[zbmom]

OK so I've been MIA for awhile, life has been crazy but I'm hoping to get some feedback. Can a really stressful situation throw you into hypomania?

I won't say what it was because it's very personal but yesterday something awful happened and I ended up getting completely drunk afterward. I passed out from the alcohol and slept for about 5 hours. Haven't been able to sleep since. I've had 5 hours of sleep in the last 38. I spent 6 hours today scrubbing my house, organizing my closets and outside patio. I didn't stop until I was done, didn't eat until afterward either. Didn't feel hungry, had a friend call and cut call short because I felt so compelled to get things done. Got irritated with my husband for trying to tell me to stop and take a break, refused until I was done.

My mind is so wired, can't stop thinking about things. I hurt all over and I can tell my body needs rest but I can't sleep and I want to keep doing things. I'm trying not to go stir crazy here, it's 11pm, and my husband is asleep. I spent way too much money today. I know I'm not myself, it feels good to have so much energy and get so much done but it's also disturbing me that I feel so good after such an awful thing so recently happened.

I'm thinking about pulling out all the scrapbooking stuff I bought earlier this year and finally doing something with it. I just need to DO something, sitting here is driving me crazy.

[SunReach]

Sometimes I react to very stressful situations with hypomania. (Not consciously of course!)
It does sound like you need to calm down...Scrapbooking stuff sounds like a pleasant distraction, maybe do that and try to keep in mind that you NEED to relax - I know you can't control how restless you feel but as long as you enjoy the extra energy it will be even harder.
So sorry about the awful thing that happened, I hope you can talk about it with someone soon...

Take good care and keep us posted

[venusss]

Hypomania is my defense mechanism. I noticed I usually go into that phase when i need it... of course I do crash afterwards, but it gives me that energy I don't have at the moment. Of course, there I side effects, besides getting my work done I spend too much and drink too much... and it may kill me one day...

but well, so far it is "useful".

[Detach]

>>>>>Can a really stressful situation throw you into hypomania?<<<<<

YES and you should call Pdoc and have meds tweaked.

[espritlibre]

I think stressful situations can definitely 'trigger' hypomania - my 'episodes' sometimes kick in after a meltdown or lack of sleep. I suppose it's your mind's way of throwing its hands up and saying, "okay, this is too much for me right now". Almost as if your mind and body try to escape/avoid the stress by going into overdrive. For me it can sometimes happen before a crash, too - my mind/body know it's coming, so they go a little crazy in an attempt to stop it from happening, if that makes any sense? Take care and look after yourself x

[Detach]

I've said this a few times already on this forum, however I'm going to say it again. Recently I had gone into hypomania for a few weeks and thought "I'm thinking soooo great, look at all I'm getting done, etc", BUT then after about 3 weeks of hypomania, it turned very ugly and very dysfunctional into the madness of mania (this had never happened before). Therefore, don't assume all will be well, that you can ride out the hypomania and then you'll be fine, because I had to learn the hard way that that isn't always the case.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by dijmart

I've said this a few times already on this forum, however I'm going to say it again. Recently I had gone into hypomania for a few weeks and thought "I'm thinking soooo great, look at all I'm getting done, etc", BUT then after about 3 weeks of hypomania, it turned very ugly and very dysfunctional into the madness of mania (this had never happened before). Therefore, don't assume all will be well, that you can ride out the hypomania and then you'll be fine, because I had to learn the hard way that that isn't always the case.

well, I will say something else.

Maybe it is not a good idea to go through life calling your pdoc each time you feel anything. Feel tad bit low and start thinking it means you will go off the deep at. Feel good and call your doctor, because it feels "too" good. Is that how one should live?

I am sorry for your experience, it must have been awful... but maybe sometimes it is better to learn to deal with things yourself and expand your comfort zone... maybe sometimes it is better to channel the episode into something useful, while trying to take good care of yourself. Episodes are bound to happen, since this is supposed to be a life long thing.... so better make use of it... because it can be done.

[zbmom]

I don't need to call my pdoc, I'm bp II, don't go full blown manic. In the past seems like my elevated states only last 4-7 days. This one hit pretty fast and intense so that's why I wondered about stress. I'm on 75mg lamictal and that's the only med I take. Most of the time I'm depressed. My last elevated episode was in mid August. I'm only recently diagnosed, so still doing the mood charting to look for patterns.

I'm just kind of shocked that I've been doing so much on so little sleep. Usually if I don't get at least 7 hours a night I can't function, but I've had 5 in 44 hours and I'm still going. I've been up for 28 hours straight now. Totally weird. Anyways, my husband will keep an eye on me and let my T know if he is worried at any point. For now guess I just keep going until I crash. Got a hell of a lot done though!

[Detach]

Venus,
I was referring to if you have all the "classic" symptoms of hypomania- not just "feeling good" and perhaps I should have mentioned I would not call Pdoc personally, myself, unless those symptoms lasted a week or longer.

As far as you saying this-

>>>>I am sorry for your experience, it must have been awful... but maybe sometimes it is better to learn to deal with things yourself and expand your comfort zone...<<<<<

Have you ever been truly manic? or just hypomanic? Because when I was manic there was no "dealing with it on my own" or whatever you're talking about. And comfort zone....I was WAY out of my comfort zone, I didn't even recognize the mad woman I became.

Plus didn't you say this-

>>>>I spend too much and drink too much... and it may kill me one day...<<<

Yeah, you're really making good use out of your episodes. Practice what you preach, then I'll listen.

[venusss]

well, I am somewhere between hypomanic and manic right now, because I am bit outta there... so forgive me if I don't sound that coherent. I have been to places where all becomes a blurr...

And we all have our vices, and we all are going to die... I am aware that the times when I hyperfocus and don't sleep that much... when i was working on my bachelor thesis I lived inside my head (and somewhere in West bank...) and then one day I walked out of the computer lab and realized "wow, it's spring". People comfirmed that I was not the most fun to have around... or the project i lead... not sleeping much, drinking, being there for others (they realized something may be off with me as they urgued me to sleep or at least sit down for a bit...)... of course then I crashed when it ended and slept a lot for a week...

but I just don't see how it would help me with my life overall to dampen all the productivity times I have. I would not get anything done (or at least not as much as I do now) and that would make me hell depressed...

I am aware of the dangers though. I really am.

[Detach]

Originally Posted by zbmom

I don't need to call my pdoc, I'm bp II, don't go full blown manic. In the past seems like my elevated states only last 4-7 days.

I was Bipolar II also for years, however it is now changed to Bipolar I, since I went into mania recently. As I said I wouldn't call Pdoc either unless it lasts more then a week to 10 days...

I didn't know BP could change from II to I, but I know now that it can and does sometimes. Most likely you'll be fine. I was just sharing my experience.

[Charlie_J]

Originally Posted by VenusHalley

but I just don't see how it would help me with my life overall to dampen all the productivity times I have. I would not get anything done (or at least not as much as I do now) and that would make me hell depressed...

I am aware of the dangers though. I really am.

To each their own. Personally, my cycles are very slow (a year or more), and every single hypomanic or manic episode has left me plunging into a desperately deep suicidal depression that seems to last twice as long (my charts don't show this; it's a perceptual thing, I think).

I can't get anything done. My hope is that one day I can be rid of those highs, no matter how productive they may feel, so that I can avoid the lows. I don't mind the hard work if I can stay in the middle.

I think the productivity thing is an illusion. To me, the real difference is:

Mania = Going to get yourself killed.
Depression = Going to kill yourself.

Somewhere in between the two there has to be space to live.

And harking back to the original question, there was a similar thread I almost commented on about job interviews bringing it on. That's happened to me. A really short-lived hypomania that lasts as long as necessary to get through the situation. It also has happened when I've had to go on stage to play a solo, or speak in public.

I feel sure some of my employers have wondered how they ended up with me. I'm naturally reserved and introverted, but it's amazing how easily I can click with someone at an interview, and how much outgoing fun I can be. It must really throw them off when I turn up for that first monday morning...

[lad007]

How special are we that we can access so many parts of ourselves to fit a situation?
Like cleaning all day, amping up for a job interview?
Venus is right, we should expand our comfort zone, we are what we are and should be proud we can experience such a range. Even tempered people can be quite boring.

[zbmom]

Well I finally passed out at 6am this morning, then I woke up 4 hours later. So I've slept about 8.5 hours in the last 48. I usually sleep about 18-20 minimum in that time frame. Guess I'll see how today goes.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by dijmart

I was Bipolar II also for years, however it is now changed to Bipolar I, since I went into mania recently. As I said I wouldn't call Pdoc either unless it lasts more then a week to 10 days...

I didn't know BP could change from II to I, but I know now that it can and does sometimes. Most likely you'll be fine. I was just sharing my experience.

I was II and then I, it is not that uncommon. As Dijmart says, better safe than sorry. You are basically on no medication at all, since 1) your Lamictal is still being titrated up and 2) it is not clear if Lamictal would be all that you will need. So it is a free fall, unmedicated. And what I think you need badly is a prescription for Klonopin (the best out of a class of drugs called "benzodiazepines") to help you sleep. You can also try sex since you have a hubby, sex generally helps sleep, although at your stage of up-ness you can probably pick up cleaning the house straight after sex, that is, sex will not relax you either. So Klonopin. How little you slept would be very disconcerting for any pdoc and he/she will fax a scrip for Klonopin to your pharmacy in no time flat. Good luck! Do not let it unravel.

[Seaswept]

Stress definitely can trigger hypo-mania, I was just there myself.

We lost our home, moms very ill, problems at work and more.

I tried to harness the hypo-ness so I could get a lot of things done and I did but did not get any sleep, so the days ran together and my meds were not taken properly.

No sleep for 5 days can place you in a delusional state like it did to me.
I didn't know if I was in a dream or real life and at one point I thought I was dying.
I was so mixed up and it just happened so damn fast.

It is wicked scary to be in that state.

I am so glad I have a caring family who helps me.

I wound up in the hospital within 1 week of all that my meds got straightened out and I'm ok ...for now.

Remember this is a serious illness which can be very unpredictable.

[zbmom]

I slept for 7 hours last night, so I think the worst is over. I'm still pretty elevated, but it's more tolerable now. I'm feeling fine with just being on the lamictal, I was at 100 and starting to level out but had to drop to 75 this week. I'll be going back up to 100 soon which is where pdoc wants me, I'm pretty sensitive to meds. I'm fairly anti medication, I'd rather not be on a ton of stuff. Pdoc suggested Buspar for anxiety but I won't take anything that has a risk of tardive dyskinesia. I see my T 2x a week and she communicates with pdoc and my husband knows how to get ahold of T. So I feel pretty safe, good support system.