While having a mood disorder can color all aspects of life, in my opinion it is a matter of context. Having low lows and high highs that actually match the external situation is NOT mental illness, it is feeling emotions strongly. It's when ones internal mood state is in stark contrast to what is going on around them that it becomes illness.


I wake up and feel like shiit for absolutely no reason. Something great just happened to me and yet I still feel miserable = depression


My cat has to get put to sleep, I get a flat tire, and just received a bad work review. I wake up and feel like shiit and I feel miserable = life and normal emotions.


I wake up and feel the BEST EVER, feeling charmed and confident and excited and want to call all my friends. A bunch of crappy things just happened and yet they don't seem to bother me, bc I am sure everything will work out splendidly in the end. I feel amazing and can't stop grinning = hypomania.


I wake up after having an awesome date with a new guy I really like, I just recently got a promotion at work, and I am about to adopt a new kitten. I feel amazing and can't stop grinning = life and normal human emotions.


These may be a bit oversimplifying but you get the idea. While it it alwaYs important to watch for returning symptoms, in my opinion one of the worst things about having a MI is when we start to second guess run of the mill sadness and happiness as disease.

Take it easy.