Has anyone experienced Hypomania? I've experienced it twice and have questions about it.

[insertaname]

Hi my name is J,

In the last two years - I have had two hypomanic episodes where I could still somewhat function as normal: my symptoms were not obvious . I feel that these are worse than when I was in full episodes yet I cant remember a lot, which is probably why. Going through this episode, not being put in hospital, and coping with being alone during the day makes me feel lonely but i choose not to have any trains of thoughts but by being pre-occupied with something. I'm a high maintenance/ require a lot of things to do to burn off at the beginning - but now i feel flat and on the depressed side which is usually me.

SO

My questions are:

Have you had a hypomanic episode?

How did you know/feel/think you were having one?

Were your symptoms obvious or not obvious?

It's emotionally and mentally draining watching myself having hypomania

Hope to hear from you - I am actually depressed... I have no friends they're more aquaintances

[white knight]

Hi, welcome

So, have you had a diagnosis and what was it?

I'm bipolar, I also have depression and dysthymia. I've had countless hypomanic periods in my life. As a young adult from 18yo onwards I'd buy and sell cars on impulse, it didn't matter I'd lose money on them. Lacking wisdom was what others told me I had but the wisdom was there for a young guy but the mania smothered it. That was my Air Force days then at 21yo became a prison officer, hence there had to be some wisdom for me to do that job.

Impulsivity is one symptom. Then there is the quick walking and rushing to finish a task like polishing my car, when there was no reason to rush. It's like wanting to accomplish everything at once.

Fast talking is a reflection of how fast my mind wanted to go. Small talk- forget it, I hated it. Hence I was a high achiever for any employer and got lots of references. But, there were ramifications-

• Lack of fitting in with other individuals or groups
• Workplace frustration when no productivity was present (like many Government jobs)
• Impatience
• Out of synch with others
• Accident prone
• Foot in mouth comments, cant think before I speak
• Prone to anxiety
• Take the moral high ground

Age has countered a lot of those, I'm 63yo now and I've slowed a lot.

Medication- I've been on mood stabilisers for 10 years with a small level of AD's. I've moved dosages many times but I have found the best compromise. Sadly medication doesn't get you to the ideal eg some symptoms come and go and you think …"mmm, I'll ask my Dr if I can adjust my dosages" then after a while you realise that bad period wasn't avoidable and you've adjusted dosage for a negative effect. So finding the balance is the best point.

My wife is the best gauge of if I'm hypo. Or I trip over often.

Extra physical activities does work to slow us down. ADHD sufferers often do lots of gardening rather than lots of meds for example.

There is many self help ideas out there that stimulate your mind to use counter measures.

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/worry-worry-worry#qhCDHnHzvGGEbv8AAO...

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/depression/triggers--what-are-your-distracti...

Then there is a factor of accepting yourself to a degree. So if we combine all of that we are better off.

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/accepting-yourself-the-frog-and...

Repost anytime

TonyWK

[therising]

Hi J

Interesting topic indeed!

Depends on which side of the fence someone sits when it comes to identifying with such a topic. Actually, scrap the fence due to the fact there are more than just a couple of views.

A psychologist will give one view, a biologist will give another. Someone who's of a spiritual nature will present a different perspective, as will a quantum physicist. Basically, we're folk who tend to function on a mental level, a level of chemistry and an energetic level (according to both science and spirituality). Being a fascinated devotee of both spirituality and quantum physics basics, I love delving into the energy aspect of life.

So, what leads us to become like a human battery at times (charging up to our peak performance and then discharging to the point where we're feeling completely drained)? The thing that triggers the sudden charge we get from life is a pretty individual thing, unique to each person. Perhaps the 'powering down' aspect is a little easier to identify. When we're feeling fully energised, this is the time where we need to specifically identify what we're plugging into. If we're plugging into extremes like buying a car on the spur of the moment or going on a massive spending spree regarding clothes we can't really afford then we're plugging into something that's going to cause us regret. Regret can be incredibly draining when it suddenly hits us. Not only does it impact our level of energy but it can also impact the way we think (our perception) as well as our chemistry. If we're plugging into a way of life where our decisions and actions are balanced or reasonable then it's easier to maintain that sort of channeled energy.

Personally, the reason why I love such extremes as quantum physics and spirituality is because they share a similar language: Both refer to energy, vibration (or vibes), frequency and so on when it comes to all things 'life' (us included).

You mention that you need to find a lot of things to do to burn off the energy. In a way, this is kind of like 'discharging' or waiting to 'power down'. Have you ever considered learning how to control the energy when it hits. It's quite a skill. Breath work is a powerful tool. Learning to relax into your power may help provide some calm and balance. A little outside the square but things like tai chi and qigong are gentle energy related exercises regarding control.

🙂

[insertaname]

Hi TonyVK
I’ve been diagnosed since 2011 but new to hypomania.
I didn’t expect your symptoms to be very similar to the manic side of the bipolar spectrum.
Your experiences differ greatly from mine. I made appropriate decisions. I chose to go to the ER. I notified the people in charge of the the prac I was unwell and seeking medical attention.
I have impulse and np impulse. My impulses were buying two blue tooth headphones and novelty timers for cooking which I will be using while I recover. I’m a pre-service teacher and sometimes timers are a way to get students to work at a set pace. So I spending buy not irresponsibly – I had to confirm with my SO to get the item.
I was also ‘rushing’ but I realised I was not being fast or efficient – if you understand what I mean.
I tried not to talk too much – I was really apprehensive and I had a migraine. I’m in between a high and low achiever depending on mood.
I fitted in as best I could. I had anxiety.
Thanks for your response and suggestions

J

[insertaname]

Hi therising

I have a lot of viewpoints but at this point of time, I cannot think at the cognitive level to comprehend what you are saying.

There are so many ways of looking at hypo-mania is what I am reading from your response. I wouldn’t call myself a battery more like a life cycle… you go though phases and you don’t require buying another battery.
I wouldn’t say power … I would say motivation and concentration. While I burn my ‘energy’ I am actually feeling very tried and lethargic. I am doing high energy activities in hopes that I will fall asleep when I take my meds. I don’t enjoy cleaning and I don’t like doing slow things unless it’s knitting or crack a code puzzles. I’m a black and white person I either do it or I don’t do it there’s no 50 shades of grey for me.

I’m not on the impulsive side of things but more so the depressive side of things. I have no regrets, I did everything I could to get better and that all I want.

Bipolar isn’t something you can easily manage – MY SYMPTOMS KEEP CHANGING so it is hard to keep with the times.

Tai chi is too boring – give me a skipping rope and a boxer who is skipping too. I am really good at skipping, using footwork… can make it look like I’m dancing.. Breathing is for my anxiety… I don’t like sitting still but I’m very practised in it.
Thanks for you outlook on my situation

J