Hypomanic or just plain feeling good? Help!?!

I am feeling really good and my mind seems to be working well and fast. Not something I have had in awhile. I recently began taking focalin xr for ADD. I take paxil and klonopin too. My activity level has been very high for me. I have been going places and doing things. I don't think I am hypomanic but in the past when I took antidepressants I became hypomanic and then started bouncing back and forth from hypomania to severe depression. Of course I never wanted to treat the hypomania, I liked it too much. But it also meant terrible depressions followed the hypomania. Eventually I no longer wanted the hypomania. But I don't know if I ever learned to distinguish hypomania from normal good feelings. So NOW I am wondering are these normal good feelings I am having or are they the dreaded hypomania? How do other people distinguish? I need some input fast. Thanks.

I blocked out my previous post i think. Please read and respond please

See if you can have a talk with your pdoc, usually taking a mood stabilizer, not AD's helps you realize if one is going through hypomanic or manic episode or if they are just feeling good.
For awhile, I too, was wondering with my own deal, when I look back at stuff, some things now make me say what was I thinking?
Talk this over with your pdoc. You are also most welcome to hang out here and see what other replies you get.
Take care now,
DE

same here with me.....xoxoxo pat

There is a rather gerneralized opinion others have expressed this in the past, and upon reflection, I was forced to agree. When you are hypomanic, your judgement is completely out of whack, if not totally suspended.

I think that, as a result, you can't tell the difference between hypomania and a good mood unless something drastic happens, so I agree with the advice to consult your doctor.

I don't wish that to sound harsh. I'm just passing on a hard-learned lesson. Mind you, I sincerely hope it's remission and you are able to maintain a healthy social life. I wish you all the best.

Thanks to everyone. I agree and I will talk to the pdoc. No sense going down the same road. I am very fortunate to be married and have a beautiful eight year old daughter. It is a salve to my years of depression. thank you very much people, you are the best.

To all here,
Doesn't it get you when you are feeling good, maybe purchase something, or just go somewhere and NOT hypomanic in any form, just plain old fashioned "happy", and hear a partner say, "what are you feeling hypomanic".
Grrrrrrrrrrrr!
Old corney saying, but can be true, "don't worry, be happy".
Even my pdoc, says that kind of happens amongst a partner/parent/child when they finally are stable but finally have happiness, some may even over react, cause they are not sure.
Let the pdoc assure you which it is, after awhile you will be able to recognize the difference.
I wish some that know of my disorder, would understand we can be happy and not hypomanic.
Take care now,
DE

DE / all -

My partner has done the same thing to me over and over and over again... I highly suspect this is due to him having witnessed so many episodes and being scared. I know he's only trying to do his best, but I'm a grown man myself and sometimes feel he's taking it to the extremes....

Then again, when I've racked up one credit card with TWENTY-THREE orders of the same thing (I never though UPS was going to leave that day), I must trust his judgment calls whenever my finances are 'revoked'...

I cant surprise him or the handful of people in my life with something bcuz I simply cannot be trusted.. Since I'm also stuck with good ol' panic dis w/AG, I don't exactly run to the store for the stuff, ergo using the net to order things.

So we came to a mutual agreement some time ago - if I want to buy something, all I have to do is let him sit there while I put the order in and then he comes and puts my CC #'s in. He even had to call them all and have new #'s re-issued bcuz I memorized several of them and ended up using them.... Talk about me being a good sneak?? I don't know whether to laugh at my actions or slap myself..... Nonetheless, this way I don't know the #'s, all the cards/statements are in a combination-locked safe, and my finances are protected...

He also knows whenever it is 'probably' legitimate since I don't run around the house like someone on speed. It's VERY hard to hide this - despite me thinking that I could; if I am not literally running around the house, then I'm running my mouth to myself or the closest available object... Then he will either flat-out deny letting me use my finances or he will 'fake' purchasing them to shut me up... If it is the latter of the two, it's the best thing to do as I will go on and on and on and on until I get my way... Within hours, I forget about it altogether and it's all good....

SO - it's pretty hard for another person, yet alone myself/ourselves, to distinguish between the two. Of course, no offense intended to anyone here - but in my opinion, I'd rather error on the side of caution to ensure my "good mood" is not the "pre-episode" type feelings I get....

WHY do we have to be plagued with such horrible diseases/disorders?? GRRRR!!!!!

Thanks for listening -
Niko

Niko,
That sounds like a good deal that your partner helps you curb your spendings, may sound funny, but it is a good thing, but that's my opinion.
If you use a mood stabilizer, and if you are Bipolar, you really should be on one. Over time I find ithas helped reduce impulse buying, but I do treat myself and have some fun.
But in the begining of being DXed my T and even my Bipolar brother would question, "what's up"? You are going crazy buying up stuff, mind you I never maxxed credit, but bought multiples of items, like I had to have 2 of everything, I joked and called it "the Noah effect, like he loaded 2 of every animal, get it? My logic would be, "I'll get a couple" of whatever I was buying at the mall or garden shops, "just in case I can't find it again".
This may have not been hypomanic, but a variation of some other disorder that could of been attached to my DX of Bipolar-II and ADD, ha!ha! Whatever, I had become beligerent and would say, "can't I be happy, do things that gave me gratification, that is perfectly legal and not unhealthy, without being concidered hypomanic?
Or "where and when am I normally happy,feel energy" okay and where and when is it hypomanic episode?
Well, taking the mood stabilizer and keeping pdoc appts. has shown me I can be happy and enjoy stuff and not be considered hypomanic, I have grown, with experience to know the difference, which is kind of nice after all,making me feel more in control of my own life while being practical vs my old outlandish,lavish self.
Stability, has also strengthened my ability to truly enjoy things more, appreciating all the natural beauty that surrounds me.
Okay, I'm rambling, and should really stop here, but want to say my usual thing, HAving Bipolar is not a life sentence, with proper mood stabilizers and keeping up with pdoc and/or therapist appts. hold the key to balance in your life, and it feels good once you work at it with your pdoc and meds, you'll see how good things can work.
Give it a try, more than once.
Take good care, and good luck with your partner, sounds like he is trying to help with stuff.
DE

Morning DE -

Your opinion is very much valued - especially for us... And yes, I do find it very humourous the majority of the time - especially whenever I am 'normal' (LOL) and reflect upon past actions. At least I can laugh about it instead of dwell upon it..

I suppose I should have mentioned my other meds due to you stating I should be on them. I'm currently on Seroquel, Depakote ER, Paxil CR, Lexapro, and Xanax. My wonderful P-doc recently alleged I did not return 4 phone calls (end of June), and REFUSED to give me any of my meds when I showed up for the appointment. I had my partner and my "mother-in-law", for lack of 'recognition' due to my relationship, with me, and they BOTH voiced very very loudly that not ONE phone call came in from this office from ANYONE on the preceding days of the week.

I went FIVE DAYS without ANY of these meds - and we all know what this does to a person......

This is one of the reasons why I hopped back on here after being 'AWOL' for a while - it sent me into one HELL of an episode - even rapid-cycling - and took 3 weeks to stabalize me. In case you're asking, after they saw waht it did to me, they reported her to the State Med. Board; they even requested the phone co. to print out EVERY phone call received here (which cost them $25.00), and sent those records in to back up that NO ONE called here. What a shame eh?

Now, since she was turned in, I found a far better place to go (blessig in disguise maybe?), they already have treated me MUCH better than that 'chop shop' did, but I'm going to end up w/out my meds again since A) Can't afford to purchase them, B) I am on the State-sponsored psych/med program, C) Everything but the Xanax was dispensed at the office, D) Can't see the new P-Doc until 16 Aug, and E) Old P-Doc won't as much as send my chart/records over so the new doc can do soemthing for me before then.

Guess I have to try and sweet-talk my regular doc. to somehow get me a 'stash' to hold me over. Either that or we can add this next 'battle' to the complaint that they are refusing to send my records and they are forcing me off my meds... I guarantee I'll end up hospitalized this time over it.

Thanks for all your input - I do appreciate it and hope the best for you as well
Niko

Oh man, that sucks,
Sorry to hear this happened, but I am proud of you, and happy you were able to get the proof they didn't call back.
I hope you'll have a better, more professional treatment now.
About the meds, sometimes pdocs have loads of samples from the drug salespersons. My former T where I use to live would always offer them to patients befoer they start their new script so if it didn't work, the patient wouldn't have wasted their money on a full month's worth. My case I'd tell her to give them to someone without prescription plans, for I only had a 8 to 10 co-pay, no need for me to be greedy and deny someone of meds that couldn't afford them, she liked that about me and it helped her supply those without the money but needed them. If possible,work with a mental health social worker, maybe they can direct you to an organization or pharmaceutical house that can give you free or near free meds.
Just an idea, I have no idea how they work things where you live, sp pardon me if this was out of it.
Please take care,
DE

Meta, I think those feelings are coming from the Focalin. The stimulant meds do give a rather euphoric feeling
when they're working on me and because of that effect, it's very easy to distinguish when it's working.
I'd like to think it's just the focalin kicking in and doing what is does best.

Thanks again for the bit of advice there DE...

I do get the samples already for all of them except xanax bcuz it's controlled. Unfortunately, due to the fact that they won't even acknowledge me now, the predicament is how and who do I obtain them from. My new center is already doing a superb job at either A) getting an emergency supply to me or B) getting a hold of the old Dr. and chew her a new one.

Either which way, tomorrow is the last dose for all - hopefully I'll have good news to report by then!! Something will have to work out, that's for sure....

Thanks again and you take it easy as well,
Niko

I wish you lots of luck, hang in there.
And always know, we are here.

I've been sleeping only 3-4 hours for a few months now. I don't feel tired, have increased spending, doing more socializing, & feel a greater self-esteem. I haven't changed my meds in the last 4 yrs. (Abilify, Lamictal, Concerta, Provigil, Xanax) so I may be hypomanic due to spring bringing more light. I do sleep more & sometimes get depressed in the winter & had to add Wellbutrin one winter. My doc ordered a sleep study, which I did last week. I think I am hypo-manic, but it feels really good & so far isn't causing too many problems--except the spending.

<font color="#000088"> Hi Suzy -

When you said that you haven't slept but 3-4 hours/nite in months, how in the heck do you function? I know that whenever I'm going through an episode or I'm rapid-cycling, I barely sleep and 3-4 hours is probably the max...

Also, if these meds are not producing 'normal' sleep, why has your P-doc not evaluated the meds? This is just my opinion, but not having a full-nite's sleep cannot be good - especially if it has gone on that long. Whenever I come out of and episode, I literally crash & burn, i.e. sleep for damn near 2 days straight... Then comes the depression from hell.... And then the cycle repeats itself..

I hope, for your sake, that the meds you do have are at least controlling/regulating the bulk of your issues. I wish this was the case for me, that is for sure. I go on and on sometimes about how I don't need to sleep and I don't realize/think about the fact that the mania is doing this to me. Then again, whenever anyone is in such a frenzy, it becomes much more difficult for me to function and everything becomes so scattered.

I do hoep for the best for you and if you need an ear, you know where to find me. Take care,
Niko</font>

Hi niko: I live in Carmel so we are practically neighbors! I see my meds provider in a week. I really don't want to change my meds despite not sleeping (the insomnia doesn't seem to be bothering my mood or affecting my ability to function--just a bit hyper & feeling really good so I'm sure it's hypo-mania). I've been on these meds for 4 years & it took a year to finally figure out what worked & that was a year from hell with side effects or the drug not working. I was falling asleep while driving on Geodon, for exp. So the meds are "working"--just not sleeping much & it has been going on for months yet I feel fine during the day. We'll see what doc says. I don't want to go back to the delusions & paranoia & low self-esteem that I had prior to being on these drugs--plus the awful depression.

Hi gtrplayr,

I have been to the pdoc or rather to his wonderful psych nurse--she was instrumental in pushing the pdoc to put me on ADD meds in the first place. She thinks I am just feeling good and I will concur as my mood has plateaued. I think you were right, it is just plain good feelings. Thanks to you and all who responded; it has been a great help to me.