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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lazarus on March 30, 2006, at 18:58:51
I have the ability to make myself manic, which I can and do frquently. I have never told my psychiatrists this, and I was wondering if anyone else has the ability to do this. My diagnosis is bipolar disorder.
I love the mania, particularly because it makes sex so satisfying. The sex is good but it is like being on a merry-go-round and I have difficulty getting off it.
Any comments would be appreciated. And please, no criticism, just helpful advice please.
Lazarus
Posted by rjlockhart on March 30, 2006, at 19:12:16
In reply to I can make myself manic; anyone else can?, posted by Lazarus on March 30, 2006, at 18:58:51
I can set off sometimes Mania, if you have read my posts before i have actually set it off when im at home with my mom and we clash into eachother.
I usally get really excited about something, and think about it and then it goes. But im not real mania its more short lived hypomania 1-3 hours.
Thats it.
Matt
Posted by Bobby on March 30, 2006, at 20:51:48
In reply to I can make myself manic; anyone else can?, posted by Lazarus on March 30, 2006, at 18:58:51
I use to think that until I was dragged down into the bottomless pit of psych meds.
Posted by Phillipa on March 30, 2006, at 22:01:18
In reply to Re: I can make myself manic; anyone else can? » Lazarus, posted by Bobby on March 30, 2006, at 20:51:48
Okay your're on how does one self make them self manic other than not taking their mood stabalizer? Love Phillipa
Posted by greywolf on March 31, 2006, at 7:18:11
In reply to I can make myself manic; anyone else can?, posted by Lazarus on March 30, 2006, at 18:58:51
I think recognizing that you intentionally put yourself in manic states for pleasure pursuits calls your BP diagnosis into question.Obviously, one of the treatment difficulties with BP is that staying on meds is sometimes difficult because of the attractiveness of the highs induced during the manic state. But it seems to me that the uncontrollable urge toward a spontaneously developing mania is much different than consciously deciding to flip the manic switch to have fun.
I would bet that if you told your psychiatrists the truth, they'd be looking at your situation much differently. And if you're looking to get well, giving your treating physician all of the pertinent facts is a good place to start.
Posted by Sobriquet Style on March 31, 2006, at 11:43:01
In reply to I can make myself manic; anyone else can?, posted by Lazarus on March 30, 2006, at 18:58:51
>I was wondering if anyone else has the ability to do this.
For me its comes and goes in natural cycle. I'm good at predicting it, because of the various times of the year it happens. I have no control when it does happen to switch if off though, bit like if I want to get rid of depression - it takes months to ride it out. Hypomania (I don't get mania) when it does happen, I seek to make it as pleasurable as possible eg the sex drive. Now though i'm trying to control it alittle more, keep it less extream. Could never live without it though - hypomania, for one thing medcations don't work to well for me, secondly, its too much of a gift at times, lastly no matter what I do, it always peaks up at some stage. Moderation is the key though, for me, that way the depressions are not so severe.
~
Posted by Declan on March 31, 2006, at 11:56:07
In reply to I can make myself manic; anyone else can?, posted by Lazarus on March 30, 2006, at 18:58:51
How do you do it? Just interested. Sure can't do it myself.
Declan
Posted by bipolarspectrum on March 31, 2006, at 16:47:02
In reply to Re: I can make myself manic; anyone else can? » Lazarus, posted by Declan on March 31, 2006, at 11:56:07
Hey,
Thats a really interesting thign u bring up lazar... I think i can make myself manic but mabye via a different means... I just stay up all night playin poker at a casino and that'll shoot me into mania... but my question to u lazar is can u switch urself into mania WITHOUT behavioral modification, like no sleep????
bps
Posted by Lazarus on March 31, 2006, at 18:38:58
In reply to Re: I can make myself manic; anyone else can?, posted by greywolf on March 31, 2006, at 7:18:11
Thank you Greywolf. You have given me good advice. I need to be more honest with my psychiatrists about my abilities and what's really going on inside my head.
For those who have asked, I am able to make myself manic by stopping the consumption of lithium. Lithium suppresses brain wave activity and upon it's discontinuance my brain starts firing away and before I know it I'm manic. I've discovered this ability during the past few years. Once manic I find myself in some pretty seedy places, so yes, I guess there is a compulsive nature to all this.
Lazarus
Posted by Caedmon on April 3, 2006, at 20:41:19
In reply to Re: I can make myself manic; Greywolf, posted by Lazarus on March 31, 2006, at 18:38:58
Well, I know of some *substances* that induce mania in me. Whether that's technically mania or not, I don't know.
I once became manic because of sleep deprivation. I wasn't even trying to deprive myself of sleep, it just happened, and then I had to stay up. Boy, did I ever!
My advice is to not discontinue the Li like you have been. If you feel depressed or something, then maybe try to work on that without losing mood stability.
In some patients who aren't compliant with their meds, you can ask for a depot medication that is given once every 1-2 weeks. I can't recall offhand if there are any mood stabilizers available like this except for Risperdal, but that's because I was reading about it in a magazine while waiting for my psychiatrist. (I also learned that Janssen cares a lot about me as a patient. Heh.)
- C
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