Reading the posts, I see people who clean when hypomanic, some assisted by an additional dx of OCD. Before lithium, I also had urges to clean or rearrange furniture, but I could do little, like a small project, not the whole house. The whole house has always been a mess. Some flavors of how extreme the problem has been: 1) starting in adolescence, I had instances of not inviting a would-be lover in because I did not want to show my place. The lovers ultimately became lovers anyway, but the prime moment was lost . 2) On a much more serious note, I could not keep house when I still lived with my kids and therefore they could not have play dates and sleepovers, they would always be going over to someone else's place, and I knew that one of my daughters did not like it but that knowledge did not move me. Oh, and I disabled my then husband's ability to clean, pretty much disallowed him. Added to that was manic shopping for unneeded stuff that made the house overflow, guaranteeing 100% that I would not be able to tidy up. 3) I am now sick at home with a thyroid dysfunction, which is a result of lithium intake. My local chain grocery store delivers (thanks to my case manager for telling me about it!), but I would also like foods from an ethnic grocery, and I have co-workers who live nearby and would be ready to oblige, but I cannot show them my apartment, I will lose their professional respect if they see how I live.

Yesterday I cleared my table, which serves as a computer desk as well. I feel so accomplished. But what about the rest of the boxes, piles, papers?

plus for some reason I am just not moved. The stove is dirty - it is dirty, it does not motivate me. Bring any of you hypomaniac cleaners into my apartment and there would be enough work for a whole brigade.

My mother was EXACTLY like that: could not clean, could not declutter, and overbought stuff. My other relatives were from so-so to extremely tidy grandfathers, but I guess they did not pass on their genes.

To make the long story short, is there anyone in the same boat?