Hi there,

First off, thanks for looking. I am a female, married, 26, and I live in Boston, Mass. I had my first hypomanic episode which was induced by too many antidepressants about a year ago. It lasted for a few months, during this time I only needed about 5 hrs of sleep a night, I was obsessed with working out (I needed that physical release), I couldn't stop going on small shopping sprees (I never got us in major debt, I couldn't hurt my hubby like that), I was constantly irritable and *****y and difficult to be with. I would have crying fits in the middle of the workday and go outside or in a bathroom stall until it passed. It all came to a head when I went to the gym one night and it was closing in 20 minutes. I didn't have my phone on me, but I needed to call my husband and tell him that I was going to drive 20 minutes away (at 8 PM) to work out at my employer's gym. He was really worried. I was so desperate to work out I was going to go outside in the freezing cold and do pushups on the cement! Anyways, I got to my workplace and realized I didn't have my security key card, so I drove all the way over there for nothing and still couldn't work out.

I was livid, and wanted to die. I didn't see the point of living anymore. I thought of crashing my truck on the way home. It was this constant irritability and inconsistency that led us to decide I needed to go to a mental hospital.

It's been a year, and in between that time and now, I have switched meds and seen a psychiatrist/psychologist, and really turned myself around. If anything, I was in a depressed state for almost half the year then I started to feel better. Recently, I'd say in the last few weeks, I am becoming obsessed with getting free stuff off of craigslist. I am addicted to checking the website, looking at all the pictures (even if i know i don't need it) and thinking about going on tons of road trips to pick stuff up. I live in a small 2 bedroom apartment, and my husband hates used furniture, pretty much anything used he hates. So it's me pining over wanting to be a hoarder and adventurous and exciting. It's an adrenaline rush, thinking that you can get stuff for free, the drive over, hoping its still there, and the amazing satisfaction you feel when you find something good.

I also feel little obsessions tugging at me like... I do a TON of window shopping. I swear my husband is a godsend, without him I would be in ridiculous amounts of debt right now. Like today, I almost bought a set of curtain rods and drapes, which would have cost close to $100 (even at a cheap store). I find myself imagining my home with new stuff and constantly changing it. I also still want to work out way more than my husband does. I feel ridiculously guilty and depressed if I don't stick with it and go.

Now, I don't think I'm full on "manic" because I have been sleeping fine, if anything, sleeping too much. I sleep for around 8-10 hrs a night and sometimes need a nap during the day. I'm not on a ton of antidepressants, just a small dose of celexa. I am on a mood stabilizer, non-stimulant ADD meds, and a beta blocker.

If this is striking a cord with anyone, or if you think im overreacting, I just really need some help figuring out what's going on with me. I'm seeing my meds doctor again Monday and I want to accurately report what's going on. Thank you so much, have a lovely night