Hi,

I used to think hypomania was just doing things like overspending, driving far too fast, and dangerous things like that. That's why I didn't believe my bipolar diagnosis for a long time. I almost never do really risky things

Since then, observing my strange sleep patterns, typically bipolar, and which medicines help me--the bipolar ones--I believe it. Still, I'd be interested to know what other people's hypomania is like.

I get irritable spells when I feel under so much pressure I could scream, and did a few times. That's what decided the doctor to give the diagnosis.

I also just suddenly get this really warm, happy feeling for no reason at all--it's wonderful, and I think the whole bipolar thing and the depression and all was a big mistake because I'm a totally happy person.

At times like that, I used to go out and make a lot of friends, and could be very lively and chatty--and a few weeks or months later, regret it, because I like a lot of solitude, always have. I would volunteer for a lot of things, and then have to find a way out of them because it was too much. (I've learned to control myself and not do these things to people.)

Sometimes I think I have life all figured out, how to handle emotions, like just don't let them bother you--they're nonsense--and I think I'll be happy forever, but a week or so later it falls through and I can't do it any more and it's back to the misery.

Does any of this sound like you?