[Velouria]

Bear with me, since I'm pretty much new to all this.

Is it possible to continue working if you're having a manic episode? I realize that in many cases it is not possible, but is it at all possible, or is it impossible?

I imagine it's possible with hypomania, but again, what about mania?

What is your personal experience with mania? What is it like for you? What happens?

Certain things confuse me about bipolar disorder and I'm trying to suss it out. Like the difference between hypomania and mania. Reading the symptoms, they both basically say the same things. Is the difference solely in the psychotic features of mania?

What if everything else about your mania bears more resemblance to hypomania, but you have psychotic features?

Feel free to answer any or all of these questions. Or you can just read this and not answer anything. You know. Totally up to you.

Thanks!

[wildflowerchild25]

I was able to work (barely) during my manic episodes until I went psychotic and had to be hospitalized.

For be I know it's mania when I start having weird thoughts, like I tend to believe I have magical healing powers when I'm manic. I only count it as hypomania when im feeling great but my feet are still attached to the ground. Like I'm still logical and can keep my stranger or more harmful impulses under control. When I can't stop myself from screaming in irritation or driving 100mph or singing/dancing in front of my students then I know it's beyond hypomania.

[BipolaRNurse]

I have very distinct manias and hypomanias, and during mania I'm basically useless. I get too crazy to be able to focus on anything and I'm either dancing on the moon or in a rage. When I'm hypo, I'm really productive and put out prodigious amounts of work, although I tend to make a lot of mistakes and laugh them off even when they're pretty serious. I had to retire from nursing because I was afraid I'd kill somebody.

[gayleggg]

I've been able to work during manic phases, in fact, I was very energetic and productive. I have worse problems working during the depressive phases.

[Flyer]

I don't understand the 2 either, so I'll address mine as one. I can be overly: giddy, energetic, intelligent, 'flying', humorous, entertaining, creative. Often I come up with dreams of building a resort, a retirement home for country folks, a boy's home, a safe place for abused women, all right down to the floor plans sometimes. I think I could get a job. One time I put a bunch of stuff on layaway with a deposit and never went back, I have purchased things I don't use. I may be boastful, arrogant, impatient, and want to choke somebody. I may open mouth and insert foot.

Putting a label on it does nothing for me but labeling does have it's advantages. I feel like it's not an excuse for me and readily make appologies, even though in reality, I was not in control. It is never my intent to hurt anyone and they don't understand why I would do what I did.

In a weird way, I think some of my ideas aren't so far fetched but I may tend to go overboard. Like day dreaming to a fault.

I worked for 26 years in a facility for the mentally challenged. I felt the staff were more accepting of others there, but that is a one sided idea because I don't have another job to compare it to.

Over time, you will learn to understand things better and see what fits you. The first step is getting help, getting stable regardless of labels put on you. Even the psychiatric world doesn't fully understand us yet, and they are the ones that have studied us for years. At first I was Manic Depressive, then I was BiPolar and now there are 2 BiPolars, yet I remain the same.

This may make no sense at all as I am in an 'over-thinking state' today.

[Hexagram]

Continuing work through a manic episode is risky; your judgement may be off, you may not realize it, and you might make mistakes.

We've always worked through mania, but I sign up to do the craziest stuff I'd never do in real life, like raise a 2 story house by myself. It almost killed me, but I did! Scary stuff. That's just the tip of the iceberg.

But since being diagnosed, I had a bull sheat meter installed that I analyze everything through. It works most of the time, but not always.

[BlueInanna]

I was told tonight that I'm in a mixed episode and she insisted I take at least next week off work. I'm very discouraged. I need the money.

[Eva_Star]

I don't know the difference really. I classify mine as hypomnia as I've always been able to think rationally through it.

**wow.I had to check myself there because I don't think charging 7 grand worth of bs on a secret credit card is very rational...which I did. So I guess I dont know. lol Very helpful, right?

I have worked for the same job for 7 years. I've missed maybe 3 days. I can usually just put one foot in front of the other and get through, I think the only problem I have during hypomania is my inability to shut up. I talk WAY too much and share WAY too much information. So embarrassing.