How are bipolar 1 and bipolar 2 different?

Bipolar: Difference is in severity of symptoms. Type 1 is full spectrum of depression and manic episodes. Type 2 is depression with hypomanic episodes.

Agree with Dr. Ali.: In addition to the information dr ali provided - i sometime think about it in terms of how disruptive an episode was. If the person's behavior got them into a psychiatric ward ; or into jail - that is the type of intensity of symptoms that could accompany bipolar i disorder. Bipolar i is like a tv going full blast w noise. Bipolar ii would be a tv on mute or at least quietly.

Difference: Bipolar I and bipolar II, In the first, manic phases are more severe, and in the second, depressive phases are more severe. There is also cyclothymia which is a low grade version of bipolar disorder in general, where mood swings are not as severe in either direction, manic or depressive.