Mania: all right everyone- we have a reader who needs our help.

Hi Julie

I am in a manic state right now and it feels so good after being severely depressed for over two years. At this time I am doing something that is both destructive and dishonest. I am “talking to/dating” four men at the same time (three of them have expressed their love and desire for long term relationships with me). While most of our recent interaction has been over the internet and telephone I have arranged visits with all of them. They are not strangers to me (I have known them all for many years) and I know this behavior and perhaps our friendships have got to stop. The problem is I don’t know how to tell these men that I can’t be involved with them anymore with out hurting them and making myself look absolutely foolish and of poor moral character (so far I have had sex with three of them). Two of [ Read More ]





Posted on November 20th, 2010 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Mania

Bipolar Mania and Obsessions

 I just recieved this comment from Melissa. Most of us have been here. That is for sure. It’s so important to remember that we are not weird or obsessive when we aren’t ill. Most of us are darn normal! It’s the illness- which means we have to become experts at managing the illness. Here is Melissa’s comment and my reply:

Julie,

I’m revved up and getting amped out.  I can’t concentrate on my work.  I’m seeing the three S’s – speeding, spending ; sex – on the increase.  I battle with it constantly it seems and today I seem to be losing.  I was triggered by the possibility of not getting to see someone I’ve been fantasizing about anymore so I’ve been trying to contact him.  No-no.  I took my PRN but it really isn’t helping.  Good grief I’m having problems with this and I’m rambling to boot.  Sorry. Melissa,

Hi Melissa,

Oh yes! We [ Read More ]





Posted on October 7th, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , | Category: Mania

Manic Depression Mania: SpInNing into butter..

There is an old saying I remember from my childhood called ‘spinning into butter.’ It means things get so out of control, the milk just whirls and whirls around until it becomes a solid mass of butter!

Mania is like spinning into butter- that’s for sure.  The name Manic Depression was used for so long because it’s an apt description for bipolar in most ways- though we now know the illness is so much more- but… the mania is so dangerous in that it can wreck your life very, very quickly.

If you feel you’re spinning into butter- it can be from anxiety, doing too much, other triggers or… simply from a hypomanic or manic episode.

What is the next step? Make yourself sit down and take an honest evaluation of where you are.  If you’re manic, or starting to get manic- now is the time to take action- not creative action- but manic stopping [ Read More ]





Posted on August 4th, 2010 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Mania

Bipolar Disorder Mood Swings: Weeks of Depression

Weeks of Depression

I’ve been depressed off and on for weeks. I wake up with it and often go to bed with it. I’ve had to modify my life to take care of it. I’m going out with friends more- more lunches and coffee meetings. I want to work- but it’s time to just work on the depression.

It takes time. Nothing is going on. There were no personal triggers- at least not big ones. I had a manic episode a few weeks ago and this is just the downswing that comes after. I wish I were manic! Though I know that is just as bad.

So, today is tough. I always feel better when my room and house are clean- but it’s hard for me to do it when I’m depressed. My mother came over and helped me. It’s amazing how much it helps the depression.

This is one of the strategies in Get [ Read More ]