bp1 is more on the manic side basically, and bp2 is more on the depressed side. to me that's the easiest way to explain it, instead of tryin to get all technical.

Not necessarily. We get just as depressed, both BP1 and BP2. Both can get psychotically depressed and just as bad. Remember what goes up must come down. The only big difference is how high our manias go - and BP1's manias can be very dangerously high and psychotic.. We also get true mixed mania - which is like depression and crazy high mania all wrapped up in one. Hear about crazy insane things +bipolar on the news/media etc, yea those are probably some (possibly)untreated BP1s. Bp2's get hypomania which are small manias with no psychosis and can actually be quite nice and productive.

Basically the difference is the levels of mania. Oh and both can have dysphoric hypomania which suck. BP1's can also have hypomania too.

amalzahir ok i still get confused about the difference's! thanks.

I wish we didn't get as depressed that would be great. I wish we had more hypomania (if I could chose) ;-)

Amalzahir is right. Another qualifier of BP 1 are mood swings lasting more than 4 days, according to the DSM IV [big book of diagnostic tools and definitions for pyschology]
Another difference I have observed [I have type 1 and so do a few of my uncles, but my other uncles and my aunt have type 2] is the way that the mania really hits. Type 1 seems to be more prone to true mania and BP2 doesn't. Some people with BP2 do have true mania but it doesn't last as long so it doesn't seem to hit the same peak. For me the longer the mania the worse it gets because I haven't slept in a long time and the paranoia begins.
Oh, and LOL Amalzahir, I have some friends who have cyclothemia and BP2, and they LOOOOOVE the hypomania. They get so much work done and so many expansive moods that they feel like creative gods or something. I wish I still had that.

I am BP1 and have ultradian rapid cycling. I have had longer cycles as well, like mania that lasts a week - but I have had crazy fast cycling that went into mixed mania. Pdoc said that kind of rapid cycling was more common in patients with thyroid issues.

my last psychoses [it was along time ago] i was very depressed first had a conflict in my own mind then i got heavy paranoia that i couldn't relitivate then i decided i wasn't gonna feel blue anymore and went into mania and full blown psychosis the police had to break my door down to get me out does this sound like 1 or 2?

Bp2's are a flop in bed. Sad but true. ;)

Sounds like Type 1. :-D Congrats & welcome to the partaaayy!!!

So Lou, does that mean "experiments" are in order every time a shrink wants to diagnose someone as BP1 or 2- but can't tell the difference?

Thank god I was already diagnosed by time I met my current shrink Natasha. If she tested me in that department....um...I'm not sure if I'd want to :"pass" it or "fail" it!

Oh and you will find goody bags full of your favorite antipsychotics from by the door. Please do not forget them. They are now your life line. ;-)

Alright I am losing it - hahahaha, I already have - muwaaahaaahahaaa

It should say this:

"Oh and you will find goody bags full of your favorite antipsychotics from various pharmaceuticals by the door. Please do not forget them. They are now your life line. ;-) Oh and here is your party hat :-P"

I failllll!!!!!!!!!!! Oh well.

LOL

*Paging Doctah Feelgood!!*

Actually..there was a 60's ere quack known as 'Dr Feelgood' but he was in the trade of giving out amphetamine shots (to the likes of JFK) not Good Lovin'

But I digress.

You can just tell by looking at those poor, inadequate in the sack bp2's. Give generously etc x