I often wonder how to describe the difference between mania and depression.
Depression: Feel you are the only person in the world.
Mania: Feel completely at one with the world.
Depression: Living in the past
Mania: Living completely in the moment- this is particularly true with euphoric mania
Depression: Silence
Mania: Chattering nonsense when it goes too far
I could go on and on! Things get really complicated when the moods are combined- this is known as a mixed episode or dysphoric mania. People with dysphoric mania have all of the energy of a person with euphoric mania, but it’s agitated, uncomfortable mentally and physically and often comes with psychosis.
I have had a few mixed episodes myself. Anti psychotic medications- including Zyprexa, Abilify, Risperdal and Serequel are often used for dysphoric mania along with the mood stabilizers Lithium, Depakote and Tegretol. I find that Lamictal helps me a lot, especially since I can’t take anti psychotics due to side effects. The problem is that Lamictal alone is not a treatment for full blown mania- I have hypomania (Bipolar II) so it works for me.
What kind of mania have you experienced? If you care about someone with the illness, what kind of mania do they experience?
Julie
PS: I will be a broken record for the next five months- spring is here and summer is coming- you have to know the signs of mania as this is mania season!
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Your honesty about your experiences with this illness is what keeps me coming back daily! I am 2 months out of the hospital and was inpatient for the first time with mania. I leveled out after out patient-partial hospital groups. I woke up this morning with slight anxiety and the feeling of mania coming back. I whine alot as well. Living with this illness is a challenge like no other I have faced. I discovered your website through a friend at the hospital and have never been more thankful for your blogs and daily postings ! One of the first things I do each morning is visit the blog to see what the topic is and read through reader’s comments. I can always relate to some part of them. Julie, I truly appreciate all you do and pray that you continue! You have helped me and many others continue living each day with hope. I hate to think where I would be without you! Thanks again for your honesty in what you experience.
J: I am not sure what type BF is. From all I have read he is BF I. He may have the rapid cycling. I am really not sure and don’t know if he recalls. He has been hospitalized several times with mania and is out now, doing well but feeling the depressive side of things. I have been using a lot of your info in discussions with him and it is really helping. Thank you Julie!
Julie,
You say this is “mania season” but for me it’s just the opposite – I’m one of those rare few that actually experience DEPRESSION when the clocks jump ahead and there’s more daylight and spring is around the corner. More often than not I find myself in my doctor’s office around April, crying and knowing I need a med adjustment. It’s funny because it’s so NOT normal and so against how most other people (with or without bipolar) feel when the seasons change – especially here in the northeast where the winters are so terribly gloomy. I feel so frustrated because I look around at everything blooming and feel even MORE depressed that I can’t enjoy it. The good news is that the med adjustments work (no matter the season!) so if you happen to have this “upside down SAD” also, stay committed to your treatments – even when it is beautiful and sunny and depressing outside!
Hi Heather,
I’m more like you- if I’m going to have mania, it’s in the summer- but the depression is usually around. I am sure I will have more mania this year, so I’m preparing ahead. I’m SO glad the meds work. And it’s great to see that you take care of yourself so well. Julie
I’ve been with my boyfriend for four years. The first two years, I thought he was an alcoholic despite the fact that he told me he was bipolar 1. I have never experienced anything or anyone that was bipolar. I had no idea. I should have researched….:( Anyway, he quit drinking about two years ago. He had a period of “normal” mood,then a hypomanic episode (I wasn’t so alarmed), then 7 months of depression (I did all I could to help him with this) and now he is manic…..very manic! His friends and family “let him go” and just wait for him to “come down”. I sat here with him through his depression and listened to him talk about his hypomanic epidode he had last summer. I feel so bad for him:( I can’t imagine how he is going to feel when he comes down from this one. This doesn’t compare to last summer. I am the only one urging him to see a pdoc. This has made him alienate me. He has given my 7 year old daughter and I three months to move out of our home, he is nasty toward everyone around him, he treats everyone as though they are his employees. He has purchased a Hummer, mustang,a car for a friend, a prowler, two boats, an excavator and is looking at several properties…one of which is 1.5 million dollars! He is on felony probation for DWI and has started drinking again. He is on 200 mg of Lamictal daily. His Dr. (a general Dr…he refuses to see a pdoc) switched him from lithium to lamictal when he was depressed in March. I have done all I can do. Can anyone give me some sort of advice? Please….I love him dearly despite the way he has treated me. I understand (now) that this is his illness talking and acting and not the person that I love and care for deeply.
Kim, I am bipolar when unmedicated or even sometimes when I am, I go manic…years ago I bought a 15,000 car and no one could talk me out of it. It’s like our own bodies make this drug.
Your boyfriend is certainly in a manic high and when he does crash he will have so much remorse for his behavior. He should either be hospitalized or see a doctor to ajust his meds. You will not be able to talk to him right now…it’s like he is taking L.S.D. When he starts to come down he certainly will be around~but~all of his choices will cause much anguish for him and the people close to him.
I would say to try and wait till he comes down and then have a serious talk with him about managing his illness. If he doesn’t want to, even myself as being bipolar for over 30 years…I would have to say to end the relationship. It would like be living with a drug addict and that’s no life for you and your little girl. You may need to get counceling for yourself. Best of luck to you. Linda