I'm someone who believes that, for the most part, what bring people with Bipolar Disorder together, is Bipolar Disorder. I think that, minus being in an episode, we are who we are, with all of our quirks, all that makes us human, all that makes us unique. I do think that co-morbidities (i.e. anxiety and PTSD), when shared, can lead to a lot of commonalities that we wouldn't otherwise have.

When I'm at the tail end of hypomania, into mania, I *can't stand* loud noises (or that seem loud to me), or strong light (or that seems strong to me). They just send me reeling. They make me want to run and hide, they make me very irritable. On the other hand, certain textures and colors, during hypomania, are perceived as *so* stunning, so beautiful, so otherworldly...