Bipolar Depression and Mania (euphoric and dysphoric)

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 [ Read More ]





Bipolar Disorder Mania and Grandiose Thoughts

After I wrote the last blog on being manic- I stated to think of a part of mania that isn’t talked about a lot- egotistical thoughts- the technical term is grandiose thoughts.

I remember when my former partner first started to get sick. He is such a mild mannered wonderful person who is always pretty low key. Before he went into the hospital, I found a paper where he had written, “I am a genius and I can’t tell anyone.”

I had no idea what this meant at the time. This didn’t fit his personality at all! And even though I’d had hypomania since I was 17, I couldn’t identify with the genius thing. As my bipolar has gotten worse, I do go into ‘I’m the greatest person in the world’ mode once in a while. I can laugh about it! I just have to make sure I write it all down on my Mania [ Read More ]

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What if Excitement Leads to Bipolar Mania?

“Are you manic Julie?” said my business manager Laura when I just talked to her on the phone.

Gosh darn it! I hate that question! (I used stronger language than gosh darn it!)She then said, “I’m sorry Julie. I always feel like I’m the one with the bad news.”

I said, “Well, you’re using the health cards and being honest with me. I often need that if I’m mildly manic. I just don’t know if I am though. Maybe I’m just excited because my hands are better and I can finally write again?”I know that the above answer to her “are you manic” question- means I’m hypomanic. I ALWAYS try to justify the mania. Maybe it’s just the real me! Maybe it’s just that it’s sunny outside. Maybe it’s not what it seems! 

It’s always what it seems. I know that if more than one person thinks I’m manic- I’m manic. It’s not excitement that causes [ Read More ]