I would say that yes, at one time, my mania helped me be very creative and helped me in my writing, drawing, and music.

But, I feel that the deterioration of my cognitive functioning has progressed rather rapidly and now when I am manic I can't write because I can't hold on to my ideas. I can't sing because the sound of music becomes a muddled mess of noise in my head that makes me want to scream and tear my hair out. I can't draw because my mind is looping so fast all I can do is scribble...

I used have an extremely sharp and clear memory, almost photographic. Now, I forget things almost instantly. I can't concentrate or focus. I get so agitated and irritated it feels like I want to rip my skin off. It feels like my bone are trying to tear out through my skin. I can't read. I used to be able to read a novel in 2-3 days. Now it takes me 8 months. I litterally feel like my brain is being eaten alive inside my skull...

So, I think at certain stages bipolar does put you on a level that is above things, but there is also a reason it is considered a disability. Eventually, something inside breaks. Unfortunately for me it seems to have broken rather early...

Also, even during those times when I was so creative and wonderful, I was also having major psychosis of persecution and delusions and halucinations. I couldn't hold a job. I had all these great "reasons" to always quit my job, and looking back I see they were rather short sighted and delusional. I dropped out of college. My grandios thinking had me believing that not only was I going to be famous, but it was my "destiny" and would just magically happen...

So enjoy your gifts as you can use them. I look back at the person I used to be and I didn't even notice it was all slipping away through my fingers. Now I'm just a total mess.