Originally Posted by waves

People with BIPOLAR ONE can and do experience VERY SEVERE depressive episodes.

there is a small percentage that only have mania, and the docs are still arguing over whether they should be considered "BIpolar." Current dx requires AT LEAST one MANIC and at LEAST ONE MAJOR depressive (not MINOR) depressive episode, for bipolar ONE.

Say it another way: the characteristic that 1's and 2's share is that BOTH have SEVERE DEPRESSIVE EPISODES.

I am sick and tired grrr of reading on forums (various) that Bipolar 2's "run low" and Bipolar 1's "run high" because one person experiences that so they profess it as gospel, and then others repeat it like parrots (not referring to you Mari). it makes it sound like 2's are depressed alla time and 1's are manic alla time. terribly skewed idea.

With either diagnosis there can be a predominance of depressive episodes, especially later in life.

With either diagnosis there can be a predominance of manic/hypomanic episodes... BUT --- a bipolar 2 will never have a manic or mixed episode, otherwise they must be considered bipolar 1.