I knew a lot of people with bipolar disorder who were my patients but I hadn't met someone with anything close to what I have until I was hospitalized in 2011. I am always put on a mood disorders unit but it has more people with depression than bipolar so my first 2 times I was the one with bipolar and everyone else had depression. The 2nd time I had to have been the most difficult person to deal with because I was so manic and had akathesia. It was so bad that they were giving me jobs to do to keep my fingers busy and trying to use nursing supplies to help me make potholders without having to have supervision to use the real hooks. I did groups standing up, rocking around in a desk chair and pacing in and out. I know I made everyone very happy to leave.

the person I met in the hospital had such a similar bipolar to mine. We were even in the same clinical trial at the same time. It was great to meet someone and we talked a lot (it was Christmas so there was not much to do. We tried playing games but then this 3rd guy was admitted and he made games not much fun at all so we went back to just talking a lot).

I know someone online who has some similar parts of the disorder but different approach to handling it.

It's nice to know someone who understands your particular situation isn't it?