Well, there's rapid cycles...you can go from manic to depressed (or somewhere in between) in a minute! At least that's my experience.

I think that manic episodes have to last a certain amount of time (for it to be classified as mania to a pdoc).

I don't get the happy highs of mania. I just get irritable as hell!!! And sometimes it can last for days, weeks, months. I hope you get to feeling better soon!!! (((HUGS)))

Yes that does help. I get more irriable than happy highs but occasional happy ones too.
I guess if your on the right meds and you arent going through some big life change like moving across the province :P or a possiable seperation than bi polare shouldn't affect much of your life.

I think there are as many different manic cycles as there are people. My mighty major manias used to take about 6 months to run out to where I wound up whimpering in hospital. Your mileage may vary.

i have only experienced hypomania and it lasted for quite a while- several weeks, i think it's as Tommy said, different for each person, i do hope you get to feeling better soon

I think it does depend on the person. My episodes don't usually last for months like some people, mine are usually about 3 weeks to a month. I know what you mean about lashing out at people while in a manic state. It sucks. I hope you feel better very soon.

Yes, I think Tommy, Tink and Hanna are right it's different for everyone. In a mixed state you can go in and out several times during one day. I've done that before. I've also been manic for months and depressed for months at a time.

I'm in a tight spot right now. I can't seem to shut my fucken mouth.......I"m gonna lose everything one day....

Funny you should ask. I'm trying to calm myself right this minute. I feel like I could be 'set off' so easily. You're right about some episodes only lasting a short time. I'm not sure which type are more frustrating.

One thing I'm trying to do these days is 'maintain' my highs, so that they don't get higher. Like right now. If I were to play dance music and have a cocktail, I'd be so high that I would leave the house and end up partying all night and who knows what after that. Since that behavior is not an option, I'm doing things in the house that calm me and keep me centered, grounded.

The reason I mention that is because I have to wonder if my short manic episodes are short because I've learned to keep them under wraps. ?

Mania is said to last for 7 days or longer or any length if psychosis occurs. I think just a few hours wouldn't be labelled as true mania maybe hypomania?

I am in mixes episodes right now. Mania and depression back and forth in one day. I've been manic for a week now. The worst case of mania in a long time but I have depressive episodes as well. Those are mixed states. Doc is upping my med doses to get my mania under control so we'll see when I get better.

Mixed is actually depressed and manic at the exact same time.. back and forth is rapid cycing and it can be back and forth very fast, even within the same day which would be ultradian cycling.. I have been known to ultradian cycle on occasion & it is very different from a true mixed state (which I have also been in) BTW Topamax is very helpful for rapid cycling for me.. (the current DSM has no definition or diagnosis for rapid cycling..)

Technically according to the DSM hypomania has to be at least 4 days.. &

Mania has to be at least a period of seven or more days (or any period if admission to hospital is required)

Though we know that hypomanic & manic symptoms can sometimes not fit into the nice and neat cookie cutter discriptions..

I do not have them last a few hours normally, unless I was on some drug that really affected my mood - like Adderall.. it would make me very very depressed very fast and then by night I would be ok?

Very fast moodswings are also associated with Borderline Personality Disorder..

Also rage and explosiveness can also be associated with Borderline Personality Disorder..

If I am lashing out, arguing with other and having short episodes of altered mood as you are describing, I would say that I am "irritable", I have had those symptoms and they are no picnic.

Irritability can be a characteristic of hypomania among other things. Or it could be PMS. Or something else. Sometimes irritability and occur with depression.

Talk to your psychiatrist about it for sure.