[mossanimal]

So is there a basic temperament of the average 'bipolar' person when not manic or depressed? Or is there always a spectrum surrounding the mean? I know there are lots of shades of the disorder... BPI, II, etc.. and lots of presentations. But.. when things are 'normal'... do most people exhibit 'bipolarishness'? I think I do... definitely moody, over-sensitive, over-reactive, over-enthusiastic, disorganized, too many projects, less need for sleep (when not on the depressive scale)? I'm still absorbing my diagnosis... and trying to find the 'me' in me..

Not sure if this even makes sense...

There might be an average behavior but averages don't show you much when you really think about it....they are just an equation. Baseline really does stagger considerably. We all deal with very similar things in episodes and I do believe this shades our personality in a certain way. We might share more common ground than we realize. But it's all very individual for the most part. When stable I'm pretty even keeled but I have other issues besides bipolar which make me emotional even while stable.

[Coffeee]

There seems to be a consensus on here that even when stable bipolar may be more emotional or feel emotions more strongly than the average. That being said, I do feel that when I am stable bipolar doesn't affect me much but there are times when the balance shifts and I do get those tinges of bipolar.

[mossanimal]

Thanks guys... I was just thinking of this after reading that personality test thread that was ressurected today. Lots of similar personality types...

By the way.. I did just read a study conducted in Korea that showed a distinction between BPI and BPII with regards to personality. With the IIs being more neurotic and introverted compared to the Is.