This is a very interesting discussion, and I believe (like others have said) that there are many types of intelligence. The mania is a real factor too. Besides the ability we have because of the distorted sense of reality we may be in, comes the inspiration, the skill, and for me the total drive and absolute ambition added on to the undeniable charisma.

Where some might argue that people aren't really in their right mind when manic, every bipolar case is different. In my experience, when I have been at the absolute height of mania, saying the most outrageous things, people BELIEVED me. I mean not just humoring me either, really attentively listening, like I smoked the best damn pot in the world and I just had the greatest epiphany in the universe. I will fully admit that I was completely and absolutely delusional but I remember how controlled my delusions were, and the way the crap I was spewing was being eaten up to whoever I was talking to.

The drive, ambition and the overall fearlessness of mania can be such a powerhouse in terms of intelligence too. I know life is not a movie, BUT, what Bradley Cooper experiences in "Limitless" comes very close to what its like to have that manic bipolar ambition.

At the age of 10, I stood in front of thousands of people and won first place for the borough of Brooklyn in the National Storytelling Competition. I memorized my story by heart, and delivered it flawlessly, with no fear of public speaking whatsoever, and won. In an oversight by my school librarian, I was disqualified to go further in the competiton, because my story wasn't a "folktale." Since then, ironically, rules have never been my friend.

I went on to skip grades 8 and 11, and the downside of all this wonderful brilliance and arrogance I think I have, is I got brazen, reckless, cocky and dropped out, (with three classes left to graduate) and went out in the world to conquer it. In my mind, I was above graduation and I didn't need their piece of paper to dictate my future. I left home, cause you know screw parents, screw school, screw rules cause I knew it all. As we all know, this is where everything gets totally wild and self-destructive. Even though I had the perks of the "take on the world" attitude, which included a great job and apartment, the system of checks and balances of life eventually comes into play. Life taught me a very valuable lesson about what it REALLY means to be bipolar, and as Nammu mentioned on this thread, the life lessons is a factor when determining intelligence. Despite all the egotistical rantings I may spew or have, I did learn a deep sense of humility, (although I know it doesn't look that way).

For all those years, even at a young age, all that mania and energy has the downside of the crash. For me the crash involved, doctors, hospitals, pills, pills, and more and more pills. I say it all the time, if they hadn't caught me with a damn net, I would probably would be out in the world killing it, but the reality is the direction I was going was straight to the grave. Even though I took many risks, I am pretty sure my luck would have eventually run out.

Now, having lost everything, under a mountain of debt, I have spent the last ten years trying to find the right medication that works for me, build relationships and re-discover my talents and gifts.

One thing I do know is, that drive and fearless ambition is with me still, as well as hypomania. The one thing my new psychiatrist told me, (as wise and experienced as he is), is that hypomania is not the enemy. People with bipolar will experience hypomania, they will experince some depression. Numbing his patient out completely with medication isn't his goal, finding the right combination to bring out the absolute best qualities of the intelligent bipolar mind is.