[cartmeout]

I read the other day that some people can FEEL when their mania is about to hit. I didn't understand this until I felt it.

I havnt had caffeine for a while because of stomach problems - gastritis to be exact - and I had no "reason" to feel that buzz.

But I felt it. It caught me off guard during a meeting and my eyes were wide and my brain felt lit, like I had been plugged into the wall and was 150% alert. I felt like my brain was buzzing.

The next day I wanted to start building websites again (I'm currently a graduate student in a Social Work program), I wanted to outline chapters for a book I want to write, and I thought I should start buying clothes for a job I don't have yet and won't even be applying for for another year. Oh and then I started researching houses to buy in a state I don't even live in.

I caught my behavior in time and put my butt to bed early. The next day I was better, but then I got depressed. It wasn't too bad of an episode, but I was so focused on the mania I didn't think about the depression. I got down on myself for not being able to do all of the things I WANTED TO DO! Or that the mania wanted me to do. That made me sad.

Does anyone else have symptoms like this? Can anyone tell when their mania or depression is about to hit?

[Flyer]

Give yourself a break. It's not your fault.

The more you experience these things, the more aware you will become, or may not.

It's a crap shoot if I can recognize it or not in a timely matter. Sometimes I ask friends what they are 'seeing' and what they think. A true/good friend can be honest, and those are the ones I listen to. Some peeps just don't want to hurt my feelings. [Which it wouldn't.]

Best wishes.

[BipolaRNurse]

I'm sitting somewhere between normal and hypomanic right now, so yes I can usually tell when I'm heading in that direction. It feels so good after being depressed for so much of the last year! But my meds are working well and preventing a full-blown episode, so I'm not too worried.

[Nammu]

If I'm honest with myself I have to admit I embrace the onset of the mania. It's like pregnancy you don't remember the pain, the dirty diapers, exhaustion or spit up, you only remember the feel good stuff...at least I i do...until the consequences hits me in the face.

I can tell when a hypomania is coming on. I'll notice that i'm getting more active and enegetic and social. It feels so good after the long depression of Winter i welcome it. If i report it to my doctors or not doesn't seem to matter. My doctor may order an increase in my Seroquel but it doesn't do anything and i just have to burn myself out.