How about Bipolar - Mania?

[SanguineChild]

I've been in a great place of late but I can see the signs of a low level mania creeping in. Unfortunately, since I have spotted it coming, it's given up the sneak attack and pounced full hilt tonight. I am typical hypersensitive to my sleep schedule (bed by 9-10, up at 6-7). I count 11:30 as a late night. It is now 3:30 in the morning and I'm still rearranging my room. I've been so keyed up all night, though no one else would notice the obvious marks. I have about 6 unfinished projects scattered around (most of them involving cleaning), almost every light is on, I can barely sit still. What sucks is that I can't even enjoy how productive I've been tonight, because all I can think of are the impending consequences of tomorrow. Will I still be manic or will I crash? How will I function on no sleep?

Any suggestions for a healthy healing manic 'hang over' cure?

[Delirium]

I used to do this a lot when I lived alone; I just thought it was normal.

I hope you're able to finally get some rest/peace.

[Geek]

I've done almost the same thing. I start several projects and don't finish one, but other times I can finish projects like a boss. In mania is when I am most destructive. Maybe we should have a topic for bipolar mania? I bet a lot of people would share their stories.

[heathen1981]

I know when a manic period is on the way when I start incessantly thinking, "I need to clean that" or "I need to organize this." I spend my 24+ hours awake mindlessly cleaning things, organizing shit that doesn't need it, coming up with business ideas or projects I'll never start (or I will start during my manic period, and then abandon them when I hit bottom again, thinking, "Why the hell did I start this? This is shit!). I've spent thousands of dollars on materials for projects that get left by the wayside part of the way through.

I've started to try to train myself to recognize when I'm entering a manic period and focus my energy on something more productive. I've gotten quite a bit of writing accomplished doing this, but it never lasts long enough to finish anything.

What do you all find yourself doing to occupy your time while manic?

[meh]

I'm the same - usually in bed by 10 up at 5 or 6. I know I'm in a manic phase when I'm up at 2am... pacing around the kitchen, doing dishes, sweeping, building web sites, watching porn, etc etc.

Camomile tea usually calms me down.

[rlmo]

I was surprised to not find a topic for bipolar mania. I was just diagnosed bipolar after a manic episode that lasted several weeks. Looking back over my life I think I've had lots of manic episodes. They usually last a few weeks and are followed by severe depression. This last one was definitely the worst I've ever experienced, and in the mania I managed to destroy just about everything in my life. I was reading a little on warning signs today ( http://blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/2 ... d-episode/ ) and was surprised to learn also about mixed mood episodes. I think that's the place I've been for the last few weeks... I've had a lot of chamomile tea and it doesn't seem to calm things quite enough

[anymomentinthewoods]

I also get very organized/clean a lot at late hours when I'm manic. Once, I was so manic that I did all of my homework for up to three weeks in a span of three nights. Just sat there and did it all. This was in college/university so I had my whole room to myself to just sit there and go at it. I'm not sure about coming down/managing it though, I would love to know. I was also surprised that there wasn't a mania topic.

[IncorrigibleMinx]

It's good to see other people discussing their mania. I think I have a love affair with mine. I just recently was diagnosed after a particularly bad crash from the most intense high of my life. Part of me is afraid I will never feel that up again if I keep taking my medication. I love my days when all I want to do is paint and drink and smoke and behave like an uninhibited hellion with a promiscuity problem. It's what makes me fun ...right? I'm afraid to paint right now. Or do anything else that I can get lost in. Yesterday I drank a bottle of peach vodka and did not leave my room. I can relate to the idea of a mixed state, I think that's where I have been since they released me from the psych facility. Honestly, I'm not sure that they should have discharged me...I know I'm dangerous to myself right now.

[rlmo]

I can relate to the idea of having a love affair with mania. Although I don't want to be back in the place where I was, I would love for some mania to come back into my life for a while. I felt as though I had purpose when I was manic. My mind was rapid firing with so many ideas and everything felt like an inspiration. Since my major manic episode, I've been severely depressed, and unable to find motivation for anything. I feel like I will never be able to start my life again. I wish I could be just manic enough to be productive and feel like I have purpose.

[anymomentinthewoods]

I kind of wish that my mania would come back too. I'm tired of this mopey, tired, depressive feeling. I'd love to feel that get up and go rush. I miss that feeling of importance like I was actually accomplishing something.