I find that the more I read the less I know about the difference between hypomania and mania. Karla Dougherty in her book "Less than Crazy" says that for BP II the hypomania shows up as anxiety. I can be depressed and anxious at the same time. Is that then a mixed episode? And when I'm hypomanic I feel great and take on big projects, go into business, spend money, etc. etc. Am I BP I then instead of BP II? I've never hallucinated etc., is that the difference between BP I and BP II? It's all really confusing. I know I've been this way since the age of 14, maybe earlier. (I'm now 57 and was just diagnosed June 30). John McManamy at www.mcmanweb.com believes that anti-depressants may cause BP. He talks about the various versions of the DSM and how the diagnostic criteria have changed over the years.
Frankly, I'm confused as heck.