Messages By: nicholeb

I have Bipolar 2 disorder. I think there has been some confusion between the two types. Below is an excerpt from the NIMH website. If you go to the link, you will find a more complete explanation of mania, hypomania, psychosis and depression.(http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm#bp1) "The classic form of the illness, which involves recurrent episodes of mania and depression, is called bipolar I disorder. Some people, however, never develop severe mania but instead experience milder episodes of hypomania that alternate with depression; this form of the illness is called bipolar II disorder. When four or more episodes of illness occur within a 12-month period, a person is said to have rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. Some people experience multiple episodes within a single week, or even within a single day. Rapid cycling tends to develop later in the course of illness and is more common among women than among men." I hope this is helpful.