[ozzy1313]

Wondering if this is a bp trait or just me.

I get on kicks where a certain idea completely overwhelms me. This summer one of them was buying a new car. All I did was research online and test drive. I never even bought one in the end. Lately it has been painting the house and that is all I think about. It's just that over and over I get in these obsessive phases and it is tiring and I'm sure people around me get annoyed. With the car thing I was emailing my dad numerous cars I found online every day. Getting a pet was another of my things. There are probably more but I need to get to work.

[jesusplay]

sounds like a manic/hypomanic trait. If you weren't then you might have a comorbid anxiety disorder, which is fairly common for people with bipolar.

[cool09]

I get on kicks where I get hyperfocused on something and spend all of my energy on it then after a period of time I'm tired of it and lose interest - it can be anything from music to hockey to spending money, etc. May be impulsivity or obsessive behavior.

[loophole]

That happens constantly with me. Lamictal has actually helped with this.

[BlackSheep79]

I go thru that too. I did it this last spring and summer with remodeling all over the house, I couldn't stop. Looking back I was definitely hypo., but I also suffer from OCD and GAD, so I don't know if they all feed off of each other when I'm hypo. That's why it's hard for me sometimes to know what is BP and what is OCD?

I do that, too. This Spring i surfed the Home Depot site day and night planning renovations. The financing took so long to arrange that i had come to my senses by the time it came thru -- a blessing as i would have bankrupted myself. I was definitely manic. I had a great time but skated far too close to ruining myself financially.

[LostMommy227]

Yes, definitely obsess. Though not long term. It's an all consuming thought and it's hard to focus on anything at all when it happens. Hard to shower, hard to eat, hard to take care of responsibilities that are right in front of me, and hard to be considerate of others feelings for sure.

Its definitely hard to overcome

Wow, I can't believe that so many of us have these obsessions! I do too! It consumes me. Which is why I'm up at 4 in the morning. I want to look at and research bunnies. In the summer it was buying a new house. My pdoc says it part of OCD. I just don't have the compulsions. Just the obsessions. He recently put me on clonazepam (spelling?) to try and calm me down. And it causes huge issues between my husband and I.

I have no advice for you as I have the same issue. But if anyone has advice, that would be wonderful.

[Imah]

Yes, I have this too. I try to keep tasks materials on hand if such a situation arises. If I begin, its hard to stop. I wonder how many of us still have untouched supplies from having a grand scheme, getting equipped to implement, then out of the phase.

[ozzy1313]

To my knowledge I don't have OCD.

I do have a basement full of hundreds of dollars of art supplies from my 11 months of being "an artist". I sold on etsy, craft shows, etc. I marketed myself like crazy and then a switch turned off and I quit right away. I do have talent, but I go in phases for art- with this remodel it has sparked an interest again (I haven't done any art in 2 years and never thought I would want to again).

I have painted all rooms in my house 3 times (have only lived here 12 years). It all gets to be too much though- like with the new car obsession- I would wear myself out looking/thinking about it.

I have also done this with going back to school. (I do have a BS) I was going to be a nurse and looked into all the school etc. I told everyone About my plans and then halfway through my CNA class decided it wasn't for me. Same with being a teacher. That was even worse bc I worked as a teacher aid in school and told everyone my plans of going back to school. I met with college counselors etc. and then imediately lost interest. For months I had people asking me how school was going.

I am now TRYING not to let other people in on these kind of thoughts until they have played out- but like with this current remodel I have posted a lot on facebook about it. At least this I have actually done!

Yeah, i have that embarassment, too, when i give up the ideas. During my Spring renovation craze i got a sample of the flooring i wanted and showed it around to people. I had my condo president come and see my plans. A neighbor provided me with the floor plans for my unit. I had an appointment with the kitchen designer at Home Depot. I got a home equity line of credit. I got a Home Depot Credit card.

All this to say, i wasted a lot of people's time and they are astonished that i didn't actually do anything.

Early in my recovery about 15 years ago i also had the 'Artist' mania. I was going to sew art. I bought an expensive sewing machine and desk. I bought so much fabric the clerk gave up measuring it and weighed it on a scale! I did about half a dozen fabric collages. I thought they were quite nice, but amateurish. Then i gave it up and now i'm stuck with this hulking sewing machine and desk in my living room. My dog has adopted it as her hide-a-way, so at least it's used for something!

[Goldcrest]

I do this too, manic or mixed state, get loads of ideas, fixate on one and get completely obsessed, doing research, making plans, booking myself onto courses, spending a lot of money (of course) and before it can come to fruition everything collapses and comes crashing down including me...

[AstridLovelight]

Yeah, I get like this too. Earlier this year I became consumed by an interest in the lute. I spent a lot of time learning about the lute and watching videos of old dudes playing lutes on youtube. I have no idea why. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of beautiful lute music out there, but it wasn't even about the music, I was just fascinated and entranced by watching their hands play the instrument. I had no interest in learning how to play myself. Nowdays I couldn't really care less about the lute, so I still don't know what that was about. During that time I was also having intense cravings for alka-seltzer over ice, but the meds I was on (and maybe serious hyponatremia I was also experiencing) might have had something to do with that. So that was my life in March and April, drinking alka-seltzer on the rocks while watching lute videos over and over. Ain't mental illness fun?

Most recently I was obsessed with writing and performing a one-person play about living with bipolar disorder. I actually might follow up on that when I get a little more stable. So far the script I have is pretty much gibberish.

Wow, that's so funny about the lute playing and the Alka-Seltzer on the rocks! That's really random! I wish i could get one of those cleaning manias. My place is neat and tidy but needs a good scrubbing. I heard about one manic woman who cleaned the inside of her toilet tank! Haha! I love this thread -- it's making me feel so much better about my bipolar. Thanx to all the contributors!

[BipolaRNurse]

Obsessions? Got 'em, at least during manic periods when I plant about a zillion flowers and then proceed to neglect them for the rest of the summer. Or I'll research a topic (usually health-related) for days or weeks, reading everything I can get my hands on and remembering none of it. Or I get to cleaning and can't stop.....which unfortunately is about the only time I clean, period. And I don't have OCD, at least not that I know of. I think it's a bipolar thing too.

[furiousfever]

I definitely obsess over things. Its like I get in these loops where all I can focus on is one thing/theme/item/idea. I've ruined relationships and my financial security with this obsessive looping. Its funny, until medicated, I had no idea it was even happening. Now I have a clearer understanding, although the problem persists.

[cool09]

I'd like to see statistics for OCD, BP, anxiety disorders in modern countries vs. third World countries. I'm sure ADD, OCD are more prevalent in the modern World. Schizophrenia is, as well. Bombarded with information and money dominates the pace of life.

[ozzy1313]

I am having to force myself to not do any painting/designing today. I have painted every piece of wood and walls in 3 rooms. Have re-covered 6 chairs and painted a table found on craigslist.

I told myself no more for now. I have family coming over this week for dinner and I don't to be stuck in the middle of a project then. I tried working out today but thoughts of sanding the wood in the entry got too strong so I went upstairs, got out the power sander and went to town. This is getting out of hand. The house looks great- but it's all I can think about.

[Imah]

Originally Posted by ozzy1313

To my knowledge I don't have OCD.

I do have a basement full of hundreds of dollars of art supplies from my 11 months of being "an artist". I sold on etsy, craft shows, etc. I marketed myself like crazy and then a switch turned off and I quit right away. I do have talent, but I go in phases for art- with this remodel it has sparked an interest again (I haven't done any art in 2 years and never thought I would want to again).

I have painted all rooms in my house 3 times (have only lived here 12 years). It all gets to be too much though- like with the new car obsession- I would wear myself out looking/thinking about it.

I have also done this with going back to school. (I do have a BS) I was going to be a nurse and looked into all the school etc. I told everyone About my plans and then halfway through my CNA class decided it wasn't for me. Same with being a teacher. That was even worse bc I worked as a teacher aid in school and told everyone my plans of going back to school. I met with college counselors etc. and then imediately lost interest. For months I had people asking me how school was going.

I am now TRYING not to let other people in on these kind of thoughts until they have played out- but like with this current remodel I have posted a lot on facebook about it. At least this I have actually done!

Ozzy, lol, I would LOVE to have those supplies. I just entered that phase about 4 months ago. Everything is getting painted, and my trees are getting hacked so I can make things from twigs. Recently I made wreaths. I still have coat hangers in the process - a bunch of thin logs to make a big bird house. This week its cooking, cooking, cooking - my poor neighbor (who always gets stuck with the stuff) is in heaven with the toffee, cookies, sandbakkles. lol Gotta love us - what a group of enthusiasts we are when manic. <3 <3 <3 (I am entering manic phase now and am just so happy and optimistic)

[gloamingone]

I've always been that way, as far back as I can remember. The worst was my hermit crab obsession last year. Now I have seven hermit crabs and no desire to care for them properly. It breaks my heart that I'm neglecting these beautiful little creatures, but I don't know how to get the obsession back. :-(

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[LostMommy227]

I've been obsessing myself into panic attacks about my daughters doctors. And trying to get them off my back. My family makes little babies.

But I'm so scared they will make it worse for her. Like having to have blood drawn 3 different times. She doesn't understand it's for her own good.

And God forbid someone says they want to talk, but want to do it in person. Scenarios play over and over in my head.

[ozzy1313]

Told my pdoc today about this house painting obsession and she wasn't concerned. Regular people get over-involved with things too.

I also told her I stopped prozac and that I was feeling more anxious. She didn't really care I stopped, just asked what I will do if the anxiety worsens. When I told her I would gop back on prozac she was fine with it.

Over all I guess I'm perfectly fine according to dr.

I don't know. I don't care for my psychiatrist who is very quiet. When i told her about my Spring renovation plans, she just said not to let the contractors sell me up. That was it -- just the one sentence.

My excellent GP on the other hand had a whole conversation about it with me. He asked many questions and advised that it was mania and not to do it.

My GP was right. When i told my psychiatrist about how it was sheer madness [after it had passed] she said she should have asked more questions. Damn right she should have!

What does your gut say? What do you think of your psyciatrist? Has she given you good advice in the past?

[LDB1]

Oh yes, I become obsessive about everything. I became so obsessive about playing the guitar that I went way to far into debt to buy what I thought of as the best ones. I become frustrated easily and gave up. leaving myself in debt to the tune of $2500 for instruments that I cannot play and couldn't afford to pay for.

Earlier this year I became obsessed with aquariums. Now I have a big fish tank full of fish and plants that I'm no longer interested in and have to take care of. I'll be finding a new home for that but I'll lose money doing it.

Every time I become enamored of a project, an item or other "hobby", I spend money that I cant afford, put way to much time and energy into it and then lose interest leaving myself with bills and responsibility that I do not want and cant afford.

I have been diagnosed with OCD and GAD on top of BP and the meds are starting to help. My latest obsession is a bit more positive: Becoming debt free. Its a wonderful goal but with limited resources its taking a while and causing me no end of stress and anxiety.

[Turtlesoup]

Well ozzy guess you can see you are not alone on this one . I have done these types of things since childhood. One of my funnier ones was the great harp obsession. About 10 or 12 years ago I went to a local symphony performance-there was of course a harp. OMG I was so going to play the harp (used to play guitar some in high school). I spent untold hours & weeks researching harps & harp music & harp cases & dvds & lessons-ordered a harp off of ebay that had to come from Paraguay (yes I said Paraguay) when it arrived they called from the post office to pick it up-when I got there is was in this HUGE kind of coffin shaped box-they had been making bets about what was in it-I told them it was a Paraguayan vampire. Giant harp-yeah took up a lot of space & I am pretty much certain that you cannot teach yourself how to play a harp. As I am typing this my $700 sewing machine from 4 xmas ago is sitting on the end of my desk-has never been plugged in-have untold boxes of fabric & patterns in my closet-sigh at least these things make for good story telling.