Quote:
Originally Posted by mossanimal
I could be generalizing and misunderstanding... but I wonder about the difference between those with Bipolar II and Bipolar I. My understanding of the textbook cases is that people with Bipolar I can have long periods of stability between episodes as opposed to Bipolar II temperament.. which seems to be more rapid cycling or longer and more frequent periods of depression. For myself I wonder if my periods of hypomania are on a longer scale than I recognize (based on such constant erratic behavior and risky nonsense).. with longer periods of depression so that I'm always in some kind of 'state' leading to constant upheaval.
I also realize that people with Bipolar I AND comorbid conditions can complicate this generalization.
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Rapid cycling is more likely to be part of BP-I. Psychosis is unlikely to be a primary problem, but psychosis may be the result of depression. It's easier to be hypomanic or depressed for periods longer than 3 months than it is to be manic. You'd probably be dead, pretty much, when severely manic for more than 3 months straight. But mixed episodes can last much longer. Recovery from depression is probably relatively fast.
So the depression is probably more chronic for those with BP2, I agree.
Edit:
Severe mania for a long time is (pretty much) guaranteed to cost you your job. Long periods of depression are really different. More with BP-II can perform at least adequately for longer periods of time. Psychosis doesn't make it hard, but often impossible.