Okay.. great. I really appreciate it. I'm pretty hypomanic on BP research and reading right now. :-)
I'm sure that I was in an intense mixed state when I had my little episode that led to the hospital earlier this summer. It took me several days to recall everything.. but I remember watching the moonlight and wind blowing trees and feeling a bit euphoric.. but also the mantra 'I don't belong' running through my head.
I've now learned to identify these mixed states. When I'm hypomanic in that irriated/agitated mode... I hum a certain tune over and over again. I've been in a more pleasant and awesome state for a week or so and it occurred to me... I'm not humming that damn tune.
As to depression/mania before this summer ... well this is all new to me and if I look back on my life I'm certain that I was experiencing hypomania when I started and quit the major chapters of my life with all the corresponding financial issues, failed relationships and depression.
Anyway... will look that book up right now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluebicycle
There's an interesting book called "Why am I still depressed?" You can read a short summary/reaction here: Why am I still depressed? (Bipolar 11 and Soft Bipolar)
In this book, the author discusses in great detail the entire bipolar spectrum. He proposes a theory that some people don't experience hypomania or mania at all, but instead only experience depression and awful mixed states, where the awful mixed states are mistaken for severe depression. As a result, when a bipolar person who only experiences depression and mixed states is given an antidepressant, it flings them into hypomania or mania. It is the first time they have ever experienced a pure "up".
So tl;dr... the author discusses how he believes bipolar disorder can exist without the "ups", and uses that theory to explain why some "normal" people become hypo/manic from ADs. It's a great book. |