American Psychiatric Association; 2013.https://archive.org/details/american-psychiatric-association-diagnostic-and-statistical-manual-of-mental-dis

4.Gaissert, Anna. Bipolar I vs Bipolar II-What is the difference? https://ibpf.org/articles/bipolar-i-vs-bipolar-ii-whats-the-difference/#_ftn4

5.National Alliance on Mental Illness. Bipolar Disorder. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Bipolar-Disorder/

6.MentalHealth.com.https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/bipolar-1-vs-bipolar-2

Note: “Bipolar II is just as serious as Bipolar I.”