I've had bipolar for over year, but only experienced one episode of mania so I don't know what it means to be bipiolar. And when I was manic, I thought I was Harry Potter so it's not very helpful to me to think "I know for sure I'm manic if I think I'm a wizard". =/

So, what defines mania?

I'm going through different websites and the only thing that's sticking out to me that I'm feeling is "making grand and unattainable plans"

Lately, my thoughts have been very...artistic. I have no job and no money, but I have BIG plans for when I move out because my parents are constantly nagging me to move out. Like big diy, HGTV-like artistic budget-designing for an apartment. I have several boards on pinterest dedicated to my future apartment. I have yet to incorporate roomates. And I am seriously wanting to do this in real life and save up the money to do this.

People always tell me, particularly my parents, that my dreams and plans are too big and that I am being unrealistic. I'm tired of hearing it so I am going to go through with the apartment thing. That is, of course, unless something else pops up that change my mind.

The last thing I was obsessed with was study abroad. I was going to save up my money for that, but I gave up on it because it costs $8k and my parents told me I was being unrealistic.

But when it comes to something realistic, like what career I would like to have, I have no idea what I want to do. I've narrowed it down to medical assistant and teaching. But I keep going back and forth on it.

Are these huge plans that I keep changing part of being bipolar? Is it just part of the artistic minds that come with bipolar? Or is it something else?