A hypomanic state I just ride out. I watch it carefully so that it doesn't turn into something reckless and I tell my pdoc about it, but usually I just ride it out and enjoy.

I haven't had a serious manic or hypo- manic episode in a while

But in the good old days of hypo-mania , I usually rode it out also.

Mania....not so easy to control, it's very easy to slide right into a psychotic episode , and not even know it .

To get a handle on hypo-mania ....I cleaned my house or chopped wood or did anything physical

I start talking Faster, I start sleeping less - and I try to reset my brain, by knocking myself out, to get a FULL nights sleep.
For me a anyway : )

Most of the time I know when I'm hypomanic because I get all the classic symptoms. I go to my gp/p.doc. to get my meds. adjusted. There have been times when I haven't realised so my friend has taken me to the gp/p.doc., under duress of course because I get totally irrational, argumentative etc. when I'm in the midst of hypomania.

Wow very interesting replies. Some of you realize when you've entered and some don't. Also for most a hypomanic episode is rather enjoyable because of the feeling of being super productive and energetic and is just ridden out. Thank you for your replies, it's helping me learn :-)

Sleep is the key. If I'm popping out of bed at 4am, raring to go, I know it's on.

If my husband says I'm "chattering", it's on.

I just don't let it go on for too long. A couple of days, maybe. Then if I can't get some sleep with meds, I call the doctor, wake him up.

When I start talking nonstop and leaving my friends in confusion after any discussion I know I am headed towards hypomania or mania. I will go for days and forget to eat, just seems like I never have time. The key for me is sleep. After I realize I have gone for several days and not slept more than a couple of hours, I will even call in sick to work, take my meds and try to lie in bed until I pass out but it often involves me calling my pdoc and getting something that will knock me out before things get out of hand. I like hypomania but I am afraid full blown mania drives everyone around me insane, and, I know all about the crash that follows a manic episode for I prefer to avoid if if I can.

Interesting. I'm just now ( today too) trying to figure it out. It's been happening all my life but hasn't been recognized as BP . I have newly dx;d ADD, which I've also had lifelong. So..it's been a challenge figuring whats what.

I would say my mania has always snuck up on me. This is all in retrospect. I used to give into impulses very easily. Shopping was a great time filler and it fulfilled my motherly/wifely obligations. When that couldn't happen, I switched to overeating. When I got too fat, I started shopping again. Before I had kids I drank to excess on a regular basis.
I had no thought of it being anything bad until bad things started happening. Then I switched to...I'm such a loser, and a BAD person and stupid and it's all my fault. Someone once said, well, maybe you made a few bad decisions. So that was put in the pot of self-hatred stew.
I'm sorting all that out now with my Therapist.


I'm actually manic today. This is the second day of an increased dose of adderall. The problem with me is that 'riding it out' is way too frustrating. My Lupus symptoms keep me from being able to 'enjoy' physical release so I end up getting Swirly Brain and I hate it.So, I take a couple of valium and so far it seems to help level the Swirlies off some.

I'm still on training wheels here. I hope you all can help me get on the big kids bike!