[GeneticSwamp]

My dad is BP and my dd is BP. I'm starting to wonder whether I have BP too. I'm willing to accept that it may just be the power of suggestion - all the reading I've been doing about BP. I've been treated for depression for years. Every so often, I get a rush of confidence, motivation, inspiration. I believe I can change my sorry life and take steps in that direction. Mostly I read books about success, do lots of cleaning and organizing in my home. I'll set up a budget or system for handling our paperwork, enthusiastically start a new fitness program, etc. At the beginning of this year, I was convinced that I would be earning $100k from my work as a private investigator within 5 years. I just feel good - optimistic - stay up late reading motivational books, etc. Take care of myself, dress better, wear make-up...

I'm wondering if I'm just feeling good/optimistic during those times or if I'm experiencing hypomania. Any thoughts?

[GeneticSwamp]

I forgot to mention that I tend to crash after a few weeks at most. Most of the time, I am mildly to moderately depressed.

[BlackPup]

Definitely worth talking to a psych about it. Read up on "soft bipolar" or bipolar spectrum too. There is an idea that some forms of unipolar depression may actually be down one end of the bipolar spectrum and actually respond to bipolar meds. That said bipolar meds are definatly a trial and error game often with nasty side effects and can be expensive... So it's a lot of work to get the right med combo if possible.
Conventional thinking is that the disorder gets more severe if left untreated - have you noticed those positive times becoming more intense, more often etc with age? Do you get impatient with other people taking so long when you are in these moods? Do you see special significance in things that happen. Do you have a greater understanding of things. Do you do things that you wouldn't normally do?

[vlad007]

I tend to get very confident while hypomaniac. In high school I was a very shy and not very good at orals but in college I got a phase orals where awesome and got very high notes. High confidence levels and low amounts of sleep than usual are goods indicators of an hypomanic phase.

[anon61514]

I think you'll find quite a few who have experienced it here.

I used to get the confidence, good mood, energy - almost trembling with how life was - generally just enjoying existing. Obviously this, compared to deep depression, was heaven - I attributed it to me 'beating depression' for short periods of time.

That went on from about 15 to age 21 - then I started noticing the other involuntary mood that kept recurring. Irritation, aggression, stimulation seeking (generally alcohol), moodiness and antisocial interactions.

I haven't had the angry version since I started my treatment for BP - but it definitely got worse with time. One problem that it left me with was severe blunted affect. I occasionally wonder if I could qualify as a socio-path because of the stunted state of my emotions!

[BipolaRNurse]

I'm a little hypomanic right now.......I think it's probably the holidays, I'm excited and restless and fidgety, and I want to go out and spend some (more) money today. Not sleeping well (always a risk factor), not really caring about food, wanting to do too many things at once---yep, that's hypomania for me. Your mileage may vary.