We hear about mental and emotional signs/symptoms of hypomania. We learn about behavioral actions of these things. But I don't hear much about how it feels in your body PHYSICALLY. Skin, heart, muscles, that kind of thing. I say this as a psychiatric patient (Mostly GAD and an as of yet undiagnosed sleep disorder) and as a medical practitioner. And I'm interested in this both intellectually and because my husband and I both suspect I might be experiencing mild hypomanic episodes

When I had what I initially thought were hypomanic episodes, my psychiatrist and I wrote it off as an almost euphoric effect of adrenaline from the anxiety itself...largely because these episodes were too short to really make the cut for a hypomanic episode. But also perhaps because I wasn't really indulging in any risky behaviors that often go along with it.

But I've noticed since then I have had similar episodes and I have not had anxiety that's triggered it. my anxiety has been very well managed. But I might start out, say sitting down to paint in the evening. and I get hyper-involved with that and might end up painting for 4-6 hours and not go to sleep until 3 or 4 am. And I'm often feeling euphoric, getting a very physical high from the process. It has lasted into the next day or two sometimes though really never longer than that.

But the physical sensations: I feel like nerves are all really sensitized. like a brush of wind on my skin feels intensely enjoyable. I'll be more emotional.....a lot of nostalgia for old friends, a pet who died, etc. But even in feeling a more intense missing of them it is in a way feels like a good feeling, simply enjoying feeling more intensely and more deeply.

When I first started having full blown panic attacks a couple years ago I'd have them first thing in the morning, or I'd wake up in the middle of the night. Sometimes even without a panic attack, I'd just wake up VERY alert. Which was out of the norm for me (as I said, probable sleep disorder. In any other context outside of these "high" episodes I do not wake alert). To the point that even where I hated the panic attacks I liked waking up ready to start the day.

I would for for brisk long walks which helped " burn up" the extra energy. There'd be times that my body would just be humming with energy, where I felt like I could break into a smile and punch a wall at the same time. Not because I was angry or anything..but because both actions felt like a release of that intense energy.

So anyway that's my experience. I'm not terribly worried because outside of those anxiety induced episodes, these times have been rather enjoyable and not terribly detrimental to my life. But I did think I'd mention it to my psychiatrist when I see her next week