It's what my original pdoc first said when he prescribed me lithium. On further assessment it's somewhat agreed upon to be bipolar 2.

Most of what I've written in my post was taken directly from the article attached so I'm not quite sure what makes it "softer" besides the lack of clear mania/hypomania. My hypomania, if that's what it is, is mainly dysphoric although in retrospect I can probably attribute some experiences in my life to euphoric hypomania. I think the "soft" bipolar spectrum is meant to include cyclothymia & pretty much covers bipolar NOS/NEC.

How it's different to anxiety & unipolar depression I'm not 100% sure, theres so much overlap between them all, how is it different to unipolar depression with mixed features? (I think that's a DSM 5 diagnosis?)

I have had perceptual disturbances, derogatory auditory hallucinations, paranoia. I had a sense of losing control, I think that was dysphoric hypomania, I began self harming & became properly suicidal for the first time ever.

I do feel like I can influence my mood sometimes, usually when I feel forced to, like for work, mostly I'm able to be appropraite, sometimes not. Often I just am in whatever mood I'm in, it seems out of my control, particularly low moods, it's hard to snap out of it.

I'm sure none of its clear cut, I just want it to be.