Bipolar disorder is an illness that affects a person’s ability to regulate their own moods.
There are two types of bipolar disorder: Bipolar 1(one) and Bipolar II (two). People with bipolar I experience full blown mania while people with bipolar II have a milder form of mania called hypomania. This is the main difference between the two types of bipolar disorder. All people with bipolar disorder have similar depression symptoms, though people with bipolar II tend to spend more time in depression. Both types of the illness can have a complication called rapid cycling. This is where a person has more than four mood swing a year. I have to laugh at this one sometimes as I have such severe rapid cycling, I can have four mood swings in a few hours! It’s very important that you know if you have bipolar I or II and if you have rapid cycling. Your diagnosis strongly affects treatment choices.
No matter what type of bipolar disorder you have, it’s a serious illness that has to be treated with a comprehensive plan.
Julie
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