When in mania.....

I was on bipolar meds for about 3 years when I went into full blown mania sometime in early 2011 don't know exactly when. I had a severe heat stroke in August of 2010 and was hospitalized. I honestly think that had something to do with it. I went through a lot, about spilt up with my wife, started a side business, spent a lot of savings, talked loud, didn't sleep much and a lot of other things. I could not for the life of me understand why my wife was being so hard on me and fighting with me a lot. I didn't realize I was in mania until it was over. It seems like now I was two different people at the same time. Sometimes one, sometimes the other.
My questions are this:
Is that the way mania works?
Can you realize your in mania and snap out of it somehow?

I know the signs and feel myself "ramping up." It is not controllable, but there are things that can be done to help it not continue to ramp up. I am still working on this though. Benzos help, come time : )

Somewhere in between I recognise my mania but only grasp the aftermath fully afterwards. Hindsight is always the better view. I try not dwell on the past too much. Sure there are things I really don't like. But I can't change what I did. I don't even apologise. Wow I'm stubborn.

I can't just snap out of it. It requires an adjustment in the dosage of my meds. And they don't necessarily kick in straight away.

I guess the silliest strategy I had whilst manic was to keep working. Not a good idea. Didn't end well. But do I regret my actual behaviors like yelling at people and so on and so forth. Not really. My brain was just effed at the time. Feel like I'm contradicting myself but I'm trying not to.

My wife reminds me of her hurt and the problems I caused often, I can't seem to get away from the past.

I don't know my episode's/moods well. I know my feelings but for me it's been always like this. Is not a different me it's a more intense me. The best thing for me to snap out of it is an as needed anti psychotic.

It's usually a great help for the spouse that is not bipolar to see a Therapist to help them understand more and learn ways to keep themselves mentally healthy while being there for you .

Agreed. I love my husband but sometimes he's a little blind sided

Zoom zoom- I know I'm maniac when my bones start to ache. That's when I calculate the hours I've been up and when its over 24-36 I start hitting sleep meds and improve sleep hygiene asap. Glorious four hours of sleep a day.......how I love you. Eight hours of sleep.....I hope we meet again!

Totally!

Sleep - or the amount of sleep - is usually a pretty good indicator of where my mood is