Just a bit of advice, picking up the DSM and trying to figure out stuff yourself is not a bad thing, Franz, but its not a good thing either. It's sort of the psychology behind how all the people who go on WebMD and end up freaking themselves out, you follow me?

But you seem very level-headed about this situation right now. Like most people said, in a state of full blown mania, (coupled with psychosis), you wouldn't even notice it, and honestly when I experienced it, I didn't notice it either because it felt like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I had a breakthrough that I am going to discuss with my pdoc when I see him on Wednesday. I had been totally spinning out of control and going on 36 hours with no sleep recently. The breakthrough was that for the first time EVER, in all my bipolar history, I KNEW and FELT the psychosis coming. There was a voice in my head talking to me, (my own voice, but totally out of her damn mind). I recognized this voice immediately because she began to sing the same tune that used to send me straight into full blown mania, which eventually always lands me in the psych ward.

Franz when I tell you I shut her up, I totally shut her up. I took a shower and calmed my nerves and did EVERYTHING in my power to calm down and PUSH that voice out of my head. I shut off all the damn technology, (I have a real internet addiction that has contributed to most of my problems over the years), and took my meds, (and added on a pill of Melatonin because it was a total emergency). I KNEW I had to knock myself out. I NEEDED rest, I needed to shut my manic, spinning brain off, and I took the steps to do it.

I can honestly say, I have had a MAJOR life change since that event. I know I am a bit hypomanic, but I am extremely focused, and I am FORCING myself to keep to a rigid and strict routine of good sleep hygiene, regular meal times, and limited time on the internet.

I guess the point of this whole post is, that if you CAN identify it coming, you FEEL it in your head, (or hear it like my case), do everything you can to slow things down and REST. Rest that mind of yours.

Be sure to follow up with your pdoc too, I mean it can't hurt to see what he thinks.

Good luck, and also congratulations on all your recent progress too.