Quote:
Originally Posted by cashart10
I'm just trying to gauge your experience with mania. When you refer to times that you are manic, are you fully functional and not bizarre to others? When you define elation, do you mean elevated mood or head in the clouds? When you describe euphoria, do you mean a very good feeling or heaven on earth? When you describe irritability, do you mean you are irritated by the slightest thing or do you mean you find yourself SCREAMING at your spouse for going to the wrong grocery store? When you say you are paranoid, do you mean you worry that others are talking about you, or do you mean you worry that people are watching you and/or trying to kill you? Do you experience all of this to a varying degree? When you experience the lesser of these, do you still consider it mania? Just curious...gauging my own mania against yours.   |
I've been dx'd with bp 1 or schizoaffective by my previous therapist/pdoc (current team isn't sure about my dx), but I've never really been manic. I've had hypomania with psychosis, and according to the DSM, hypomania + psychosis=mania. I personally think that that is BS, but...I'll answer your questions anyway.
When I am hypomanic, I am usually functioning at a much higher level than usual. I do more with more energy and fervor, and I do it better. I've been told that I "smile all the time" and before I went to the hospital in October (for a mixed state) my brother mentioned to my parents that I had been "acting a bit manic" so I guess the high energy high mood state is observable by others, at least some of the time.
Elation is like a drug. I can literally feel my "spirit soar". I feel like I am flying off the ground. Electricity runs through my veins.
Euphoria is heaven on earth. It bathes me gently, like warm water on my skin. My senses are heightened, and all music is orgasmic.
I rarely get irritable. When I was on prozac, I had mild-moderate irritability all the time that occasionally escalated into rage, but that went away when I got off of the drug.
I've never gone on a wild shopping spree, had sex with strangers, or done anything wild and impulsive. I don't have any crazy stories from my manias.
The only real negative consequence they have is that I overcommit myself. I start 10,000 new projects in two weeks, and then it is over and I no longer have the drive or energy to complete them.
I've really been incredibly lucky.