How can I catch the onset of hypomania?

I have been experiencing symptoms of cyclothymia for about 2-3 years now. I have not been diagnosed, but I struggle with what I believe to be hypomania, impulsivity, grandiosity, poor concentration on multiple tasks, severe anxiety, major depressive episodes, and pressured speech. It has caused me trouble with relationships, work, and my safety.

I'm leaving for Europe for a month in a week. I haven't been nervous at all, but now I'm scared to have a hypomanic episode overseas. What will people think of me if I do? Will I be safe if I get too drunk or promiscuous? I'll have people there from my university who I can reflect poorly on, but no friends there to count on.

Is there any advice for recognizing the onset of an episode? I'm definitely going to watch my alcohol intake and avoid traveling alone. I may just be freaking out now because I'm awaiting my STI results tomorrow (due to an impulsive episode), so maybe I'm more anxious about that now due to the anxiety I feel now, but I could use some words of wisdom. Thanks in advance!

Also, I have been diagnosed with GAD, Panic, Depression, and PMDD. Idk if that helps. Thanks!

Since you've received diagnoses, I assume you have a pdoc? If for no other reason than peace of mind (trips to Europe should be fun, it would suck if you were worried about this the whole time!) I would try to get in to see him/her before you travel and share your concerns.

She's booked, so I thought I'm come here

I agree that it might be good for your peace of mind if you talk to your pdoc. Before you go if possible.

But that said, I notice it if I find myself getting less and less sleep over the course of a few days. It kind of ramps up sometimes. Sometimes. And also, worrying about it a lot will ALSO mean that you will get less sleep. Which is never a good thing anyway. It's a stress based kind of illness so if you stress yourself out about it would only increase the chances.

Do you have someone you can call every couple of days? It might help to talk to someone who knows you extremely well as often as you possibly can to kind of give you regular reality checks if it's something you're concerned about.

Try not to worry about it and I hope you enjoy your trip!

Early signs of hypomania for me are no sleep. Creating repetitive projects in the middle of the night and carrying them out. Not needing to eat. I'm very bouncy and find myself skipping and dancing around everywhere. I'm super chatty and cheerful. It goes down hill from there.

Not eating and not sleeping.... but mostly I don't notice until I find myself tossing out all my teaching plans to do something new! Or when I all of a sudden just cannot abide the idea of hanging out on my own and want to go OUT RIGHT NOW and feel like that 24/7. Also if I've just randomly babbled someone's ear off who isn't a close friend... and likely if I've overshared something... then I go "oh....ummm".

The last sound just like me!

Yep.....over-sharing, bouncing in and out of a room like I'm on springs, singing loudly (even though I can't carry a tune in a bucket), cleaning everything in sight, and of course EVERYTHING is WONDERFUL and I love EVERYBODY and holy crap, look at all the COLORS!!! That's hypomania for me!

LOL! Bouncing in an out of the room on springs!

I was doing that on Friday. Like a lot. I kept popping into the office and making silly faces or stuff to our secretary! I even showed her the M&Ms I'd just put into my mouth.

I forgot alllll about that until right now. Goodness.

How do you discern it from happiness?

hypomania is happiness on speed

One of the signs that I have an episode coming for me, is I get a headache a few days before the symptoms set in. It's a headache that doesn't respond to any type of pain meds, that's when I know to get ready.

The fact is that it may or may not happen. If you have a couple of strategies in place to keep it under control IF it does happen, may provide you piece of mind. My first line of defense for me is Ativan. Somehow popping one of those can diffuse an episode for me.

Vacations always bring excitement and a bit of hypo for me, but as long as I am sleeping enough I don't worry about it. I employ the use of Ativan only if my sleep continues to decrease over a couple of days.

I'm still new to managing things but that is one pattern I noticed and one thing I do to keep it in check. I hope you have a great time on your trip!!

For me, my ups don't always mean I'm happy! If I'm not feeling particularly happy but am FULL of energy and things to say and ideas and optimism (I might not be happy atm but will be pretty confident that that'll change!).

When I am in a happy normal phase... I'm more in control? I get the sleep I need, I eat healthy, I do not over-share stories with people who don't know me, I don't get the urge to be drunk all the time, I don't do things that are outside of my normal/cautious behaviour etc etc.

It just takes a lot of self-observation (usually in hind-sight!)

((keep in mind - I'm not actually diagnosed right now!))