[BusyMomma2]

I have such a hard time understanding myself these days. Hoping someone can help me understand. My question is... Are there different phases of mania?

A few weeks ago as I wrote on here before I was in a severe mania... Angry frustrated hateful belligerent and completely irrational.

Now I'm pretty stable. I am rational and competent. However I seem to have a few mania symptoms.... Thoughts are very fast and I'm amped up but tired at same time. If that makes sense. A little sad and overly emotional. Completely able to rationalize and understand the world around me. In a pretty good mood. What bothers me is the reeling thoughts and forgetfulness. Does this mean if I don't get a handle I'm going back to te ugly mania?? Can this be normal?

[bluemountains]

I don't have any answers, but I am looking forward to responses because I go through the same thing. Two days ago I felt like I was ready to blow up, and I was very anxious, so much so that my stomach hurt and I couldn't breath right. Now, the past couple of days haven't been "normal" but I am only slightly anxious, and a bit energetic.

I guess it is our normal, maybe?

Bluemountains

I think of mania and depression as kind of like being on a boat. The waves come and go but are always vary in strength. The waves die down but it doesn't just stop overnight, it happens gradually. Not the vest analogy. But I think at least for me when depressed or manic not all days are as severe as other days. When I am manic getting back to normal is a slow process, some days I will feel normal but some symptoms linger around longer, same as depression for me. When I have severe mania it can take me a few months to be completely symptom free.

[jaxter23]

I know there is mania and hypomania. the hypo is slightly less than full mania. That's usually what I get. With it comes racing thoughts, bouncing off the walls with energy, etc.... But you don't get the uncontrollable, irrational part. At least that's what I've noticed. I've also been told that hypomania can lead into mania, but not always!

[SunAngel]

You may be in a mixed state, suffering from mania and depression.

[BipolaRNurse]

Ugh......that sounds SO familiar, BusyMomma2. You are not alone!

[dub_phantom]

I went through this the past couple days. Not sure if this helps any, I've never been diagnosed or anything, but I'm fairly sure I had a manic episode and for a couple days at the end of it my thoughts were still flying all over and I was feeling energetic and anxious but starting to realize my body was tired and worn out at the same time. I don't want to make you worry anything but after two days feeling like that I slept for about 9 hours and woke up very depressed, how I feel now. Just a heads up to you that it could be you crashing.

[BusyMomma2]

Well it's evolving I think. Been having racing thought too. So many that I can't keep track and forget them. Also getting uncomfortable surges of what feels like adrenaline. Called pdoc. Have an appointment today. I hate this. I really do. And I live in fear of the mania spinning out of control again.

Aww, but good thing you have an app then. That surge of adrenaline, I experience that when I am manic too, well to me it feels like a surge of electricity pumping through my veins. I also fear getting manic, it isn't really a pleasurable ride for me.

I hope it doesn't get to far, sometimes I will feel like I am getting pretty manic, but if I make sure my sleep and other triggers stay on track it often will just dissipate. Good luck at your app today!

[SunReach]

I'm in a very similar place right now....I can't really decide if I'm going into mixed or if it's simply mania with a thoroughly worn out body...either way...it does suck! Good luck with the doc's appointment

[faerie_moon_x]

Yes, I think there are different phases of mania and depression, different strengths of both, and also with mania I know there is dysphoric and euphoric mania. I personally do not have euphoric mania very often, in fact quite rarely. I have dysphoric mania which I don't wish on anyone. I also have a lot of mixed states and rapid cycling.

Sounds just like me Dark Heart, it sucks hey, nope almost never euphoric, when I was younger it was , now it almost always dysphoric.

[faerie_moon_x]

Originally Posted by Anika

Sounds just like me Dark Heart, it sucks hey, nope almost never euphoric, when I was younger it was , now it almost always dysphoric.

Yeah, when I was a teen I could hold a whole room with my ability to tell jokes and be the whole 'life of the party' girl. I had no idea it was mania at that time, though. I just thought I was incredibly clever and fun.

[BusyMomma2]

Well I'm back. He's given me seroquel xr to add to my list of meds and some more ambien. The seroquel is only used to bring me down then I will stop taking it. Hopefully after this weekend. I sure hope it knocks me dOwn quickly.

[BusyMomma2]

I was the same way as well. Always with a quip or quick to be witty. Now it's no longer pleasurable but disastrously out of control. Nothing makes sense and my mind and body chemicals run a thousand times faster. I can never get a grip. Thoughts rapidly fleeting. Times a blur. Irritability creep up and severe anxiety as I grasp for some sense of control. Trying to grab onto anything to slow down or so the world will make sense again. It's frustrating, maddening, and utterly out of control.

And when it's over... I can barely remember the ride. The only thing I'm sure of is I don't ever want to go back. It's he'll.

Hope the Seroquel works, it definitely has helped bring me down in the past. I only take antipsychosyics when I am acutely manic and then when I am stable again for a while I ween back of them. I don't have the comfort level with them to use them long term.

Let us know how it goes with the new med addition.. Good luck.

[BusyMomma2]

Thanks Anika. I feel the same way about it... Just temporary.