[A Red Panda]

So, I'm pretty sure I've hit my first up phase since I started the lamotrigine and sertraline.

And it's so dulled down Which I suppose means that the medications are working... but it's NOT FUN going from totally wired and ready to go, to then just going "UUUGH I'M TIRED". It's like the energy level is bouncing around but I'm crashing a lot sooner than I'm used to - totally unproductive because I would muuuuch rather be doing all the billions of things that I'd like to do.

On the up side (bahahaha) I can slow my brain down a bit more than usual and stay on one task for a while.

And it at least still has me motivated to clean and organize!! w00t.

Not so sure that I'm keen on this dulled-down hypomania. Mine are pretty tame to start with, and I never really worry about doing anything too drastic.

And my main risks are usually wanting to overspend (of which I have good rules set up.... and I am heading on vacation soon and absolutely know that I WILL spend money... but I'm limited to what fits in my suitcase )... and being a bit hypersexual, which works out well as I have a boyfriend right now!

There we go. Just needed to babble that out - back to packing and cleaning!!!

[~Christina]

Argh Dulled hypo sucks donkey balls ! Maybe going on your trip will flip it the awesome Hypo ?

[Dolphin1983]

That's frustrating. I had a breakthrough of illness while changing meds and experienced hypomania again - it was so exciting and I was so productive. I accomplished 3 projects at work that had been on the backburner all in one day. I had to remind myself that this could go really, really badly really, really quickly. I've only experienced full mania once, but in retrospect, it's terrifying. That's the one thing I have to remind myself - it's important to avoid getting to that state.

[BipolaRNurse]

I had a brief episode of "dulled hypomania" (great description, BTW) this summer, just before I crashed into depression. I'd heard of this phenomenon, but had no idea of what it was like until Zyprexa was added on to my med regimen on a full-time basis rather than PRN.

Now I have that slight 'flattened' feeling, which I dislike, but I also know that it's keeping me mellow and focused at a seriously challenging time of my life. It's all about tradeoffs, e.g., I get to be sane or I get to be brilliant, extraordinary, and bat**** crazy.

[A Red Panda]

Well, my short-trip (was gone for the weekend... whereupon I met my bf's family.... as we stayed at their place for a few nights!!!!) if anything helped knock me fully out of it and into baseline. Which is funny because it was a wonderful trip, but it seems like more than anything these silly meds make me tired when I otherwise wouldn't be!! Boo-urns.

Just not sure if the meds are worth the total lack of fun. It's weird, but I sorta wish I'd hit upon the next depression to see if the meds make it bareable or not - because if the depression seems pretty much the same as always then I am DEFINITELY going to stop the meds (I'm not fond of being on meds and I don't overly need them.. just decided to up the quality of my life and I am giving them a fair chance... which means waiting for the next depression).

[lilypup]

for me and this is just fir ne...dampened hypo is worth not going out of control. Lnowing my system i wuld prob outgrow the tiredness and be ok.

sorry for typos sahking hands

this me while manic

[A Red Panda]

Don't worry about it lilypup - my hypomanias never get me into any real trouble in my life... my risky behaviours are still pretty tame (I'm realllllly practical/careful/reserved/etc when baseline) and I soooo don't worry about ever being actually manic. If I was to ever have a manic episode or do something that puts my job or relationships or whatnot at real risk.... then I'd have a different perspective too. But my hypomanias are the happy go-lucky-productive kind and I enjoy actually liking myself during them! (and I get soooo caught up on things!)