[tigersassy]

Trying to understand what the difference between mania and hypo mania. My therapist thinks I'm manic. I don't think I'm manic. Maybe hypo but not full out. Whats the true difference? Then I'm looking back on life and I'm seeing things that fit into full out mania but that doesn't mean it is true right? Eugh I hate mental health issues.

[Alokin]

I am under the impression hypomania is less severe than mania. I too could use some clarification if this is incorrect or incomplete.

[Ash89]

This webpage put it pretty well:
Mania and Hypomania | Doctor | Patient.co.uk

Symptoms can vary person to person though. Hypomania for me for example is usually without the irritability, I feel on top of the world and almost like I'm on cocaine ready for anything.

[tigersassy]

Ok. So that kindda makes sense, but I'm personally having the auditory hallucinations but my "manic"isn't interfering to horribly with day to day life.

[Ash89]

Hallucinations usually mean full blown mania, that's probably why you were told that. I think it's great that it's not really causing you problems.

[Victoria'smom]

I have trouble distinguishing episodes. So usually I use (hypo)manic when I refer to mania or hypomania. I've learned that my comfortable threshold, where I should be looking out, is considered full-blown mania to my team of doctors. My I'm okay seems to be there depressed.

[tigersassy]

I didn't mention the hallucinations to my therapist. I haven't mentioned them to anyone directly other than asking if someone called my name or did they hear that too.

[steelfang]

As others have mentioned, hallucinations are not found in hypomania but are characteristic of mania.

How much are you sleeping? Is it just 1-3 hours less than usual? Or are you sleeping only 2-4 hours a night (or sometimes not at all)? How about appetite? For me it goes away down during mania. Are the racing thoughts entertaining and pleasant for you? Or do you feel "possessed", controlled by your mind, and disturbed by the intensity and speed of your brain? Are you not bothered by the perceived slow pace of others relative to you? Or is nothing fast enough for you? Do you find yourself talking to yourself or being paranoid? Thinking everyone is talking to you or about you!

I compare mania to what I imagine a meth high would feel like. I function on very little sleep and feel very Amped no matter what. I will not shut the hell up and laugh at everything. I befriend many people then regret it when is crash since I usually I keep to myself. I lose my appetite and for usually repulsed me. I sometimes dress very lavishly or provocatively when I am usually conservative. I feel superhuman, like no one can stop me and I can do anything. I feel very philosophical, like we are all one and I am in awe at the beauty of the universe. I spent 1000 in 2 weeks when I am usually a frugal person. I speed at 65 mph in a 25 zone when I am usually cautious. However I start hearing things and become very paranoid and this is when mania becomes very ugly for me. I get sleep paralysis, come up with wacky and insane ideas, and think everyone is plotting against me or making fun of me. Then the high becomes a bad trip and all I want to do is go to sleep.

During my manias, I am still functional in a societal sense but neglect all of my coursework due to a low concentration (and insane hyperactivity) and overconfidence. This causes me to perform very poorly in my courses when I am usually a model student. I have had to drop all but one class this semester due to several manic episodes, therefore rendering me unable to function in my scholastic environment,

Since I was also functional in society, I initially thought I was bipolar 2. However my pdoc said that when your manic behaviors totally contradict the traits of your core personality hypomania can be ruled out. Hypomanic individuals do not lose touch with their personality. Psychosis, paranoia (if you don't have Anxiety disorders), or hallucinations of any kind automatically point to mania. Since those all applied to me, I received a bipolar 1 diagnosis even though I was socially functional.

[tigersassy]

I'm sleeping 4-6 hours my normal is 8-9 hours. Sometimes I don't want to sleep but then I take a 1/2 tylenol pm and sleep 8 hours or drink a 20oz mixed drink and sleep 12-14 hours. When I wake up I'm starving (but a snack bar takes care of that) 4am don't actually eat a entree until 11:00 am then again at 5pm (i normally eat 3 meals and a few snacks a day). My racing thoughts are just annoying for the most part sometimes they scare me just because they turn catastrophic but in general it doesn't bother my mood other than the irritability (but thats elevated anyway). Others pace bothers me for the most part I get frustrated and "spaz" or i get a horrible headache (which is made worse when I force myself to slow so no one knows. I talk to myself most of the time anyway. But I'm extremely paranoid thinking that everyone knows whats going on' in my head. I'm overly confident in my skills and if there is a competition I get angry if I don't win. I don't normally get mad or angry. I don't have money to go on shopping sprees so I avoid stores unless my partners with me.

[Ash89]

Yep...I feel you on the little sleep thing. I got about four hours.and I'm wide awake. I've never had full blown mania but I suspect I'm going hypomanic. I really wish I could get my sleep schedule under control, it really does help.

[tigersassy]

Can symptoms crossover from PTSD? In 2007i was diagnosed with PTSD. Bad childhood and when I brought up my "shadow people" (that I only see when its dark) that was the deciding factor on the PTSD. Is it possible that the PTSD can initiate a manic episode and feed it? Sorry I'm a bit random with my thoughts. Random thoughts keep popping into my head so I'm writing the ones down that I feel are worth remembering for my drs appt.

[tigersassy]

The days are getting more than I know how to handle up wise. if I write it down maybe it'll leave my head and let me be... I'm craving attention. I want people to recognize that they are lucky to know me. I want to win everything and I don't want anyone to tell me no. I'm not spending because I know we can't but I desperately want to. all of this is making me want to pull out my hair. I can't stand the fact that everyone else around me seems to be going so slow. It's not right and I'm being impatient with everyone. When someone doesn't understand me it makes my want to scream at them. I'm telling people more information about me than the need to know and I keep getting asked if I drank my lunch while I'm at work because I'm laughing hysterically at the stupidest crap. And I'm saying an entire conversation in one breath most of the time. I doing want anyone to interrupt me while I'm raking but if you're talking I can interrupt you. This is not going well with work.... I don't even want to do my work. Can't focus on it I keep thinking about weekday I want from my spouse that I got told no about lady night because I needed sleep which is a good thing I guess. I got more sleep last night than I have in weeks.... Now I feel guilty because I verbally threw up....eugh

Originally Posted by tigersassy

Can symptoms crossover from PTSD? In 2007i was diagnosed with PTSD. Bad childhood and when I brought up my "shadow people" (that I only see when its dark) that was the deciding factor on the PTSD. Is it possible that the PTSD can initiate a manic episode and feed it? Sorry I'm a bit random with my thoughts. Random thoughts keep popping into my head so I'm writing the ones down that I feel are worth remembering for my drs appt.

I have read that symptoms of PTSD can include mania like symptoms. It is often misdiagnosed at bipolar. I never read that much into it so thats all I can offer you, but maybe start a thread in the PTSD section or do some internet research yourself.

[monochromatic]

When I'm hypo I sleep about 5-6 hours. I get absolutely absorbed in projects - for two weeks I had transformed my balcony (in an apt building) into a wood shop. I was buying tons of furniture off craigslist, dismantling it, and re-doing it. I bought a professional belt sander which I later returned. For 10 hours a day I sanded, painted, nailed, sanded, stained, and on and on. No break. Only water. And then one day.... I was done. Mid project too (which annoyed boyfriend to no end). I couldn't even muster the will to sweep up the sawdust.

Anyway, dunno if that helps. But that's pretty typical for what I go through, as someone who only gets hypo.