[nicole84]

Newly diagnosed here (I have another thread I started last wk) and still feel like it's all so new, even though i've had symptoms going back years.

Anyhow a few things that i'm not sure are related to it or not but today I bounced out of bed, been fairly on the go all day and it's late at night and not really tired at all. My body is but my brain is just go go go with the racing thoughts. Also i've noticed my sense of smell is heightened, colours are a little brighter (not as much as the last time but still noticeable) the world is seeming a bit 'scarier' I don't even know how to explain it but it's like it just changes.

Am I rapid cycling this fast? I've felt pretty normal the past week minus a couple of down days. Or is it just a symptom I can have when 'normal' I know everyone is different and it could be anything, just curious if others have anything similar.

My mind really is going fassssssst. I can't type as fast as i'm thinking and i'm a good typer. I'm managing to sit still but I want to go do things yet my body is tired. I can kind of focus on the forums at least, also video games earlier strangely enough. Tv I couldn't, exercise I could and probably could have done more if my body wasn't hurting.

Bring on starting a mood stabiliser this week, something has to help soon. And will that even be enough? Will I need something to control these weird symptoms. Here my mind goes off on another tangent. Apologies!

[BuggsBunny]

Yep, this is a part of your bipolar. It sounds like a manic or hypomanic episode. I just remember the heightened sense of color, as well as the rapid thoughts, and the go go go as part of my own manic episodes. I also used to do high kicks in the living room, which were a sure sign that I was going up, up, up.

Did your doc give you anything to take in case of mania? If not, you might want to call him and let him know this is happening. Meanwhile, hang in there and don't buy any laptops off of tv home shopping clubs.

[Miss Laura]

Ye I agree Hypomanic or Manic episode....

I get like that too..... go go go!! I type normal normally but when hypo-manic I tend to type faster and when manic even faster(er)..... My brain runs like a conveyor belt in a printing office..... but my hands can't go that fast so I get frustrate cause I want to keep up.

I remember just as I started meds..... bouncing from one side of my livingroom to the nexit and bouncing on the sofa's with the music blaring up full blast!! Thank god no-one lived under me.... I lived on the top floor and had no neighbours next door or down stairs lol!

[Aprilape4]

It does sound like a hypomania state that can lead into a manic episode. It's good that your noticing the behavior. That's the first step. When ever you do notice these episodes, get your self to slow down, and use your coping skills. Coping skills that aren't going to cause any adrenalin rush.

[nicole84]

Originally Posted by BuggsBunny

Yep, this is a part of your bipolar. It sounds like a manic or hypomanic episode. I just remember the heightened sense of color, as well as the rapid thoughts, and the go go go as part of my own manic episodes. I also used to do high kicks in the living room, which were a sure sign that I was going up, up, up.

Did your doc give you anything to take in case of mania? If not, you might want to call him and let him know this is happening. Meanwhile, hang in there and don't buy any laptops off of tv home shopping clubs.

I do have benzos for when I need them, they seem to take off the edge a bit. I ended up randomly falling asleep for an hour then awake every hour and got about 3 hours sleep. Strangest dreams/racing thoughts all through my sleep. Feel terrible today, agitated and restless, just really not 'with the world' best way I can describe it.

It's still all so confusing not knowing what's going on and why it's happening. I didn't buy any laptops! Made sure I stayed off of ebay too lol.

Originally Posted by Miss Laura

Ye I agree Hypomanic or Manic episode....

I get like that too..... go go go!! I type normal normally but when hypo-manic I tend to type faster and when manic even faster(er)..... My brain runs like a conveyor belt in a printing office..... but my hands can't go that fast so I get frustrate cause I want to keep up.

I remember just as I started meds..... bouncing from one side of my livingroom to the nexit and bouncing on the sofa's with the music blaring up full blast!! Thank god no-one lived under me.... I lived on the top floor and had no neighbours next door or down stairs lol!

Oh I hope I don't get worse when I start meds this week. I'm really sensitive to medication, and if there's a side effect, I tend to get it. Never had mood stabilizers though, this was the anti d's i've tried. About 10 of them.

Originally Posted by Aprilape4

It does sound like a hypomania state that can lead into a manic episode. It's good that your noticing the behavior. That's the first step. When ever you do notice these episodes, get your self to slow down, and use your coping skills. Coping skills that aren't going to cause any adrenalin rush.

That's what i've noticed. I tried to read a book but that didn't work. Ended up laying in bed in a fairly dark room and trying to relax with the million and one thoughts. As mentioned about had the most horrible restless sleep And feel awful today.

At least I stopped myself from the 2am walk outside, wasn't sure where I was going to go but wanted to. A part of me stayed rational at least!

bipolar is just an awesome label that trained professionals use to describe a bunch of common symptoms. You show me a guy with 15 digits on his hands... that is so not ****ing normal. Imagine how confusing it must be when that guy gets married, but I bet he makes a competent filing clerk. The point is, being happy is normal. Having 15 fingers isn't, but having 15 fingers can have it's advantages. Who cares what you have. Eat the pills, drinks the water, feel better. If you don't feel better, eat better pills. It's that simple.

[Tsunamisurfer]

There is something special about 2am walks - even in the rain. It is quiet, and the buzz of daily traffic, birds, children, phones etc. is left in another world. It isn't irrational to enjoy some unusual things - it can be really refreshing... except when it plays havoc with your functioning the next day, or if you end up not sleeping for days and go tragically manic or psychotic as a result. It is more a case of being wise about it.

[BuggsBunny]

Ahhh, 2 AM walks, I did so love that part of my mania. I would walk down to the train tracks and walk around the perimeter of the parking lot (where there was a light) for hours on end. Then I would go back to my dorm room and sleep through the next day's classes. Used to give my T nightmares, knowing I was out there alone, on the edge of campus, and she couldn't stop it. (I feel sorry for her now. I'd have gone postal if one of mine was out at 2 a.m.)

[nacht]

Originally Posted by BuggsBunny

Ahhh, 2 AM walks, I did so love that part of my mania. I would walk down to the train tracks and walk around the perimeter of the parking lot (where there was a light) for hours on end. Then I would go back to my dorm room and sleep through the next day's classes. Used to give my T nightmares, knowing I was out there alone, on the edge of campus, and she couldn't stop it. (I feel sorry for her now. I'd have gone postal if one of mine was out at 2 a.m.)

I still take those walks, haha. There's a little park with a jogging trail in my subdivision and sometimes I just need to burn off all the extra energy. It seems like the only time I'm ever out there in the middle of the night is if it's on a manic whim, which is a shame because I need to exercise more.

[BlackPup]

Originally Posted by nicole84

Am I rapid cycling this fast? I've felt pretty normal the past week minus a couple of down days. Or is it just a symptom I can have when 'normal' I know everyone is different and it could be anything, just curious if others have anything similar.

Welcome to PC, good to see another Aussie
I have always found that there are cycles within cycles - while depressed I might have some normal days mixed in with the depression, occasionally it will break through into a hypo mania before delving back into the black....

I also found that when I was changing meds my cycles went all over the place, up and down at the same time. sometimes the meds make the episodes a bit mixed up.

[nicole84]

Originally Posted by BlackPup

Welcome to PC, good to see another Aussie
I have always found that there are cycles within cycles - while depressed I might have some normal days mixed in with the depression, occasionally it will break through into a hypo mania before delving back into the black....

I also found that when I was changing meds my cycles went all over the place, up and down at the same time. sometimes the meds make the episodes a bit mixed up.

Oh I didn't notice any other Aussies yet I've had a real mixed basket this past week, mostly depressed but also hypomanic days. About 4 days of hypomanic but with some scary thoughts that I don't want to think about. Mainly because i've gotten fed up with feeling so awful and not having help for so long! But I had my pdoc appoint today, hopefully things will improve.

Will be interesting to see what my new meds do!

As for the 2am walks, I do love the night time, when no one is around the world is so different, beautiful. I'd much rather walk in the evening, especially in that frame of mind I don't want to be around other people. Just more the safety thing that worries me. I could take the dog for a walk, would make it somewhat safer.