What is the Diff with Bipolar 1 and 2

[ladylegs49]

Hi am new  here and l am Bipolar  what is the diff  betwien  Bipolar 1 and 2???? of late l have been soo down cry everyday l NEVER go out and when l do it takes alot for me to get ready then when l do go out WANT to get back home ASAP

[PenelopeAnn]

First, you need to ask your doctor this question and ask where you fall. Only your doctor can tell you where you fall.

Basically, the difference is in the severity of the mania, the high part. People with Bipolar 2 get hypomania, which is often totally missed because nobody goes to the doctor because they feel 'great'. It is basically having more than normal energy, creativity, thoughts coming quickly, high self-esteem, needing less sleep. A general hint is if it doesn't mess with your ability to work or keep a relationship you fall in hypomania.
Now, the mania of Bipolar 1 doesn't usually get missed. It's pretty obvious- instead of really high self-esteem a person might think they are superhuman, have special abilities, or have an insight into the world on a level so high others cannot comprehend. Often see connections in events, people, places that don't exist. Don't sleep, do impulsive and reckless things like spend all of their money gambling. Thoughts are going so fast and so disorganized that they don't make any sense when they try to communicate. Some people even get psychotic, delusions, hallucinations, paranoia.

[ladylegs49]

ty for that info l am going to my Dr on Thur in HOPES he can help me.

[cowgirlnerd]

Hope you don't have BP1 or 2 - BP isn't easy.  Hope you turn out to be something less severe.

Good luck!

[ladylegs49]

yes l was told l have bipolar  am going to see my familey dr thur to find out if am 1 or 2  l have been living with up's and downs, big mood swings l never go out  is not good. But now l have foun this site am hopeing it will help me.

[cowgirlnerd]

My family MD is the one that got me to go back to my pdoc.  After that I got my BP 1 diagnosis from the pdoc-it's a little scary at times.  If it weren't for my family MD, I would still be struggling, or worse.   His history, along with my previous psychiatric history helped in my diagnosis.

Don't hold back when you go - the proper diagnosis is critical.  I have been treated with clinical depression for 20 years (which isn't uncommon of BP's).

This site is wonderful for me, and hope it will be for you.

Just by what you are saying in the big mood swings, depending on how long they are and etc., you sound like a 1.  

I was just saying that it's not fun being BP, at all, but at least you have us.  Glad you are here!  Let me know how the visit goes!  

[imsmiley12]

idk....i kind of enjoy some of my manic episodes....at least until my battery wears out but my mind continues on....lol  hang in there honey...with the right meds (and that could take some time...took me almost 4 years) things do get better.  reducing your stress level and keeping on a schedule helps a bunch!!

[monkeyc]

A family doctor is not the person best qualified to make a diagnosis on 1 or 2 - thats a psychiatrist's job.  The average family doc (or GP as we call them here) has very little mental health training and knows the basics only, they get the rest out of a book.

What you need to get a complete diagnosis is a pdoc.

[cowgirlnerd]

I agree on the pdoc - my medical doctor just recognized some serious issues I was having and insisted that I go back to the pdoc, and had he not, I don't know if I would be here now.  

It was like he could see things after being my medical doc for so long that he knew we needed help to get a proper diagnosis.  Plus, he wasn't emotionally attached like my family/friends and afraid to hurt my feelings, etc.  

In my case, it was the referral of the MD, that got me the right help of the Pdoc.  My MD was definitely adamant that he couldn't help - I needed to go back.  I guess I had given up on ever getting better that got me to stop the pdoc to start with, so I was lucky to get to pick up where I left off, and get a correct diagnosis - FINALLY.  (I went to the same facility, but got a new pdoc and therapist that listened to all of my issues, PLUS, I went in a manic state, not just depressed.)  

Maybe she will get the direction to go to the right place, like I did.