In the beginning of Aug. hypomania started and lasted about 2 1/2 to 3 weeks. Sometimes I was aware that I was hypomanic and sometimes not. However when it changed to mania that was unfamiliar for me since this was my first true manic episode.

I knew something was very wrong, because I would cry from frustration, had anxiety, disorganized thinking, was EXTREMELY irritable, very forgetful, staying up late, losing weight and so on. My Pdoc increased my med slightly 2 times and I managed to work for about 2 weeks as the symptoms went from mild-moderate to severe. Then one day I woke up, showered for work and just sat there paralyzed...I knew I could not work or if I tried I may get fired, so I called my husband or he called me?? I told him I was in trouble, could not go to work and didn't trust myself (I had a suicide attempt in 2009) and that was it we made the decision that I should go to the hospital.

Even at the hospital with meds increased 2-3 times the mania continued, but I was safe. So, I've learned from this that if I know I'm hypomanic then intervention must begin then, not once I have full blown mania. I think once the mania has taken over it must be way harder to control at that point... Live and learn.