hi, sounds as if you are now manic.

You probably need a med tweak because whatever you find to keep yourself busy, the more you go up now the more you will go down sometime in the future. Plus generally it will wreck your career and relationships.

I assume you are already on meds?

I'm on medication and gradually increasing the dosage. My doctor told me that this was manageable. Your outlook on this is bleak. How do you know if you're just happy or you're manic?

Thanks

Although it's been quite a while since I've had a hypomanic episode, I would not want it to go away so subconsciously I would think I was just "normal" happy. Perhaps being neutral or emotionally flat is normal? I'm currently having a tough time knowing if I'm depressed or just neutral.

How long have you been bipolar or known that you are?

If you are feeling happy you have energy, you mood is stable and are able to focus.

Once you become hypomanic you start to lose control and lose focus. When you feel happy you don't need to ask for suggestions for things to keep you occupied.

If you were just happy then I'm not sure why you would have posted this, especially as this appears to be your first post here?

You said yourself "Feeling fantastic for the last two days which is odd because three days ago I wanted to have myself committed! " That suggests a major mood shift.

Also you said "When you're feeling fantastic you need a project or multiple projects to do. Then once you've committed to doing something and you're low again you feel like a jackass because you back out. "

Attempting multiple things and then being unable to follow through is again classic hypomanic/ manic behaviour. People who are simply happy are able to follow through and have realistic expectations of what they can do.

Please don't tell me my atitude on this is bleak. I'm bipolar I've been on this board for a long time, I've been a Community Leader for over a decade and I've seen a lot of people go into hypomania/ mania. I'm being realistic.

I get that for some bipolar people pointing out when they are having "fun" that it is bipolar that is driving their behaviour it can be a massive downer. However it's better to have that feedback and to consider if it is true before things get too far out of control.

..and you did ask for people's opinions.

I found out that I was bipolar a month ago. I have had to 2 virtual doctors appointments. I know nothing about bipolar I just know my mood swings are out of control. It's a shock to find that out, then be told not to worry because it is curable. Lots of people have this and it is manageable. And then I pop online and do a bit of research and find out that this is not curable and I will have this for the rest of my life. Then I think there's a chance that I can try to manage this because I have to work, I can't afford the time I'm taking off now and then I go onto a forum and I'm told that this will wreck my career and relationships. I'm sorry I offended you, I guess I was taken back by your bluntness and yes, thank you for responding to my post.

Nikki...it takes time to adjust to a dx...'any' dx. True there is 'no cure', Yes! manageable with medication, being responsible and 'taking the meds'. I don't know you, can only speak from my own experience, dx'd in 1984.

I worked a 'life time', had relationships, had a child, so your life is not over due to dx. Take a breath, give yourself some time to adjust to the mediations and how you feel...it does take time...usually 4-6 weeks for meds to really kick in.

Sadly mental health challenges still hold stigma in society....becaues bp 'can't be seen' people just don't 'get' when we are up/down and sometimes for me 'sideways'.

When I was in hospital I learned a therapy program called DBT...this has saved me, and helped me more than words I could write...https://peerguideddbtlessons.weebly.com/index1.html

Best of luck to you!!!

hi, you misread my post.

I said "the more you go up now the more you will go down sometime in the future. Plus generally it will wreck your career and relationships."

I'm talking about allowing mania/ hypomania to get out of control. There is a temptation to allow the "good mood" to continue and for it to eventually spiral out of control. Or even if it doesn't get that far to be completely unaware of the damage they are doing. That was my experience and has been the experience of many. It's a trap many of us have fallen into.

With a diagnosis and medication and due care you can minimise these affects. That includes prompting doctors when the medication doesn't hold because management of bipolar is an ongoing process and it can change over time.

You are on medication now and titrating up so hopefully you moods will come undfer control soon.