Hi! I'm sorry you're dealing with depression, and I hope you feel better soon. Here's what I know about the difference, but I'm sure there are others who would know way more than I do.

Almost everyone who suffers from BD will experience at least one, and probably more than one, episode of depression. In some cases, the individual may end up struggling with psychotic depression. So psychotic depression can be a symptom of BD.

In order for a diagnosis of Bipolar to be made, however, you must experience symptoms of mania or hypomania, which means you experience periods of abnormally elevated or irritable moods. It must be very unusual for you, and others must be able to notice it.

Signs of that include, but aren't limited to, grandiosity, having little to no need for sleep, becoming abnormally talkative, feeling pressured to talk, feeling as though your thoughts are racing, being easily distracted, and becoming more focused on goal-oriented activities (like projects or social plans). You might become reckless and engage in dangerous behaviors, such as going on spending sprees, abusing drugs, or having unprotected sex without even thinking about the possible consequences. If the mania becomes severe enough, it is possible to go into a full-blown psychosis in which you might, for example, begin to believe you are Jesus Christ.

The difference between hypomania and mania is that hypomania doesn't cause much of an impairment in how well you function, require hospitalization, or include psychosis. You'll likely seem to be very energetic, productive, and possibly irritable. A full-blown manic episode, on the other hand, is a scary thing and will probably get you some time in a psychiatric facility.