Hypomania advice

[starbunny]

I realise that I have been bipolar all my adult life, but am only now able to distinguish between mood changes and recognise it for part of the illness.
OK so I am going through a mild manicky phase, what should I do? enjoy it? try and control it? hide it? frankly after the long winter depression and paranoia I am quite glad of the extra confidence energy and positivity.
Unfortunately however it's very obvious to others just because of me jumping around with energy and talking excessively :( and acting like a plum, wish I could stop that but I get carried away, oh yeah and the wreckless spending :(
Any tips on how to take control of the situation without increasing meds even more, I am on such a high dose that the cpn wants me to try and take control of this one myself before resorting to more pills. I would love to have some advice on what has worked for others. What do you do to balance yourself out when you find yourself going up?

[Seph1212]

My mixed states, hypomania, and manias tend to be self-limiting. So, I tend to let hypomanias ride, because as you mention they can be enjoyable (though maybe not for your friends and family if you become a pest) and I know mine will burn out. Though I watch out for the likely rebound depression.

Xila31 is also right. You won't know how bad you are until you're there. One day you may thing everything is hypo fun and then find yourself in another city thinking you have magic powers and are all like where did that come from? Or I can enter a mixed state where I become Frankenstein. The thing is I don't realize it until I'm there.

If yours haven't historically been self limiting...if they progress to full mania, then you should deal with it now.

I also agree with physical activity. Sports and fitness are great for me. Eat quality food with many small meals instead of a few large ones. I also limit my carb intake.

Also make sure your sleep hygiene is good. Go to bed and get up at the same time daily. Make sure you get at the least 6 hours of sleep avery night. If you are unable to do this, then get intervention.

[starbunny]

Thank you so much for your advice, ILADVOCATE, I can so relate with making endless lists, once I wrote a list of all my dvds in order, all the ones I had lent out, all those on my wish list etc etc, and I am consciously trying to narrow down things I do to meaningful activities. Xila31, yes I will have to set a budget for myself and next week will have to go to the bank with tail between legs and sort out the mess.
Sodapop915 yes I do have therapy and it is helping and I agree that one day at a time is a good philosophy :-).
Rogelio63 I have the support of my cpn, therapist, pdoc and advocate who are thinking of having a cpa meeting in the next couple of weeks to talk about how best to help. My family and friends have been good in that they have made me aware of the changed behaviours which I did not notice at first. For example dyeing hair from every 3 months to 3 weeks to 3 days - a tell tale sign for me, and yes I am going to suggest a review of meds.
adel_ezz, I will try more sports to see if it will help, I love swimming so I will give it a try, it is useful to know that it worked for you, and I seem to remember that sport is also meant to be good for depression as well. Wow increase sport instead of AP! let me know how you get on won't you?  and good luck to you too :-)
Your advice is appreciated so much x

[adel_ezz]

i have a solution for you, because right now - having failed with lithium - i am reverting to seroquel monotherapy, i am descending from my hypomania, i am on 300mg but a little of rapid cycling the residual from the AD.

the way i am doing it was an idea that i still recall from one pdoc 3 years ago. he said either i increase the dose of AP's to bring you down or else exhaust yourself with sports. it succeeded. i play sports heavily lifting weight running and it calms me down enormously. my parents whom i live with say i am stable. all i fear is to plunge into depression like the books say. so i am praying God that i can smoothly land without a crash. if so, then i had begun to find my way at last: seroquel monotherapy. alright, everything will clarify in a matter of days.

yes play sport, walk, run and keep running... you wouldn't believe the difference. have you seen the old film "chariots of fire" i believe it's a British film the producer is son of Alfayed who died in the famous car accident, the music is beautiful, the idea was to run for your life.

good luck

[rogelio63]

Just a thought, what is your support system like?  Anyone that can kind of step in, monitor you (spending, extravagances, etc,,,)?  
It may also be that you don't need more meds or higher doses, but maybe a different medication altogether.

Good luck.

[sodapop915]

are u in therapy if so do wat he or she say see ur on a high now but bipolar has  a down side so please take 1 day at a time

[Xila31]

I notice that I never realize how bad things are until I get out on the other side of an episode, both manic and depressive. Sometimes even when I think I'm doing excellent despite how I'm feeling, when I look back I see exactly what happened and how not good it actually was.

I would say watch out for that spending, that's one thing that can get away from you pretty easy. Maybe set yourself an allowance and if you go over that give yourself a consequence. I know it's hard. :(

I don't know what to do yet about things. I still haven't figured that out. Ever since this rapid cycling thing hit me so hard I just always feel like I'm spiraling through chaos. So, hang in there, maybe take up a new inexpensive hobby.

[ILADVOCATE]

Well hypomania is something to watch because it can worsen into full mania while you are not aware of it and potentially lose control. I have less of that problem now but it still exists and the main mood stabilizer I am on is the Catapres application and as it is a 4 day titration dose (today being the last day, it generally is 7 days but it has worked less and less for me, my psychiatrist keeps track of it and titrates it) I do have some return of moodswings on the last day and have more trouble focusing. Having an increased amount of energy can seem good but it depends where its directed as sometimes the focus can be on activities that may seem important at the time but afterwards there is a realization they did not have much meaning.For example I find myself making lists of items or reorganizing my cd's. Or there is a loss of impulse control. For some people, what medication cannot treat, cognitive behavioral therapy can help with. For myself I set up specific goals of things to accomplish that have a specific rational purpose beforehand and also get involved in the creative work I do such as the collage work. I do keep track of whether its advancing or not and if so contact my psychiatrist though this is far less of a problem now than in the past.