What Is the Difference Between Bipolar 1 & 2?

Emotional ups and downs are common, but feelings can reach abnormally high or low levels if you have bipolar disorder. A person with bipolar disorder experiences an immensely energetic or excited feeling at one juncture and sink into a deep depression in another. The varying emotional peaks may take weeks or months. 

Bipolar 1 vs. 2

The four basic types of bipolar disorder include bipolar 1, 2, cyclothymic disorder, and other related disorders. Of all these disorders, bipolar 1 and 2 are the most common, and below are their differences.

The mania and hypomania feelings make the main difference between bipolar 1 and 2. Both are feelings of excitement and energy, but hypomania is mild. A person with bipolar 1 is likely to experience a full manic episode, while bipolar 2 patients experience a hypomanic episode. Similarly, a person with bipolar 2 is more likely to experience a major depressive episode than one with bipolar 1. 

In simple terms, a manic episode characterized by poor sleep, restlessness, and euphoria could indicate bipolar 1, while bipolar 2 is characterized by a significant depression lasting for weeks. Besides, people with bipolar 2 are unlikely to experience a full-blown manic episode.