Posted by Todd on May 10, 2000, at 14:40:22
In reply to Re: Mania -- Do You Know When It's Happening?, posted by SLS on May 7, 2000, at 11:48:07
Hey there, Mark.
Like somebody said above, nothing wrong with a little hypomania. I flirt with it every now and again and it can be pretty refreshing. Everyone who has responded to you has it right - the uncontrolled speech, racing thoughts, topic jumping, wanton spending, lack of sleep, grandiosity, and intense sexuality is all part of the mania package. If you can contain yourself and conduct yourself "normally" then you're probably just experiencing a hypomania.
Keep an eye on it, though. Contrary to what many say about BP's being the last to know they're manic, if you are honest with yourself you can spot the signs before anything gets out of hand. I would say that the ones who don't notice it are so relieved to be finally feeling inspired and energized that they will not admit there is a problem. I think they feel that this is the way people are SUPPOSED to feel. (As an aside, I think that is part of the problem with BP's - we feel that everyone else is loving life while it passes US by. Playing the passive victim. I think realizing that EVERYONE hurts and bears their own crosses is adding another piece to the puzzle.)
Anyway, keep an eye out. Be a witness to yourself. If you feel mildly euphoric and a little bit infused, go with it. But treat yourself right. Lack of sleep and poor eating habits are both a symptom and cause of mania. When your system gets thrown off too much, one feeds the other. Lack of sleep causes manic tendencies which tend to reduce need for sleep which feeds the mania and so on. Ditto for eating properly. If there is no food for the body, it will feed off of itself and perpetuate the problem.
I have only had one close call where a hypomania threatened to morph into an actual mania. My thoughts were getting grandiose and my energy level was high. Couldn't sleep soundly because of all the thoughts, and when I did sleep, it was filled with dreamscapes. Doc prescribed me Risperdal for a night or two just to shut my brain down and allow restful sleep. Also took some Lorazepam for a few days to calm down. Upped my lithium by a few hundred mgs and it all worked like a charm. Whew! Nobody ever knew. Just keep a caring eye on yourself, and if your friends and family think something is a little off, it probably is. They have the objectivity to see your patterns, trust them. Lots of love.
Todd
poster:Todd
thread:32113
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000508/msgs/33074.html