• Mental Health

Bipolar 1 vs. Bipolar 2: What’s the Difference?

Published: July 09, 2025
Updated: July 09, 2025
4 mins

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that can lead to extreme mood swings, energy shifts, and behavior changes. Fortunately, a licensed mental health provider can help you manage bipolar disorder symptoms. 

Before receiving treatment for bipolar disorder, a healthcare provider may first determine whether you have bipolar disorder 1 or bipolar disorder 2. While the two are very similar, there are slight differences in symptoms that may affect your treatment plan.

What Causes Bipolar Disorder?

Health experts are still learning more about the potential causes of bipolar disorder. For now, they know it’s a mental health condition often passed on genetically through families. If you have a parent with bipolar disorder, be sure to let your primary healthcare provider know. 

Those diagnosed with bipolar disorder 2 are more likely to have family members with a history of anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder. Traumatic events in a person’s life may also trigger bipolar disorder 1 and bipolar disorder 2 symptoms.

What are the Common Symptoms of Bipolar 1 and Bipolar 2?

Bipolar disorder is a different experience for everyone who has it. Those with bipolar disorder may experience the following symptoms:

• Mood swings

• Trouble focusing

• Changes in energy levels

• Suicidal thoughts

• Manic episodes

• Psychosis

• Hypomanic episodes

• Trouble sleeping

What is the Difference Between Bipolar 1 and Bipolar 2 Symptoms?

The main difference between bipolar 1 and bipolar 2 is that those with bipolar 1 are more likely to experience manic episodes or mixed episodes (having both manic and depressive symptoms at the same time). Generally, health experts regard bipolar disorder 2 as less severe than bipolar disorder 1. However, this is not always the case.

Those with bipolar 2 may experience hypomanic episodes. Hypomania is a symptom that is less intense than manic episodes. A hypomanic episode doesn’t tend to get in the way of completing everyday activities. Those with bipolar depression 1 are also more likely to experience psychosis.

While mania can last for a week, hypomanic episodes usually last for fewer days. When someone is having a manic episode, you may notice an increase in how fast they talk, exhaustion, and a tendency to overthink.

How is Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed?

A healthcare provider may test you for bipolar disorder if you show signs of frequent, intense mood swings. Before a diagnosis, a healthcare provider may ask about your medical history and that of your family. 

A healthcare provider then conducts a psychological evaluation. During an evaluation, a healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms, their severity, and how long they have lasted. The following questions a healthcare provider may ask can help them determine whether you have bipolar 1 or bipolar 2.

During a psychological evaluation, a healthcare provider may ask you the following questions before a bipolar disorder 1 diagnosis:

• Have you had at least one episode of mania that lasted for a week or longer?

• Did your manic episode require emergency treatment or get in the way of daily activities?

• Are you taking any medications currently affecting your mood?

A healthcare provider may ask the following questions related to a bipolar disorder 2 diagnosis:

• Have you had an episode of hypomania that lasted at least four days?

• Do you have a history of major depression?

• Have you been more talkative or energetic than usual?

• Are you taking any medications currently affecting your mood?

After diagnosis, a healthcare provider may request to set up a follow-up appointment and discuss a treatment plan with you.

What is the Difference Between a Bipolar 1 and Bipolar 2 Diagnosis?

Overall, one of the major differences between the two is that those with bipolar disorder 2 are more likely to have a history of hypomania and major depression. Health experts have found that women are more likely to have bipolar disorder 2 than bipolar disorder 1. 

How is Bipolar Disorder Treated?

Medications for bipolar disorder target brain cells to help balance drastic mood shifts and chemical imbalances. Generally, the following medications can treat either bipolar disorder 1 or bipolar disorder 2:

• Antipsychotics

• Lithium

• Antidepressants

• Anticonvulsants

• Mood stabilizers

A healthcare provider may also recommend cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as part of your treatment plan. CBT and other forms of talk therapy can help a person with bipolar disorder manage mood shifts when they happen. During CBT, a therapist can also help those with bipolar disorder and their families understand more about what it’s like to live with bipolar disorder.

What is the Difference in Bipolar Disorder 1 and 2 Treatment?

It’s not uncommon for a healthcare provider to misdiagnose bipolar disorder 2 as major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the MDD and bipolar disorder 2 treatments require slightly different medications.

Similarly, therapy treatment may look slightly different for someone with bipolar disorder 2 and a history of depression than for someone with bipolar disorder 1 who may not have the same history of depression or anxiety.

Living with Bipolar Disorder

When you have bipolar disorder, it’s important to consistently take medications as instructed by your healthcare provider. Along with following treatment instructions from a healthcare provider, you can also make the following small lifestyle adjustments to help manage bipolar disorder:

• Getting an adequate amount of sleep

• Letting loved ones know when you’re not feeling your best

• Engaging in physical activity you enjoy

• Eating healthy, well-balanced meals

• Avoiding drinking alcohol excessively

• Journaling weekly

Bipolar disorder is a health condition that requires daily management. It may take time to find a system that works best for managing bipolar disorder in your daily life. Try your best to have patience with yourself as you get the hang of finding what works for you.

Where Can I Learn More About Managing Bipolar Disorder?

With LifeMD, a licensed healthcare provider can help you understand more about living with bipolar disorder. If needed, a LifeMD-affiliated healthcare provider can prescribe bipolar disorder medications to you virtually. 

Start today by booking an online consultation with one of our highly qualified providers.

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