[rollymoody]

So, lot's of things have been happening since my diagnosis. I don't know if I am an a-hole because I am an a-hole or if the mania turns me into an a-hole. Or rather facilitated my a-holines or whatever.

Any one experience this?

How to you avoid being an a-hole in mania?

I am pretty much oblivious to my mania when I am there cause it feels like the normal "me."

I don't want to be an a-hole. How do I slow down and become more calculated while in mania? I am on depacote and seraquel. I will probably ask if I can use seraquel as a PRN while in mania.

[LDB1]

I turn into the biggest A-hole ever while manic. Just ask my X-wife and daughter. I have no answer for you since I haven't returned to that state (knock on wood) since getting medicated.

However, While inpatient I promised myself that I would take the things other people say about my behavior seriously and try to make the appropriate changes to my behavior. So far it hasn't been hard to do but as I said, I haven't had a full manic episode yet. It's my hope that now that I know what I am and so do the people around me, that I can curb the mania with the help of my meds and therapy. Thats the plan anyway.YMMV

[rollymoody]

Originally Posted by LDB1

I turn into the biggest A-hole ever while manic. Just ask my X-wife and daughter. I have no answer for you since I haven't returned to that state (knock on wood) since getting medicated.

However, While inpatient I promised myself that I would take the things other people say about my behavior seriously and try to make the appropriate changes to my behavior. So far it hasn't been hard to do but as I said, I haven't had a full manic episode yet. It's my hope that now that I know what I am and so do the people around me, that I can curb the mania with the help of my meds and therapy. Thats the plan anyway.YMMV

Thank you. So meds will be the ticket hu? Gosh. Yeah. I really really need to preserve the relationships I have and look forward to building new ones. It really worries me since I am afraid of being alone. I don't want bipolar to send me in a spiral of extremes that ruin my life.

[BlackSheep79]

I wouldn't say that meds are the ticket. I apologize to anyone reading this, I'm going thru hypo right now and having trouble writing out my thoughts, so it might not come out right. I'm medicated, Lamictal and Seroquel, 400 mg each. I would say I'm the closest I will get to stability with meds. Right now, like I said its spring and I'm swinging up. My biggest issue, irritability. The kind where I have no filter,, and I'm just a ticking time bomb. I try not to use it as an excuse, it happens and I apologize to others for my language when it's came out before I even know it. I've recently had to go home FMLA because I know I was a ticking time bomb, don't want to risk my job, nor do I want to hurt someone's feelings. So I don't believe medicine is a cure all, I don't know the answer. However, I literally just started therapy and want to address this because it's been a HUGE problem for most of my life. I just don't have the answers? Oh and I did notice that LDB1 said therapy as well.

[BlackSheep79]

Originally Posted by BlackSheep79

I wouldn't say that meds are the ticket. I apologize to anyone reading this, I'm going thru hypo right now and having trouble writing out my thoughts, so it might not come out right. I'm medicated, Lamictal and Seroquel, 400 mg each. I would say I'm the closest I will get to stability with meds. Right now, like I said its spring and I'm swinging up. My biggest issue, irritability. The kind where I have no filter,, and I'm just a ticking time bomb. I try not to use it as an excuse, it happens and I apologize to others for my language when it's came out before I even know it. I've recently had to go home FMLA because I know I was a ticking time bomb, don't want to risk my job, nor do I want to hurt someone's feelings. So I don't believe medicine is a cure all, I don't know the answer. However, I literally just started therapy and want to address this because it's been a HUGE problem for most of my life. I just don't have the answers? Oh and I did notice that LDB1 said therapy as well.

I meant that meds are just part of it if that didn't come across right.

[Hexagram]

You're still going into full-blown a-hole mania on both Depakote and Seroquel?

You seem very self-aware and concerned about others' perception of you, so how much of an a-hole could you really be?

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by rollymoody

So, lot's of things have been happening since my diagnosis. I don't know if I am an a-hole because I am an a-hole or if the mania turns me into an a-hole. Or rather facilitated my a-holines or whatever.

Any one experience this?

How to you avoid being an a-hole in mania?

I am pretty much oblivious to my mania when I am there cause it feels like the normal "me."

I don't want to be an a-hole. How do I slow down and become more calculated while in mania? I am on depacote and seraquel. I will probably ask if I can use seraquel as a PRN while in mania.

I think that when your not manic is when you can determine how to go about setting yourself up to manage better ...

As in learning coping skills of all sorts , its almost a never ending list of possible ones that will help you.

Do you have people in your life that can tell you if your coming off the rails? If so make sure they know to give you a heads up.

When your in a good mindset.. Make a list you can pull out and physically see if people tell you your "off" that list might read something like :

Remember to self ground

Breathing exercises

Remember to eat and sleep

Exercise is great to burn off excess manic energy

Try to remember to breathe at least 2 breaths before responding to anyone's questions

Sometimes seeing visually a list can help allow you some control. It takes practice of course.

Has your medication been changed since your mania appeared? If so how long ago? If your not getting relief your Pdoc needs to be informed sooner rather than later.

I hope you are feeling better soon

[BipolaRNurse]

Full-blown mania turns me into the Wicked Witch of the West. My filters go AWOL along with any concern about what people may think of my behavior, and then I often don't remember my conduct after the episode is over. This has not made me any friends and has actually cost me a few. So the best way to avoid all that is to avoid getting manic, which is a lot easier when you're heavily medicated. Haha!

[Geraldo1213]

Well a lot of self control I've learned that bleep happens whether you like it or not, and to not sweat the small stuff, nor blow up on the big stuff count to five think before you speak

[Crazy Hitch]

I've done heaps of things that I've regretted whilst manic.

I have to learn to forgive myself.

And try and learn from each manic episode by reflecting back on it when I am more stable.

I don't really get the magnitude of my disruptive behaviour during an episode.

Hang in there

[Velouria]

I definitely say waaay more **** to people when I'm up. But I'm also generally a really restrained person, so I don't think I go too far, but I definitely toe the line sometimes and give people the honest truth. I just do it in a really joking, sarcastic, teasing way so that everyone laughs. That's my cover.

[Nammu]

When I start getting the feedback I turned into a jerk I try to stay home and off the wen, it's not too hard for me since I also usually think no one is a match for my superior thinking and can go days and nights writing, painting, sculpture on my current superior idea. I've burned so many bridges that somewhere in the back of my mind I know it's not a good idea to be around other people.
Maybe ask folks around you to distant themselves when you hit mania? I don't know what to say. Mania turns most of us into beings that are insensitive to those around us.