Only when I am having a severe manic episode or severe mixed episode. One hospital record indicated that I also became psychotic during one particularly bad pure depressive episode, but I don't remember that. Actually, I have been psychotic but not remembered during several severe episodes, according to others. I call them "bipolar blackouts" or "manic blackouts". I do remember some, though. I had a lot of delusions and some hallucinations. My thinking also becomes highly disordered, and on occasion I became severely paranoid during delusional periods.

I don't become psychotic during milder episodes or euthymia. I may still act pretty wild, but that's not unusual for me.

I'd like to say that when I am in a severe manic or severe mixed episode, they are noticed loud and clear. They almost always result in either hospitalizations or emergency appointments with my psychiatrist. Cops have been called, too. My situations have gone way beyond dancing through tulips and buying 20 snake bite kits, but of course even those with bipolar type 1 exhibit differently.