People with insomnia count sheep. People with mania draw sheep and make a collage!
Manic sleeping problems are different from insomnia in many ways-
with insomnia you’re tired, you want to sleep, you toss and turn, you
worry about how worn out you will be in the morning and you often want
medication relief.
I need a Tylenol PM!
With euphoric mania- Whew! You want to stay up, you’re wide awake and doing
something creative. You have unlimited energy, a racing mind, and rapid
body movements. You have no desire to get in bed and sleeping feels like a
total waste of time. When the euphoria gets too high, it takes a lot of
psychiatric medication to get to sleep (and you definitely don’t want to
take them and wreck your buzz!) and there is a chance you will be wide
awake and even more manic the next day…….
Here are some of the things you may think when you’re manic at night:
– Sleep is SUCH a waste of time. I am so much more productive now.
– It’s only 1:00 AM. I could go to the grocery store right now!
– The tile really needs to come up in the bathroom.
– I have not had sex in a long time and tonight is the night. Watch out!
These manic thoughts can be funny- but many people act on them. When you have insomnia, you just lie in bed and punch your pillow and wish you could just get some sleep so you won’t be tired the next day. It never feels good.
Euphoric mania feels good.
If you’re on the outside of this mania looking in, it’s very important to know that the manic brain is not really hearing you. It’s hearing that you want to ruin its FUN. The manic person can get very angry and say, “I’m not manic! I’m just finally feeling better! Why burst my bubble!!!” Mania is definitely treatable- but out of all of the mood swings, mania needs an aggressive prevention plan. It’s just too dangerous if it goes too far.
Like many people, my euphoric mania focuses on money, men, alcohol and travel. I never want to sleep when I get this way- interestingly, all of the items on that list are dangerous when it’s late at night!
Tips:
1. Monitor your sleep. If you have been manic before,what were the signs? The minute you notice these signs, take action and get help.
2. Ask others to be honest and tell you if they think you are manic. Deal with the anger you will feel and get help.
3. If you care about someone with bipolar disorder, use the Health Cards to create a plan. Trying to talk to someone who denies mania or who is manic is basically impossible. The best plan is to plan ahead with a plan!
The next time I am lying in bed with eyes wide open, I hope it’s insomnia. It’s much safer.
Julie
Very interesting article. I’ve had episodes where I’ve stayed up for longer than 24 hours because I don’t want to sleep and I feel incredibly creative and kind of ‘out of it’. Could this be mania?
Blondie and Anne, everyone’s disorder and degree of symptoms are different. It sounds to me like Jon may have an extreme case. I feel bad for the struggles that he may have had in his life and am interested to see the film that is being produced about it, hopefully a success story. I never sought help for mania or thought that I was ever manic, as with most people who suffer from bipolar disorder, but I did seek help for my depression (as with many). I was only diagnosted with bipolar disordered after a major manic espide which endanged my kids lives, put me in the hopital for over a week and off work for a month. I had never had any manic symptoms even close to that which would have promted any of my love ones to suggest that I seek help. I had sought help for depression from several professionals, which caused a couple psychiatrist, one psychologist, as well as several of my primary care physician’s to misdiagnose me at different periods of my life spanning over 17 years. But this is where I disagree with jon, in my opinion, if you feel that you may have behavior issues there is a good chance that you do. It may be bipolar disorder or it may not. I don’t feel that since most who suffer from bipolar disorder don’t notice when they are manic, until diagnosted (& then often times still can’t tell) doesn’t mean that all of them don’t. And you can probably find experts to side both ways on that. Either way, don’t you owe it to yourself to live to your full potential no matter the possible disorder and possibly keep yourself from a destructive episode if indeed bipolar. I purposely did not put a question mark there because the answer is always yes! Don’t expect it to be easy though. But, if you keep yourself from having a severe episode because you seek help, it is definitely worth it b/c it is not over when the episode is over and b/c of what can happen during the episode. One common aspect of a severe manic episode that you may not be thinking of, from that statement, is possible permanent brain damage to some degree. So, be cautious if you are ever in need of anti-depressants without being diagnosted with bipolar disorder. You have already stated that you are concerned about your possible manic behavior. Doctors are not always right. My case is a great example, there is a very good chance that I never would have had the episode that I did if it wasn’t for the scripts that my psychiatrist prescribed. So, my advise to you is to seek the opinion from specialists stating that you’d like to be screened for bipolar disorder as soon as possible especially if you have been prescribed anti-depressants at some point in your life.
if you have behavior issues you shouldnt be on a bp site because everyones going to asssume and lead you towards believing that. What i commented on did not lead to a bipolar idea. behavior issues and bipolar are the polar opposites and why the drug companies are calling everything mental illness. I am making sure there is a seperation so people can get help and people who deserve more get extra .
I haven’t had any manic or mixed episodes in a while due to my antipsychotic and mood stabilizer. although I have been on meds for months now I don’t feel slightly tired at all which is rare because my medicine usually knocks me out. I wonder if this could be the start of mania in me
Stephen,
Can I ask the name of your mood stabilizer please.
My reason for asking is Im at present on Depakote but one of the side effects is hair loss, and Im having a lot of that these past months, so I need to change, I see my pshychiatrist tomorrow and God willing I would like to have some meds I can mention to her, instead of depending on what she is going to recommend me try next.
Thank you.
Lordbless.
My husband is bipolar and we just got through the worst of his manic episodes since we’ve been together. His mania was medication induced from all the anti depressants he was on. Two weeks before I chcked him into a psychiatric facility, he didn’t sleep for two weeks straight. I’m talking not a single hour…he would lay down and sleep for minutes. I could hear him up all night and he wanted to be out in the nightlife until the bars closed. I knew something wasn’t right. He got to the point where he became violent and I was his worst enemy and I called my brother in law and we took him to the hospital. He was so wound up. His face looked worn out like he had been through hell and back but he claimed all this energy. The ER physician gave him a dose of Ativan and it was like he took a placebo. ..it did absolutely nothing. They gave him an higher dose and still nothing. I was scared. He was a “monster” someone I had never seen in my life. Finally he was given Zyprexa and after about an hour he was sedated. He slept for 24 hours and pretty much his entire 72 hr stay in the PHF. The psychiatrist s there re evaluated all his medicagion to get him on what is right. He’s now on 100mg of lamactil and 1800 mg of Lithium and 1mg of xanax as needed. No more anti depressants. He took a 180 for the better. He’s my loving husband again. He’s back to bathing and eating better and getting sleep. There are days where he’s restless but taking a xanax helps calm him down. If his anxiety is through the roof like before a big day or before a doctors appointment especially he takes a sleeping pill. We talked about what we will do different to prevent another manic episode or at least be ready. Julie, your book “loving someone with bipolar disorder” has become my best friend. I don’t know where I would be without it. We also changed physicians and we LOVE our new one. She takes the time to REALLY listen to what’s going on. It’s been a hard summer but with the right tools were moving forward 🙂
Lithium forever!
Hi. I struggle with depression and what i thought was insomnia.. but reading this article makes me second guess the doctors. diagnosis of insomia. i lay down then think up something to do… its annoying.. i wish i cud sleep when my husband does but a thousand things go on in my mind when i try to go to sleep… i have put laundry out to dry on the line……..at 3 am before.. read a book then do something else…. this will happen for days at the time…. then..wen i finally do fall asleep…i can sleep 16 hours and still be tiered….. then …next day can’t sleep..:( wat is my problem?
this is not manic behavior. Please read up on what people do in mania. Insomnia seems right, especially since you go and make up that sleep right away. The fact that people think this is bipolar just amazes me
Nice article. I am bipolar and am writing this at the end of an episode, I have been awake for 2 days and am finally winding down (hopefully) with some obsessive google searching lol. I generally notice now when I am getting manic although I never used to. It’s manageable for me as long as I stay away from drugs and alcohol as if they are combined with a manic episode then it’s like I completely lose control. When I’m manic now I do my best to try not to talk to anyone as my rapid fire thoughts and disjointed sentences that try to keep up with my brain concern them, although its not easy as sometimes talking at people just feels so good.
I took medication for a long time but have finally come to terms with this is who I am and am med free. I don’t try and fight it, when I am up I get things done at a faster rate to make up for when I am down and not getting anything done. A lot of problems came from everyone telling me I wasn’t normal and trying to fight it. I could never fight it as its who I am so now I just say screw it and build my life around it.
Sometimes if I get very depressed and completely shut down I will take the Meds as a last resort as a reset but I have found lots of herbal alternatives that work better for me than medical pills. I found a herb called kratom that has been a godsend and given me control back. It helps calm my mind tremendously so I can retain more clarity and level head.
For me I know certain situations can trigger me so I avoid certain places and situations. Exercise helps a lot. Also writing down all my thoughts in a notepad helps as well
this honestly must be a joke. you think you are in control. you think you can control it without meds but herbs . your aware of all your mania. Let me guess you have a normal job and family too right.? without meds.
your bipolar huh? must be nice to be so aware and serene in the midst of a chemical imbalance without any treatment of any kind
I was kidding myself when i wrote that post, I had discovered a narcotic herb that I was using heavily each day and kidding myself it had cured me. Infact I was just sedated all day long. I ended up getting ulcers as side effect of ingesting the herb.
I am not going back on medication if I can help it. Right now im on zero alcohol, caffeine and added sugar products and exercising daily and im keeping control of my life and havent had any major depressive bouts or acted out too badly (i havent had to make any embarrasing apologies anyway).
Youre right, I dont have a job and I dont have a family but I didnt have that on medication either. I am not encouraging people not to take their medication. I got fed up of being rotated around endless pills that made me more acceptable to other people. It might be I have to go back on them but ill try not to. I asked my doctor to taper me off them and he ignored my request and gave me a prescription for new pills so I went cold turkey (I still have that prescription unfilled) and that was a pretty awful experience and not one id want other people to go through.
As to knowing when im manic, you seem so skeptical of this. When i first start feeling compulsive, obsessed or overly excited by something I dont instantly thinking “im acting manic” but ive had enough intropection of my own behaviour to know when im not right although i will resent anyone who points it out lol. If I have taken alcohol or cocaine though this is not the case and my behaviour is extremely worrying to people (this is why I am now trying to avoid stimulants of all kinds including sugar and caffeine)
Bi-polar is a widely used term for a mood disorder that is not easily cured or treated with medication. To scoff at someone because what you perceive bi-polar to be is not in exact line with you own “chemical imbalance” is small minded. I never said i was “serene” while experienceing an episode. I am the opposite but I am trying to find a way to deal with it without medication. That is my choice.
My “condition” may be light and dark compared to yours but that is just the nature of how medicine looks at anyone who doesnt conform to normal standards.
I led a roller coaster of a life before it finally derailed and a doctor decided to put a label on my head and a pill in my mouth. Would I change it and start taking pills earlier? No way? That life was 100x more fun that the zombie couch dweller that existed post medication.
So anyway, do what works for you. Eat as many pills as you can find in search of the perfect socially acceptable balance but dont make insinuations you know the first thing about me.
Peace.
As a foot note I owned a successful company for many years prior to a doctor diagnosing me.
Portraying all people who have been classified as “bi-polar” as non functioning slaves to medication is far from the fact. Most people only get diagnosed when certain trigger factors hit them and things spiral out of control. (This refers to my generation, I am sure younger people are picked up much quicker these days but that wasnt the culture of labeling people at least during the time period and location I grew up)
How good does it feel when it’s coming on, you think you will just let it creep on and you can stop it when you feel like but before you know it its in full swing.
It’s truly amazing really how your own body can do this
listen up all you bi-polar-ans, what we have is a gift. It comes with a catch but most of us agree its worth it, although its hell on relationships and family and mostly to ourselves, but we are the only ones who are not living in constant state of fear. I have noticed that my ego is relative to the amplitude of my mania. I often feel I could do better than my girlfriends at the time and end up breaking up during some of my more major episodes, I have hurt a lot of people in my past but now I just warn people In advance, and I try to explain why I am like this. I have accomplished so much due to my manic episodes, I have the confidence and drive to do things I never would have imagined, yes some times I get into trouble too, but at least we are never bored.
I became a flight engineer on heavy fire fighting aircraft when I was 28, one of 13 positions in the whole country, I was manic almost all for four years. during that job. It is what made me good at a very challenging job. I was known for being pretty much balls to the wall nuts but everybody accepted that because I was surgical when It came to FAA regulations and procedures.
Every one of us is far far more intelligent than people who claim to be sane. I find it fascinating that people get scared when I try to explain some deep thoughts that are the most non threatening ideas ever, mostly I have noticed we tend to not be driven by monetary gain, more we look for praise, respect or just to do something that will make us part of history or remembered in some aspect.
Dose anyone else feel like we are all having the same thoughts and ideas, like we are more open to the unknown aspects of the universe? I certainly do, I see things happen before they do, and I have about a hundred coincidences a day when i’m manic,strange encounters with people who totally wanna hear what I have to say. I hope I’m not alone on this.
Keep it up fellow bipos, If your in a confused state then your doing good, its the people who aren’t I worry about, because I know they don’t have it all figured out
I just signed up to reply to this. Im an 18 M from Australia.I haven’t really looked into my strange behavior, I would write it up to “oh Im still growing my brain will easy out like a new pair of shoes” but what you described is me down to the last drop. All i want to to is be a comedian and make people laugh before I go out at the perfect age of 27 like Ryan Dunn or some dumb fantasy like that. I hope you guy don’t think im crazy but im pretty sure i was a manic kid i dont remember much but i was always doing crazy shit like no handed cartwheels and always just on edge batshit cray cray. THANK YOU FOR YOUR POST 🙂
Tyler you are so correct. Extremely Intelligent – compassionate heart. Our 26 yr old son too is bipolar and suffers with anxiety, diagnosed after a psychotic break. It’s been 3 years now and we are slowly coming to an understanding of how his mind works after the break, his thought process, mood swings etc…my son, yes could not care in the least about the almighty $$$ and if he could only find his niche, I think he could feel accomplished with something in his life. Different as a child but never diagnosed with a BH issue. Everyone would tell us, he’s immature, he’ll outgrow it. He is creative when he can focus. Meds help but took himself off the depacote and lithium. Hated the Side effects. Only takes Zoloft and ability. Right now we can’t see any difference with less Meds. He manages his life better when he sticks to a routine, good sleep, good food and avoids stress plus no drugs and alcohol to control the racing thoughts. He thankfully sees his counselor and pdoc faithfully. He can maintain with self control (and believe me this is difficult – in addition to acceptance which took a long time too) it is a daily struggle – and my heart breaks for him. Can’t feel sorry for him as that doesn’t help the situation in the long run. He does not unfortunately work. My husband was lucky to have retired and they keep busy together working in the garage. My husband I am convinced, undiagnosed bipolar and they are very similar. Both can fix anything with a motor. So for this I am thankful they have each other. My husband is his protector and the garage his safe place because during his “break ” was convinced someone was conspiring to kill him. I don’t think he’ll ever be over the paranoia and he is forever changed. It gets better but never really goes away. We love him and will support him always even when he’s manic and cycling through mood swings. We read everything we can and am so grateful to have found Julie Fast.
listen up all you bi-polar-ans, what we have is a gift. It comes with a catch but most of us agree its worth it, although its hell on relationships and family and mostly to ourselves, but we are the only ones who are not living in constant state of fear. I have noticed that my ego is relative to the amplitude of my mania. I often feel I could do better than my girlfriends at the time and end up breaking up during some of my more major episodes, I have hurt a lot of people in my past but now I just warn people In advance, and I try to explain why I am like this. I have accomplished so much due to my manic episodes, I have the confidence and drive to do things I never would have imagined, yes some times I get into trouble too, but at least we are never bored.
I became a flight engineer on heavy fire fighting aircraft when I was 28, one of 13 positions in the whole country, I was manic almost all for four years. during that job. It is what made me good at a very challenging job. I was known for being pretty much balls to the wall nuts but everybody accepted that because I was surgical when It came to FAA regulations and procedures.
Every one of us is far far more intelligent than people who claim to be sane. I find it fascinating that people get scared when I try to explain some deep thoughts that are the most non threatening ideas ever, mostly I have noticed we tend to not be driven by monetary gain, more we look for praise, respect or just to do something that will make us part of history or remembered in some aspect.
Dose anyone else feel like we are all having the same thoughts and ideas, like we are more open to the unknown aspects of the universe? I certainly do, I see things happen before they do, and I have about a hundred coincidences a day when i’m manic,strange encounters with people who totally wanna hear what I have to say. I hope I’m not alone on this.
Keep it up fellow bipos, If your in a confused state then your doing good, its the people who aren’t I worry about, because I know they don’t have it all figured out.
Follow these tips they help me out quite a bit.
I feels sooooo good to spread your thoughts till people run away from you, so if I want to feel that enjoyment I post on forums, it also keeps me on track.
I know instantly i’m too manic when my mouth is bone dry all of a sudden from talking 100 miles an hour.
Don’t take leaps of faith that have serious repercussions, well one if you never have but after that you’ll probably know why.
Tell family that the time to worry is when your locked in your room, not when your blasting around doing everything and anything.
Avoid people who don’t believe in you, they are envious that they cant do what what we can.
Keep learning things off the web and in books while everyone is asleep the more you know the more you will be valued.
There are more of us than you think, and we are about to get what we want for once. All the wealthy psychopaths are going to hide in their bunkers till they die simply because they are gonna be too scared to look.
Well that felt good, this is 3 days no sleep, I will tell you what I think is gonna happen if anyone cares to know.
can you tell me how you managed to ever focus being what you call manic? it seems like it didnt effect you at all. ALot is almost never accomplished in real mania . Can you please explain seriously . Im wondering
Dude, no offense but that is your bipolar talking. When you say you think bipolar people are smarter and have a gift, that is one of the early symptoms that a person with bipolar shows; that they feel a special empowerment.
You may feel that people are envious of you but that is the bipolar in you feeling this.
Sadly, this is not reality.
But, if it makes you feel better and live a happier life, then by all means, CONTINUE
TO BELIEVE IT! I would much rather have a happy bipolar person than a miserable one…
Peace to all.
I love what you said!! I am there right now!! It’s so weird that people I don’t even know can repete my own feelings. Right now making a rug, slippers and drapes with thought of re-upolestering my couch!!
Weird, You just described me way too well.
Will someone please tell Jon to shut the fuck up and stop invalidating everybody who comments in this feed? Your experience is not universal. What is it with some people, believing that they’re the only ones in the world with a problem and that everyone else must be somehow faking it?
Stop garnering for attention and acting like a self-centred prick; not everyone who is, ‘crazy’ is in denial or unaware of it. Not everyone has the privilege of being able to get medication, either. You’ve made absolutely ridiculous assumptions about each and every one of these posters from a few lines on the internet.
i second the motion i can’t believe the bull ‘JON’ feels the need to share concerning other peoples posts. maybe he’s manic? it’s certainly annoying and hope he stops laying his opinion out to every post written. glad you said something!
I have been having spells where I’m snapping mad during the day once a week to every two weeks and then i stay up all night cleaning house like for 48 hrs Im up and have no problem
Started googling why I’m doing this, this is kinda making my mind up thanks
Hi everyone, it is late but my sleepy meds are slowly kicking in. I will be 60 in 2 days and then be best part of all these years is that I have finally gotten help after a lifetime of crazy and difficult relationships. I am so relieved and content to be in my daily routine of meds state. I have been seeing my Dr for 7 yrs now and I finally am content and feel at peace. I am up right now at this time of the night because I suffer from lupus and have been having a flair up for the 2 months. I have boughts of steroids and injections to bring this lupus under control. My sleep habits are off and I am up past my bedtime by a few hours. The good thing about having been on my meds for a few years is that now I can identify the mania and insomnia. My lil service poodle comes to remind me around 10pm that it is bedtime and I should take my sleeping meds. I have never in my life been on a sleep pattern and I feel like a new person when I can adhere to it without some steroids fighting sleep and rest. I take a medley of things including antidepressants clonipin bipolar epitol temazapam and nortriptyline for sleep also meds to manage my Lupus flair ups and thyroid. I can honestly say that is not a time during my childhood and young adult that county sheep never help. In my 20s and 30s 40s liquor and partying would only exacerbated the mania and then the cocaine and gambling shopping 3 divorces with a few affairs could never satisfy me. I was always empty inside searching for more. After working with my Dr and 5 yrs later did I confess to what was really going on. I now have a 33y old daughter who has these same demons and on and off meds. It has affected 4 generations of from myngmother to mother myself and my daughter. I still get the memories of euphoria of cocaine and liquor highs. But adhering to my meds and disability has given me a knew life. Right now my sleepin meds are battling the 14day steroids for lupus but the good things is that I can recognize the behavior and just wait it out till the lupus steroids dosage is done. I l have a long road ahead with psychotherapy and meds monitoring. I am proud to say I have not been in a married affair or unhealthy relationship for1to 2 yrs. I have had a few melt downs and anger issues with people but nothing close to the past years. It breaks my heart that I have to watch my daughter follow in all our family footsteps. But I just take it one day at a time. Good night All!!!!
Hi Elva,
I just read your post from last February. I hope you are feeling better with your lupus and that you are still continuing with your medications for bipolar. Like you mental illness has been part of my family as my maternal grandmother was definitely bipolar before we knew what bipolar was. My mother is bipolar, I am more depressive than bipolar but now my oldest daughter is dealing with bipolar/schizoaffective disorder. The hardest thing for me is having to watch my daughter struggle through life with such an awful illness. I am sure it is difficult for you also to see your daughter dealing with this illness. I hope you are feeling better and that you continue with your meds. I truly believe that the only way to have any kind of life with any type of mental illness is to be on the right medication.
I am bipolar and am having an episode now. This is day 2 and I am as busy as a bee. Just finished cooking breakfast at 4 in the morning. My thoughts are racing and I feel energetic. I am aware of the trigger. I refuse all meds so for those who are truly bipolar you can understand that life is hell. I am learning to cope though and have strategies to help me cope. Off to the Dr. today. Work is out for the day I really can’t deal with situations I cant control in this state. My job does that to me. My greatest desire is to not leave my house or my room. My husband does not understand so little support there.
I have cyclothymia. Somewhat overly simplified, this is a “light” version of Bipolar. I began my journey with the diagnosis about six years ago. I find that when I have increased symptoms, I spend a lot, too much, time on the Internet looking for information about my condition. I also spend too much money. We bought a car we couldn’t afford because I was manic. We are still paying for it…
I once had a wonderful, high-level, high-stress job, and I was manic for the entire duration of my employment. I loved it; it was so much fun. I couldn’t stop smiling, literally. It did make me a better employee. However, my inability to separate my boss’ poor behavior (an affair with one of his associates) from my close friendship with his wife hammered the nails in my coffin. There can be pros and cons to the mania. Mine is hypomania, so I’m less likely to exhibit severely destructive behavior in public.
I’m writing this because I can’t sleep. I experience mixed states a lot. Sometimes if I just start writing what I’m thinking or feeling, I’ll begin to nod off. I even tried taking an anti-anxiety pill to help me get to sleep, but it did nothing for me. I think that’s where I’m going now.
I take meds, and they do help. Cymbalta and Lamictal. They do a pretty good job for me much of the time. No suicide attempts. Combine cyclothymia with all the other issues I have to deal with in my life, there are times when I believe that life is just a cruel joke. I do like how I can write when I’m hypomanic because I am a writer; however, I do not consider this condition a gift. It is hell on the family.
Im on Baclofen its really for my RLS but it also helps with my sleep, I can at least get a full 6 hours as it relaxes my muscles which would, if I dont take it, cause my restless leg syndrome to kick in and that interrupts my sleep, so at least it sorts that out for me.
I’ve been diagnosed bipolar 2, with an emphasis on major mania. I’ve had 2 hours or less of sleep for the past 7 weeks with intermittent days of no sleep at all. My day starts at 4:30 am with a 5 mile walk and ends at 7pm with another 5 mile walk. I’ve tried every drug for mania, none seem to work. At the moment I take 300mg of lamital and 40mg of cymbalta which I’m about to give up on. I’ve tried trazadone for sleep, which knocks me out and ruins me for the entire next day. I’m extremely drug sensitive, even small doses of xanax destroy me. I’ve been to many professionals since I was 16 and am fed up with the overdosing of meds, if it doesn’t work just up the dose. Enough is enough, in the past I self-medicated with smoking pot, it mellows me out and helps me sleep so I think its time to go back to that route. At least I can wake up in the morning with no hangover and able to function. There is no easy way out of this nightmare for many of us, you need to look inside yourself, find what works for you and go for it.
This article is pretty good to read. Great!!
Many thanks for sharing, could I post it on my Facebook to share to my families?
Of course! Julie
I stay up 48 hrs like im on crack but i don’t take drugs, i dont even drink caffeine, then crash for 24 hrs straight. When i finnally do sleep any little thing cant get me going again. I no longer work professionally, I’m 41 male. When I was a preteen id get these rushes of energy and think if id do something totally impossible right now id be able to do it without getting hurt, but a lot of times id get hurt. When I’m having one of these eps I’m really insensitive to pain and fell invincible. I’ve never been diagnosed with bp but I have tried but I get the feeling the therapist thought i was wanting ssi or something, really not good at telling people theyre’s something wrong. Do u think this could be bipolar and if so wat should i do?
Oh yes Dan! I think the use of crack as an example is a good one- so much mania is very, very unpleasant. I don’t see crack as a fun drug! I just did a post called MANIA 101. You can find it through the search option. Thanks for your comment! Julie
Being manic was NEVER fun for me. It was absolute TORTURE!
True, there were times when I would feel euphoric, but a majority of the time I would feel EXTREMELY paranoid.
Throughout my episode I would also suffer delusions of persecution and grandeur that would put me out of touch with reality. The worst part was that I wouldn’t realize I was having delusions, and as a result the delusions would start to take complete charge over my life.
As a result I couldn’t get anything done; I couldn’t focus; I couldn’t think about anything but my delusions.
To put it simply, it was a living HELL.
Hello Marie- you are right! Dysphoric mania is horrific. Euphoric mania is only fun when it stays mild. When it gets into the grandiose euphoric mania, it’s terrifically tiring for everyone. Julie
My doctor said im bipolar, but im not convinced. I havent gone any bipolar test yet and i dont want to spend for it. Im taking sarotia and it helps me sleep. Maybe my sickness is mild. Im in control still
For the past few weeks I’ve felt wound up like a clock. I have too much on my plate and not enough time. My problem isn’t that I can’t sleep. My problem is that I can’t sleep more than 4 hours a night. I just wake up, toss a cup of coffee down my that, then am right back on this insanely paced treadmill of life. It is really taking a toll on my health. Can this be manic depression?
This sounds like a normal 21st century life to be honest. X
I’m bipolar 11 severe, with major depression. The lithium, kolonopin, propanonal, and effexor usually keep me from feeling the symptoms severely. But, for the past 5 days, ive been more manic than ever. Ive tried 2 different sleeping meds. None worked. Went to the er because my dr wont call back. Er sleeping meds didnt work. I slept 5hours 1 night and have been up 4 days. I dont know what to do. All bipolar symptoms seem 10x worse. Anyone have any advice to sleep? My mind just wont SHUT UP
Leah:
I have found meditation to be effective sometimes. not always.
Here’s how i do it.
Sit up straight with your legs crossed
Observe your breathing
Allow your thoughts to race, give them full space to run their course.
Label your thoughts: Now and then say to yourself ‘obsessive thinking’.
Stay with the process as long as it takes. If it takes longer than half an hour, you may become impatient. Try to stay with it and tolerate the discomfort.
However, don’t overdo the what is suggested above. If you find that you are going crazy with discomfort for longer than you can tolerate, get out of bed.
When you get out of bed, don’t watch television. Try to look at a book in a receptive way, in a way that does not stimulate overthinking. Exercize or take a shower or bath if you can.
I went to the dr. last week and he did a blood test and found that I have a vitamin d deficiency. Since taking 3K d a day I feel like a new person, have lots of energy, can fall asleep at the drop of a hat, and no longer feel manic and depressed. For a while there I always felt on the verge of tears and couldn’t understand why. According to my dr. this is common in people with a vitamin d deficiency. Since there is really no downside to taking vitamin d it might be worth a shot to try it and see if it helps you too.
I have known a few friends that have done this and it really helped. I might look into it x
Hi,
I know this is old but it’s very important to take k2 if your taking vit D.Almost everyone now is deficient Olin D it’s very common.
It has been very interesting reading the comments here. Most sensible comments and questions I’ve run into in a long time. Manic-depression comes in many shades, though there are some commonalities. No one here has commented on the artists who are manic-d: strikes us 8 times as often as the non-creative population. So, it can be a gift. I only had depression and hypomania until I returned to the States, after a 7 yr, absence in 2011. Since then I’ve been all over the place. And it’s been destructive to me and relationships. In the 90s, NIH did a study of manic-d’s who were refractory to meds, finding that high dose Omega-3 was effective: 9000 mg qd. But perhaps more is needed? Hmm… I know when I’m manic, hypomanic and depressed; I do not know I’m having a mixed episode until it’s over and I sink into the pit of hell. I think sleep and mania are a pair; I do not know about sleep bringing on manias. I have a sleep disturbance of 25 yrs’ length; it is PTSD, from my crash and the horrible way I was treated as I fell apart. But when I’m manic or hypomanic–this latter I loved!–my inability to sleep has nothing to do with a dysfunctional sleep pattern: I just don’t sleep. I write well at night (used to in the mornings), whether I’m up or down or that place inbetween called normal. I use my dysfunctional sleep pattern, writing when I’m up and then going to bed because I’m tired. So, I wonder how much “righting” my sleep will screw up my creative time. (It is known that artists have a different clock, if you will.) Any notes?
So I am in treatment, 3-4 years. I mostly take conventional medication. The clinic is also big on mindfulness. I am studying about it. It just really bugs me. im not asking for more pills necessarily but I hate to let an unconsidered thought get past me. im trying to rebuild my life and I have to really consider it. People try to take advantage of me I think. I can’t just be zen and relax. I want to be taken seriously. As a child I was always very relaxed, happy go lucky. Sometimes I feel its dangerous to enjoy life and feel good. I am afraid that it can spike mania. they say it won’t but they don’t really know exactly about it. I hate cast alight suspicion but I can recall experiences that don’t involve any drug at all, just lots of hard work and extreme exercise which brought months euphoric type mania. Looking back, I know I won’t leave my children to wander as I did for so many years.
I went on seroquel seven years ago. It was a life saver. I am a better person now thanks I was then. I feel like since the medicine is necessary I take it. I feel like I died, I don’t remember prior to the medicine. It’s worth it find a Dr that will listen. The life after medication is great and you learn who you really are once you start and stay on the medicine.Good luck to all of you!
Bipolar disorder is basically a sleep disorder. All of our symptoms can be caused by sleep issues or the symptoms create sleep issues. Getting our circadian rhythm calmed down makes all of the difference! Julie
We read everything we can and am so grateful to have found Julie Fast
Thank you very much. Your comment helps me stay focused on the goal of the day- keep working! We can do it! Julie