[Olcán]

There's a pattern to my manic phases - I develop a very strong desire to spend money. I'm not leaving my address in case someone decides to fly over to hang around waiting for my next manic phase. I'm usually very careful with how I spend money, so the desire to spend is immediately noticed by family members.

My garage is full of agricultural equipment arising from one of my splurges. Another time it was clothes. Most recently I went through spending ideas faster than I have ever done before: first it was a new house, then a wooden chalet in the Ardennes, then a motorbike, then a 4x4 and finally, phew!, surveillance cameras. I bought and had installed the cameras without telling anyone, knowing that I would be quizzed as to it's rationale. I didn't want anyone to know that I often experience auditory hallucinations; people standing in my drive talking or playing a radio. The cameras allow me to check whether anyone is really there. Is that sad or is that sad?

My psychiatrist suggested that I refer any impulses to spend more than €500 to my ex wife who remains a great friend. But that is so rational. Rational thinking goes out the window when I'm manic. Thanks for listening.

[~Christina]

Oh the joys of Manic spending ! lol

Can you hand over your money or credit cards to someone you trust and you just have minimal amount of cash at a time on hand ?

Welcome to PC !

[LacunaCoiler]

I agree with Christina, hand over all Credit Cards(Including debit cards) to a trusted someone and keep very little cash on you. One time I maxed out a $9000 CC in a weekend and still really don't know what I spent all of that on. Still paying it off btw...

In the end my gf took away all major CC and left me with the one that had $1000 on it and if I maxed it it wasn't as bad as the others. I usually just carry $100 in cash and that card so when I'm manic I don't have much money to blow.

I just handed over my second credit card to a friend, sealed in an envelope. I kept one that I decreased the limit on. I learned the hard way this summer.

[medicalfox]

I used to be quite the spender when I was manic too. Clothes is what I primarily bought and pets of all sorts (guinea pigs were my favourite). I am very tight on my expenses now and better at saving since I'm a lot better with tracking my purchases.

[vans1974]

For me it's all about avoiding mania, because it's almost impossible to control my dangerous impulsive behavior when I'm manic. I've seen it all too often, that people have lost literally everything in just a few minutes while being manic. Although we feel horrible in depressive states, we tend too be more careful and cautious. Latuda at a high dose is my life saver! Best of luck!!

[thickntired]

Hi,

Oh my gosh I've finally read about someone else buying a house while manic. I currently have my name on 3 houses!!! Thanks for posting, now I don't feel so alone. I only buy clothes at Goodwill except on rare occasions, use cash instead of debit or credit cards, and stick to a list when I grocery shop. Also, I avoid amazon and ebay like the plague!!

Peace,

TnT