[LiteraryLark]

I feel pretty questionable about my mania at the moment. My mom keeps bringing me up, but I feel fine, and usually for bipolar that really doesn't mean you're fine.

How I get through my mania is through reasoning, which apparently is very hard to do when bipolar, but my dad taught me how to effectively reason early on as I grew up. I think through every decision I make and weigh the pros and cons, but sometimes I get so overwhelmed trying to make a decision. And obvious signs of mania is being impulsive. Like today, when I decided that instead of saving my money I spent it on scratchers even when I knew that I was borrowing money from my camping fund. But I know that even when making a major decision while manic, I am always making sure that I am weighing the pros and cons.

Right now I am really jacked up about going back to college. It's a little scary because I got all D's in my classes while heavily medicated, and I took a year off to stabilize. But now I am healthy and though I might seem a little manic, I am making sure I don't overwhelm myself by taking too many classes. I've never taken four classes before, but I think I can handle it. I just have to retrain my brain and learn how to study and put effort into it.

How do you guys get through your mania?

[Victoria'smom]

How good is your support system?
other then spending what other things are you likely to do while manic?
can you give your mom all of your bank cards so you can't touch your funds right now?

[A Red Panda]

No mania, just hypomania here.

I tend to indulge the cleaning urge if I really want to be active. I'll also indulge in going out partying - but I will refuse to head out until I've got plans made with someone I trust. I tend to delay any decisions that I want to make - I do this alllll the time so that it's habit. I do not just delay decision-making when I'm in an up because often I don't notice I'm FEELING up until later! So it's standard process for me to debate on something big for a month or so. (As in, I've wanted a tattoo for years. I eventually settled on a location for it... but have thus far refused to get a tattoo because I couldn't settle on WHAT to get. A few months ago I figured it out, and I haven't yet made an appointment because I decided I had to wait a few months to see if I still like the idea. I still like the idea so I plan on making the appointment soon! I'm going to get Navi from Zelda!)

Hey doc, good for you for going back to school. That is a major step in the right direction. I know when i'm in a hypomanic or mixed episode (most common for me) I have to give my cards to a trusted friend. I only get $40 at a time, and must account and explain every cent that I spent.

My true mania, and yes, I will cycle through all 3, especially after a depressive episode. (Thankfully, that doesn't happen very often.) All reason is gone. I'm acting on instinct, and can be violent and very unpredictable, so it's best that I'm heavily medicated.

[jewel2560]

Hi, it doesn't sound like full blown mania yet especially if you know you are a little off. Hypomania is not a joke though. I was hypomanic recently and I worked so hard to make sure it didn't turn into full blown mania. You have to keep in better contact with your doctors so they can help regulate you. With the money help is useful as well. But for me making sure I take my meds and get enough sleep every night is VITAL to keeping me from loosing it. Being active and exercising really helps in getting that extra energy out as well so that I can sleep. I also usually have a few people close to me making sure I'm not acting too unlike myself. Congrats on going back to school! Good luck. Just take care of yourself!

[LiteraryLark]

Yes, sorry, I meant to say hypomania. I've only had one full-blown manic episode and that was how I got diagnosed.

How good is your support system?
I have a great support system. My parents are always checking up how I'm feeling, though they annoy me because they tell me not to use bipolar as a crutch and then blame it for every bad decision I make. I have a great counselor, pdoc, and an ob/gyn who really help finding the root of the problem and creating steps to get through them.

other then spending what other things are you likely to do while manic?
I organize. During work I organized non-stop until I was exhausted, choosing to organize rather than be with the kids.

can you give your mom all of your bank cards so you can't touch your funds right now?
No, as a college student I don't have much to spend, and I have always been able to pay my bills in full and not take out more than I should

[Otter63]

Edited. Decided not to post.

[Victoria'smom]

As long as you lean on them and us you should be good.