when i used to get manic everything seemed brighter...and i would pick out bright clothes..like way too bright. my closet looked like two people put their clothes in there!
now for the more serious side..my mind would race a mile a minute, i didn't need much sleep either but didn't feel tired (til i later crashed)...doc told me that for every manic episode i had there would be an equal low following and that seemed to be true for me. i found that i did not make wise decisions when manic-too impulsive. i would make unnecessary purchases and would later look at them and wonder why i had thought that was a good idea. i'd talk too fast and couldn't really concentrate on anything, like trying to read a book.
once i was put on a mood stablilizer things got much better and my swings were much more subtle. i still have some mania sometimes but not anywhere near what i used to have before i got on the stablizers.
now i know each of us that are bipolar have to be treated as an individual case but this is what has worked for me.
it's a good idea to talk with your pdoc like you said. it just may mean that they give you something to help those swings. by the way, the term they used on me was that i was a "rapid cycler" meaning i had a lot of mood swings throughout the day. it felt like i was a yo-yo. that depressed me cause i didn't feel like i had any control over my life.
i'm sure they can help you get better. hang in there and let us know how it goes.
have a good day!!!