Mixed Bipolar Disorder

@blitheSun94

I personally did not know there is mixed BP. I'd be interested in hearing people's experience with it.

I'm recently diagnosed BP 2, I was surprised becouse I don't necessarily have manic epdiodes and just thought I had clinical depression . If this helps it gives some insight into the differences:

Once thought to be a milder form of bipolar disorder, bipolar 2 is now recognized by the American Psychiatric Association as a separate, equally serious mental illness. It tends to be more chronic than bipolar disorder, causing long periods of depression and instability of mood, which in turn can lead to social- and work-related issues and problems at home.

What Is Bipolar 1 Disorder?

This form of the disease is characterized by one or more manic episodes or mixed episodes (symptoms of both mania and depression) that last at least seven days. Typically, a person will also experience periods of depression with episodes lasting at least two weeks. It is common for episodes to be so severe that immediate hospitalization is required.1

What Is Bipolar 2 Disorder?

This is characterized by a pattern of one or more major depressive episodes and at least one hypomanic episode. Patients do not experience the full-blown manic episodes that are indicative of bipolar 1. Although people with this disorder typically experience at least one hypomanic episode at some point in their lives, they struggle far more often with episodes of major depression. As a result, bipolar 2 may be misdiagnosed as major depression because hypomanic episodes go unrecognized or unreported.