Bipolar 1 vs. 2 in Teens: Key Differences, Symptoms & Treatment
╰┈➤ Well, there are two forms of bipolar disorder, which include Bipolar I and Bipolar II. However, the main difference lies in the elevated mood experience. In Bipolar I disorder, an individual experiences at least one episode of mania. Nevertheless, for Bipolar II disorder, an individual will have a history of experiencing hypomania and depression, without a history of mania. Mania is a more severe condition that results in hospitalization or psychosis, while hypomania is less severe. Both will have an effect on a teenager’s mood, sleep, energy levels, relationships, academic performance, and other aspects of life. In this article, we will learn to distinguish between bipolar I and bipolar II disorder and how teens and adolescents can overcome them. Bipolar 1 vs 2: Quick Comparison Let’s have an overview of the characteristics of Bipolar I and Bipolar II disorder. Feature Bipolar I Bipolar II Main elevated mood episode Mania Hypomania Depression May occur, but is not required for diagnosis Major depressive episodes are part of the diagnosis Severity of elevated episode More severe Less severe than mania Hospitalization May be required during mania Hypomania does not require hospitalization Psychosis Can occur during severe mania Hypomania itself does not include psychosis Effect on daily life Can be severe Hypomania causes less obvious impairment Can teens experience it? Yes Yes, although diagnosis in young people requires careful assessment Treatment Medication, psychotherapy, lifestyle and family support Medication, psychotherapy, lifestyle and family support Quick insight: It is wrong to think that Bipolar I is just more “bipolar” than Bipolar II. The conditions differ by the type of mood swing cycles rather than by the general mood level. People suffering from Bipolar II may have severe depression and impairment. However, their struggles are real and significant. However, Bipolar II should not be seen as a less severe version of bipolar disorder. It is a mental health condition on its own. What Is Bipolar Disorder? Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder whose defining features are mood swings as well as changes in levels of energy, behavior, activities, sleep, and thinking patterns. Besides, people suffering from bipolar disorder have mood swings that include symptoms such as mania, hypomania, depression, or any combination thereof. Every person experiences great days as well as bad days during adolescence. At the onset of puberty, young people experience changes in their moods due to pressures at school, making friends, and being independent. This disorder is another thing. It involves mood swings that are more intense and happen alongside shifts in energy, activity, sleep patterns, thoughts, and actions. Such episodes can have an effect on academic life, relationships, and even routine activities. Moreover, this disorder usually starts in late teenage years or early adulthood, although it can develop before this stage as well. What Is Bipolar I Disorder? The symptoms of Bipolar I include having one or more manic episodes. Manic episodes include an unambiguous period of unusually elevated, expansive, or irritable mood accompanied by increased activity or energy. This usually lasts for at least seven days or requires hospitalization because of its severity. However, a person can experience a depressive episode usually but it is not necessary that he is suffering from Bipolar I disorder. Symptoms of Mania in Teens: A teen with mania can: Speak much faster than usual Have racing thoughts Switch from one topic to another quickly Get little sleep and not feel tired from that Be more energetic than usual Feel very confident or powerful Feel irritable Act impulsively and engage in dangerous behavior Spending money without thinking about consequences Become very sociable or hyperactive Begin many projects at once Get distracted easily Make bad decisions Have psychotic symptoms in some cases According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), fast talking, racing thoughts, decreased need for sleep, increased activity, irritability, grandiosity, and impulsiveness are some examples of possible mania symptoms in children and adolescents. Example: For instance, think of a usually quiet 16-year-old teenager who now sleeps just three hours at night but claims to be totally energized. So, all day he is always talking, starting many new ventures, and acting overly confident in addition to being impulsive. This type of behavior needs professional attention because it is quite different from a few days of being energetic. What Is Bipolar II Disorder? Bipolar II disorder is characterized by hypomanic episodes as well as major depressive episodes. Hypomania resembles mania but is not quite so severe. Thus, a teenager becomes more energetic, talkative, productive, confident, or active than normal. They have less need for sleep and have racing thoughts. But the hypomania does not become so severe as to qualify as a manic episode. Signs of Hypomania in Teens: Teenagers having hypomania will: Be more talkative than normal Have less need for sleep Be very energetic Become more productive Feel more confident than normal Come up with many new ideas Become more social than normal Become easily distracted Take certain kinds of risks Be cheerfully or irritably happy Thus, these experiences might even be pleasant for the teenager. The teenager might think: “This is the most productive I have ever been.” So, this makes Bipolar II hard to diagnose. In the end, the teenager may get help due to depression and not due to hypomania. Bipolar I vs Bipolar II: The Main Difference A simple rule to help remember the differences is: Bipolar I Disorder = Mania Bipolar II Disorder = Hypomania and Major Depression So, the distinction between the two is clinically relevant because: Mania could be serious enough to affect a teen’s functionality both at school and at home to the point that they would need to be hospitalized. Hypomania is not quite as serious but can still affect behavior and can result in severe depression. Why Does the Difference Matters? Consider two Adolescents: Adolescent A: Adolescent A goes through a phase of intense energy, lack of sleep, gets seriously impaired, acts impulsively, and ultimately