As an afterthought...

Gioia, I read an earlier post of yours wherein you noted it's as if you are two people at times and you're not sure which is the real you. I've attempted to understand my own child's experience from within the perspective of Jungian psychology and I had made an earlier post as related to the ego and the shadow (aspects of the Jungian model of the psyche) that is in a similar vein. Manic behavior seems to correspond with the concept of shadow possession in the Jungian model.

You can find more information in this discussion in regard to potential psycho-social or psychological approaches to understanding bipolar disorder: Guy went from sweet to perv. Please note that considering the disorder from a psychological angle does not require that we negate the role of individual biochemistry or of treatments that address the same -- whatever helps, helps. However, it also acknowledges that we are all more than a mass of chemicals vying for control and psychological approaches may also be helpful as a form of treatment or as a means of understanding our personal drives.