I have BP2 and don't experience the extremes of BP1 thankgod. I don't get psychotic or delusional or suicidal.
I have been stable for a long while now, and have times where I could have an episode but have found a switch to flick and deal with what is going on.

If that makes sense? I got borderline hypomanic/manic a few times and scared the shit out of myself. Now Im just like a normie good day bad day not such a rollercoaster ride. I do miss the elated moods sometimes, but not the crisis that goes with it.

Like a house of cards falling down.

I have Bi polar 2 basically was high all during my 20s and then married and was normsal dor 20 yyears then husband died and went pretty manic for a year and then was hosp. (2nd time) and then was pretty norrm until beginning of 2006 and had 2 more hospitalizations, major suicide attacks. Been normal for 2 weeks with a slight dip right now. So Im back too sleeping with a gun but hoping to be okay each next day.

I am BP2. Usually I am that high energy person that takes over a party. Borderline hypomania is my normal state. I've only been manic a handful of times, and I suppose I am lucky I haven't been killed by a complete stranger.

Depression for me is typically the need to sleep. Maybe just a little quieter than normal.

I found if I don't have to be at work before 9am I can keep my symptoms at bay since I am a natural night owl.

However, this year I hit a manic episode that lasted three days, I was shakey, couldn't sleep, at least I still had my judgement about me, but I never had the time to sleep it off, and I got clinically depressed. Meaning I was tweaked.

So right now I am on medical leave, trying on medications. Learning how to do grounding meditations daily. Seeing my PDoc and TDoc.

This particular depression was nuts, I had been put on Klonopin to take me off the ceiling, and two days later I couldn't make up my mind, I would collapse to the floor in sobs. It was horrible. So the PDoc put me on wellbutrin.

Sorry this has been so long. But my coping was great, and right now I'm in one of lifes little gullies. I'll be back in fighting form in no time!

Thank you all for your answers,
it amazes me to find that I'm not the only one that's living this way.
My heart goes out to each of you because I'm where you are.
I just wish they would find a cure.
But I know that won't happen in my lifetime.

i'm bipolar 1 and a half, either one or two depends on the doctor:(