Bipolar Bipolar- how does manic feel for you?

[XvanoraX]

So, my mother has Bipolar. Recently I've been worried about myself being/getting bipolar.
Well, I just found out my dad's mother also had bipolar. So it's on both sides of my family..
If I remember correctly, they say you usually develop bipolar by the time you're 25.
Well, I'm 24.

I do have some questions though.
What is a manic episode like for you?

I do have times where I feel really happy and energetic. I get really into something and I talk fast and when talking fast I tend to jump from one thing to another to another, if that makes sense?
I definitely don't have hallucinations or anything.
I don't ever feel really good about myself or anything like that.
I have always had sleep issues from a very young age..

I'm having a downer at the moment. Just not feeling great.. but when I'm over this I guess I can think more about how I'm feeling and now I know the symptoms I can compare them to how I'm feeling.

 

[Deleted member 38242]

I have been manic three times because of complex trauma. It's not like bipolar in the fact it's PTSD related. It's also related to different chemicals, but it's manic none the least.
You don't sleep for a couple of days (on my case out of fear), and them your supper happy (in my case so much pain by mind broke and went into psychosis to avoid physically heart wrenching emotional pain), and you start getting delusions of greatness, or paranoia (I've seen people who think their famous, CIA, or FBI, orlike the president knows who they are). Then you have a ton of energy (mine was all flight or fight), but medications for true bipolar help. If you are not bipolar the side effects is all you will get from it, depression, suicidal, and rage.
You'll know hon. Any long term therapist will see it. You'll be ok. You'll know, so don't be afraid.

 

[Sideways]

The things that seem to be hypomania (rather than mood swings or ptsd or dissociation) for me? They last. At least 2 weeks before I started lithium. And over that period they didn't really wane at all. There wasn't any moments were I lost my genius / crazy energy without sleep / taking on a tonne of new commitments etc while I was hypomanic (I seem to just be Bipolar II).

The original diagnosis turned a lot on how destructive I actually was, and how irrational I was about everything. But a lot of that could now be explained particularly by DID. Now, it seems to turn more on the length of the episode.

 

[Keming]

Bipolar is different for different people. My sibling's bipolar disorder manifests as anger, then deep depression, then back to being manageable. My bipolar disorder bangs the needle back and forth across the gauge, and most of my episodes are 'mixed' - angry/energized, miserable/creative.

Also, the behaviors during bipolar states is dependent on the personality of the sufferer. Manic periods make some people become hostile/aggressive; others, gregarious.

Anecdotal: these are my known (remembered) bipolar behaviors:

UP: Insomnia. Energetic to the point of frenzy. Heavy spending (usually gifts). Panting, raving, high-risk need for sex. Increased appreciation of 'humor', especially shock humor. Offensive jokes, occasional hyperactive screaming. Let's sing the Kill Them All Song! Kill them all gonna f*cking kill them all KILL KILL KILL etc. When I'm manic, that seems... funny (facepalm).

DOWN: Misery. Sit on the bed, head in hands sobbing. Worthless. Heavy drinking. Suicidal.

MIXED: Angry/Motivated. Miserable/Creative. Most of my completed short stories are written in a mixed state. I usually managed to get jobs during mixed states - and then lose them when the DOWN arrived, or if I go "normal" and can't keep up to the energy/motivation required.

My psychosis is mild: a narrator in my ear that comments on what I'm doing about 2 seconds after I do it. Doesn't manifest frequently, although it can be very startling sometimes.

No delusions.

In a manic period right now - mitigated by meds, thank goodness. And it's time to take a pill, because I just starting singing OOGA BOOGA in my head. Ah, meds. Come to me, my pretties.
ooga