[wachiki92]

I know a symptom of hypo/mania is increase in alcohol and drug use. I do drink more in mixed episodes to take the edge off, but I barely drink during my euphoric hypomanias. Brings me down too much and I don't want that. Is it this way for anyone else?

[lunaticfringe]

Excellent topic! That's interesting because I feel more inclined to drink more when hypo/manic. Furthermore if I'm not hypo/manic, going out drinking/partying can send me into it. I get the urge to party and socialize when in that elevated state. I feel really great about myself and want to get into trouble. I know what you mean though about it bringing you down. For me it gets me even higher.

[Row Jimmy]

I drank way too much - hardcore partier for many years, the type that would be asked to leave or escorted to the door because everyone was going to sleep. I used to take pride in it and I look back now with regret. It was wasted time.

I have probably been bipolar for many years and when I was "up", I'd drink more. I don't think I really drank when I was depressed......I WOKE UP depressed!

Now I don't drink at all. I do and I don't miss it. Meh, so be it.

[MyUsername1111111]

Originally Posted by wachiki92

Brings me down too much and I don't want that. Is it this way for anyone else?

I too feel this way. First of all, i don't drink to relieve anxiety, i drink to become belligerent. And the older i get, the more trouble i seem to get in.

Drinking usually leaves me pissed off or in some sort of sticky situation, so yeah it definitely brings me down too much. Plus i can quite easily hit full zombie mode when i drink too much

With that said, i do not drink often at all anymore. When i am not hypomanic i would much rather smoke weed. Weed too "slows me down" a bit so i would not want to risk my mood for a temporary funny feeling in my amygdala