Bipolar and schizoid disorder?

The previous contributor's answer was excellent. I just have one clarification. Your Bipolar and Schizoid diagnoses are actually more similar than hers because she said she has bipolar 1 and you have Bipolar II (like I do). In Bipolar I, you experience full-blown mania (not sleeping for days, being hyperual, excessive impulsivity, excessive spending, etc.). Hypomania is like mania-lite. You have similar symptoms but not as severe. But, more relevant to your questions is the fact that people with Bipolar I generally spend more time in a manic state than a depressed state, while people with Bipolar II generally spend much more time depressed. And, it is the symptoms of depression (not mania) which could be thought of as similar to schizoid symptoms (I'm not sure I agree with your doctor about that). Also, as a footnote, Borderline Personality Disorder is a very misunderstood illness and their is substantail overlap between the symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder. I don't know how long you've been seeing your doctor, but these illnesses can be hard to diagnose and you might want a second opinion. Especially, since there is a lot of prejudice (even among mental health professionals) towards Borderline patients. Many psychiatrists who don't have expertise with Borderline patients think of them as manipulative and simply acting out for attention. To learn about what Borderline Personality Disorder is you should read anything written by Marsha Linehan (she's the expert). And, I have an entire book discussing how the symptoms of Bipolar and Borderline overlap, therefore, causing frequent misdiagnosis. If I can find the title I will email it to you. Good Luck!