Hi there.

Here is a Wikipedia article on Bipolar Disorder that should clear up your questions:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder

Hi and Welcome micro... I am seldom in any form of mania either... and when I am it's a mixed state

This is a great site... I'm glad you're here.... Big hug.....x

The best thing to do is read up on it to better understand what you are going through. I know it's hard and confusing at first but you learn to kind of cope with it and the proper med combination should help ease your moods. Your doc din't tell you if you were bipolar 1 or 2?

You are probably bipolar 2. I, also, have mostly depressed states with mixed episodes.

I get agitated, irritable, feel rage, have racing thoughts.

I agree with the other posts, you need to do some research on BP. WebMD and Mayo Clinic websites are good to start with.

I don't want to misspeak but there is I believe what is called Bipolar Cylothymia that is a much milder form of bipolar. If you want to check out the definition. Welcome to the site!!

welcom to ds. I have bp2 and get the major depressions but not the manic highs.

Hey micro -- Greetings and Salutations! Welcome to the group! Sounds like you're BP2 - fewer periods of mania but a wicked depression. Andrea's link should be helpful. Also:

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bipolar-disorder/basics/definition/con-20027544

Research as much as you can - it really helps to have a firm understanding about your disorder. It helps in therapy and in day-to-day life.

Good luck!

I'm Bipolar NOS, I'm not symptomatic most days. My manic days are few and far between and usually marked with lack of sleep and last only a day or two. My depressive days last for a few hours here and there. I'm on the max dosage of Geodon and have been since 2008. I was diagnosed after a nervous breakdown that sent me to the couch for weeks on end, very much unlike me.

I was never labeled BP 1 or BP 2.

You need to stay with the doc who diagnosed you and ask all these questions to that doc and tell that doc about all your symptoms and any side effects that meds might cause. That doc is best to help you understand about everything. Also research online is helpful like others are saying. If you ever see a therapist they help explain a lot to you about the disorder too. I hope this group helps you there are a lot of caring and knowledgeable people here.

I'm BP2, have been all my life and I have never been Manic, I've been Hypomanic only 2x in my life.
I get depressed quite easily, though it only last for a day or so.
Every few years I go into a big depression which lasts for weeks.

Thanks so much for all the replies and links everyone. =) I will do more reading (I already read everything that the Mayo site had). From my reading so far I figure I'm BP2 but I'm definitely going to ask my doc when I see him in a few weeks. No he didn't tell me what kind of bipolar I have, he just said bipolar disorder. I'm going to tell him I need more information and he might recommend going back to therapy (Psychiatrists here don't do any talk therapy or much talking at all, they just ask about your symptoms and then write prescriptions). Last time I tried therapy I told her how I was coping with life and at the end of the session the therapist said she didn't think I needed to come back, that I was doing fine and then she said I should decided. Well what am I supposed to do, force myself on her when she thinks I'm only wasting her time? If I do go back, I'm asking for another therapist.

I have many symptoms: cognitive impairment especially concentration and memory, anger, irritability, negative outlook, I cry and laugh uncontrollably and can't stop, I'm scared of social situations, I dread having things I have to leave the house to do, I have severe anxiety accompanied by panic attacks, I'm desperately depressed a lot of the time and moderately depressed for the rest except the rare instances where I'm able to do some job in the house of epic proportions (to me) or when I have to leave the house to run errands. It seems to others that I'm just procrastinating but I'm not, it's my condition. Sleep eludes me and I dread the nights too. I take a bunch of meds for this and I really feel like I should feel a bit more even by now. I'll tell the doc that too. Well, I've got to go to bed. Night all.