[Isolda van der Meer]

Well, I think we all know that being bipolar sucks, but...

Hypomania can be very positive for me. I'm euphoric, more confident... I just feel really good. And I'm not as tired of being with people as usual.

Mild depression is probably the only thing which forces me to relax. It sucks, but it somehow makes me think more about my life and my work. Sometimes it can bring positive changes.

[Under*Over]

Yes. It makes me a more understanding and caring person. I know pain, and so I can recognize pain in other people- and because I remember my own pain I know how horrible it is and am more inclined to help.

Plus. It has given me an experience few others have. An understanding of myself that I dont think lots of people have developed. It makes me appreciate the little things more

[Blue_Bird]

Yes. I appreciate life more after

Possible trigger:

2 suicide attempts

I've learned I'm a very resilient person, and I'm also very caring and have a lot of compassion for others.

[saucygirl31]

i too find i am more compassionate. if i were merely antisocial i don't think id appreciate the depth of emotion i can feel, and therefore recognize others can feel it too.

furthermore, depression allows me to see things in a new "light". when ur too happy go lucky its like u run into a brick wall cuz ur so blind but mild depression can have u look at stuff more realistically.

that said, i wouldn't wish bipolar on anyone, and the intense episodes are nothing to gawk at. thank god ive been stable (relatively) for 2 years now.

[BipolarWolf]

nope. not at all. I hate it. but we have to live with it. forever

[sophiebunny]

Hypomania is awesome. If you could bottle it and sell it you'd make a fortune. I am my most productive, clear thinking, creative, and friendly when I'm hypomanic. However, as my psychiatrist is fond of reminding me...hypomania leads to mania and mania is not fun.

[sarahsweets]

Because its a disorder i do not find anything positive about it.

[fern46]

Mania uncovered several of my weaknesses. It shined a huge spotlight on trauma I was holding onto and habits I needed to let go of. It forced me to look at the areas of my life that were working against my health and overall wellbeing. None of these issues were pressing enough for me to take action before I broke down. I recognized some of them, but I had no idea the toll they were taking on my mind and my heart. Mania served as an amazing catalyst for change in my life. I didn't enjoy anything about the 'high' of mania. It was pure Hell. However, I can find value in it after the fact. I know I'd still be justifying all kinds of poor decisions without it. Mania stripped me of all of my excuses.

[*Beth*]

Yes! The euphoric sensation of becoming gorgeous colors, music, magnificent visual and audio perceptions! But medication dulls that and makes me feel like a stupid shell.

the meds make me creative!.

this is what I always say: the fact I am bipolar means I can have a shot at writing poetry and stories (I've done both in my spare time). I'm not really the best, but I'm okay I guess. my ideas wouldn't make it as a bestseller, but that's okay

I also think bipolar has made me a more caring person, and more aware of my feelings and emotions

Originally Posted by sheltiemom2007

Hypomania is awesome. If you could bottle it and sell it you'd make a fortune. I am my most productive, clear thinking, creative, and friendly when I'm hypomanic. However, as my psychiatrist is fond of reminding me...hypomania leads to mania and mania is not fun.

you should sell that idea to dragons den (do you have that over their?)

it's a show where normal people pitch their ideas to try and get money from these basically... really rich successfull people. lol. that is the best way I can describe it

[fern46]

Originally Posted by raging vortex

you should sell that idea to dragons den (do you have that over their?)

it's a show where normal people pitch their ideas to try and get money from these basically... really rich successfull people. lol. that is the best way I can describe it

We call it Shark Tank

You can sell hypomania, it's called cocaine :P

But I like how nothing lasts forever. I rapid cycle so even though it feels like a certain state will last forever I logically know it won't.

I try hard to maintain a very healthy happy baseline mood, but I guess I'd be lying if I wrote that I didn't enjoy doing some of the things I did in the past that were hypomanic/manic fueled. The problem with hypomania and mania is that it's like making a deal with the devil. I did, indeed, have some intensely wonderful times, but I also suffered a lot of consequences. Also, the course of my illness worsened over time. Though I do occasionally have a nice "upswing" as I like to call them, I know that if left unchecked, they will turn ugly.

Having lived through very rough times with my mental illness, I did develop a certain extra compassion for others that I didn't full have in my youth. I also learned patience, humility, and moderation. There is also a pleasure one can derive from feeling fully grounded in life.

[Tucson]

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

Because its a disorder i do not find anything positive about it.

Yes, I agree with this statement. As far as hypomania goes, I prefer reality to any drugless, but still "drugged" state of mind. People are less mindful of their bad times with this disease, and have no problem remembering the good times

[Brienne]

Nop, anything positive for now.
The worst part is that everybody mentions that this is the disease that creative people has, and everybody mentions this amazing artists that were bipolar, and the only thing i can think is how usless, dumb and non artistic i am.

And, of course, there are the episodes of hypomania (the times of cocaine as I used to call it hahaha). But unlike others who mention that they become completely creative, or that they used that energy to do many things, for me it is pure chaos. I mean, in the last episode I had the best moment of my life as a party animal. But i had absolutely no control over my decisions. Looking backwards its kind of a miracle that nothing bad happened to me on those times.

Now writing this i remember another episode of hipomania that i had in 2017. That was a little most usful. I had a lot of energy that i used in the technical school (i take a lot of courses, i was part of politics grups, i was in a gorup of students who used to made plans for the campus (like cultural activities and stuff) and also was part of a sport teamn. Everything sounds amazing, but the problem is that the energy started to low like 2 moths after, so all the plans ended in nothing because i entered to hell one more time. So yeeeah, nothing really can be done with this. Not very happy with this damn disease

[Sunflower123]

Like BirdDancer, it has taught me patience and humility. I’ve always been a compassionate, empathetic person but it has deepened that.

The severe depression of the disorder has strengthened my survival instinct. I know how to do what I can with what I have where I am. I know how to make it from day to day. To surf life when it gets difficult.

[Tucson]

People with BP are the only group of people I know that can list their MI as an actual benefit. LOL But I do understand where that is coming from. Look for the silver lining in each cloud.

BP is a serious mental illness. So no I do not think there is much of a benefit to be found. Mania is part of the illness with its associated implications. Considering this, even mania is not a place I would ever choose to be. It is much better to just have allot of natural energy from living a healthy lifestyle, but still be at the same time sane, then for me to look forward to a particular phase of my mental illness, which can prove to be the more damaging. I would give anything to be without a MI. That way I would be in 100% control of my life. The thoughts of what would of then had been possible boggles my mind.

OK I will come up with one benefit. Hmmm ...lets see...I now own things that I have always wanted but still cannot afford? If I really enjoy doing something, like watching years worth of a TV series, I can see it all in one sitting of back-to-back sleepless nights? I can use my MI as a way to get out of Jury Duty? The adventure of an unpredictable lifestyle when manic? Yes, this last one has some merit, but tends to end up being very costly to me in the end.

@Jennifer 1967:

The severe depression of the disorder has strengthened my survival instinct. I know how to do what I can with what I have where I am. I know how to make it from day to day. To surf life when it gets difficult.

Yes, this is an excellent and essential skill to have. I am still working on it for myself.

[Blueberrybook]

It has taught me not to judge people.

I hate that so much stigma exists about it.

It has taught me that I'm a lot stronger than I give myself credit for.

[De Luca]

Being manic does feel amazing but my medication has prevented manic episodes while still keeping me depressed, seems to always work one way but not the other.

As for a positive, I do feel that I am a much more creative and artistic person because of it. I can visualize ideas, characters and stories very vividly when I want to write, much more now than when I was younger. I hate having BP but I did do something productive with it when it came to creative writing.

[Phoenix_1]

Hypomania feels great ... until it doesn't. I feel smart, efficient, better, stronger, faster. I can work circles around other people. Everything just flows. When I'm hypomanic, I'm creative and I've written poetry and made greeting cards for people. Things are easy. Then I do something completely stupid like mortgaging the house to buy a business that failed the first year.
I used to resent my ex. I left him 3 times before our divorce in 2000. I wasn't diagnosed when I was with him, and I wish I had been. Now I feel sorry that he had to put up with all my strange plans and ideas. He had the patience of a saint to put up with me for 26 years. He's with someone else now, a woman I went to school with, and she's good for him. I'm glad he's doing well.
Hypomania feels wonderful, but it's not my friend. I miss hypomania, but it's just as well that I'm now somewhat "normal" (whatever normal is).
I feel calmer now, but lacking in a lot of ways. I have no will to do things like clean my apartment or go out with friends. In fact, I lost most of my friends when I was hypomanic in 2013. I don't care about a lot of things like I used to. I function, but that's about it. I guess this is my baseline. Boring but ok. Just ok.

[BipolaRNurse]

I think my BP has made me a more creative and compassionate person. I was only diagnosed 7 1/2 years ago, but I've always been creative and an empath; having bipolar just brought it out more because I know what pain is and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, if I had one. Still, I wish I didn't have it, as it's caused irreparable damage to some of my relationships as well as my finances.

[Catchingthesun]

If you could harness the creativity that comes with mania and the awareness with everything around you it could be a positive. Other than that I see no positive.

[Zeroid]

I have some great stories to tell, and so do other people.

[daladico]

1. I appreciate the “normal” times in a whole new way
2. When I’m in the “good” hypomanic phase (as opposed to being incredibly irritable/agitated), I have this amazing bliss that many people have likely never experienced
3. I’m able to deeply connect with other people who struggle with mental health & help them along the way