[blackwhitered]

So I read somewhere that most bipolar people spend the vast majority of their mood episodes in depression, only being manic or hypomanic a minority of the time.

But both I and my mom agree that I've had more "ups". I would have multiple hypomanic "peaks" in a row. When I was depressed, it was really bad, but I'd say that's only happened maybe three times (and two of those were med related).

The first time I was depressed, I was 14 and it lasted maybe a month or two. That's the one of the only times I've been depressed without meds as a factor... My dad has MDD, so we've talked about depression, and we both know it's rare for me.

It also is really frustrating for me when doctors tell me I'm depressed (I have negative symptoms of schizophrenia that resemble depression) because if I'm depressed, I will know...

So yeah, is anyone else like me?

[Crazy Hitch]

I wish I had more ups than downs. Unfortunately that is not the case for me.

[Victoria'smom]

I do have more ups than downs. I have mostly diaphonic mania.

[dannyd]

I wish. I spend more time down and believe the seasons play a role.

[Marshellette]

Yes, I am for the most part too high and too optimistic. Both of my parents are very happy people and I got it from them. I once decided to run off to a foreign country in my optimism and ended up homeless. I talked so much that the police in this foreign country told me I should have my own TV show like Ricki lake. I'm sure they found it odd. Since then I've been on a more strict medication schedule and I've been better.

[BipolaRNurse]

I've kept a mood chart for the last two years that shows I spend relatively long periods of time being hypomanic; however the number of full-blown manic and depressive episodes are pretty equal. Depression tends to last longer as compared to manic episodes, probably because my pdoc is a lot more aggressive in treating my mania (I do tend to be pretty destructive in that state).

But the truth is, I just have a lot of mood episodes, and it's only been in recent months that the euthymic periods have started lasting long enough to make a difference in how I feel overall.

[Nightside of Eden]

My fiance is like this. Unmedicated he spends the vast majority of his time hypomanic with occaisonal flares of full mania. His depressive episodes are very short compared to the ups. This unusual pattern prevented him from getting the proper diagnosis for a very long time, which is sadly the case for many people with bipolar who don't follow the normal patterns laid out in the text books.

[Cocosurviving]

Hi. I have bipolar 1 and I'm up. Last summer I went through mixed for abt 3-4 months. During this time I experienced euphoric mania and acted out. Now by acted out I mean I got two tattoos, my eyebrow, lip and tongue pierced.
My meds were adjusted and I was just up again. No more mania and depression.
Close to spring euphoric mania (impulsive behavior) kicks in big time. Last week I just got my chin pierced. Last winter I was really up and got too impulsive. I bought a $400 purse and a ring. I still have bought. I justified why I deserved to keep both. I've always said I'm not sure which is worse....mania or depression.

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