[Craving_hypomania.]

Its been an year since my last hypo episode. An extremely drudgerous year. The first 6 months were pure **** but for the past 6 months I haven’t really been majorly depressed. I’m just stuck in limbo.

I can’t seem to really enjoy or appreciate anything anymore. I just want to know how the rest of u bp2 people cope without the hypomania. Once uv experienced life wearing the hypo goggles how do u go back to the normal.

My self confidence , enthusiasm , optimism , has all plummeted like a stock market crash. Iv become hugely anti social , the rare occasions that I do go out I need to get hammered to fight the social anxiety.

Wish the pharma companies would do more r&d into making drugs that keep you partially hypo. They are just concerned with keeping u straight jacketed , ensuring your yet another drone contributing to society in the so called productive way.

A hypomanic brain could do wonders. I hope I have another episode soon coz life just sucks right now.

[kaliope]

hi craving hypomania
well maybe you are not on the right meds. it is great that you arent cycling but maybe you are too sedated. i have been on meds that keep me stabilized but i feel like i live a perfectly normal life. it took me a long time to find the meds that balanced me out so well, but it was worth it. welcome to psych central. you will find we have several forums where you can post about your concerns and receive feedback from other members. you will get a lot of support here. again, welcome

[Ruftin]

lo and welcome to Psych Central Craving_hypomania!!! It's nice to meet you. You have joined a community of warm and caring members who will want to offer you support and advice. Yours is welcome as well.

Feel free to contact any community liaison or moderator if you need help navigating the forums. It may take some time for your first five posts to appear as they are being reviewed by our moderators.

I hear you!!! Wishing for some hypomania myself. Glad you've joined us.

I look forward to seeing you around!!!

Some forums:

Bipolar - Forums at Psych Central

[Row Jimmy]

For me, the hypomania was draining me and made me miserable because it is rapid cycling. Up down up down was tiring. Now that I'm more centered, I'm much happier. I used to use my hypomania to my advantage like a lot of BP people will do but in my humble opinion, like any other addiction, it doesn't end well.

Knowing the truth has been a blessing for me. I still draw on the creativity that I have inside of me, but this time around, I'm not flying through the air with no way to stop.

[MyUsername1111111]

First off, i would like to say great word choice. Stock market crash, Pharma R&D.. i love it and quite possible know you in real life!

Anyway, maybe a good solution for you would be a light box, or you could go into therapy all depressed and ask your psychiatrist for a dopamine/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor like Wellbutrin

[CANDC]

The danger in hypomania is it is so far from that normal mind you describe yourself in now. The bipolar people I know are all addicted to the mania, but they all end up back in depression the more they chase mania. It is like an addiction.

I am not sure from what I have seen prolonging the mania is a wise move. Some people think they are invincible. They wake up with a $500 shopping bill for stuff they don't really need.

Getting sleep may be the single one thing that keeps me in balance. If you are not sleeping or having bad side affects, contact your doctor or psychiatrist and tell them what is happening so they can make adjustments in your meds.

Many people find compassionate, caring people here at PC. Some people find the forums give them the compassion and empathy they seek.
http://forums.psychcentral.com

Please feel free to private message me or any of the Community Liaisons by left clicking on the name in blue to the left of their post) for questions or just to share.

[CandiJay23]

I'd like to know what chasing mania is. I understand mania... I usually figure out I am there, but can a person actually make themselves go manic? I'm not super low right now, but I don't have any desire to do my hair, make up, get dressed up cute... I quit my job and have no idea what I wanna do from here. My hubby bought me a new car and even that hasn't lifted my spirits...

[Craving_hypomania.]

I am not on any meds right now. The only time iv been on them was when my folks were slipping it into my food to get me down from my hypos. Iv decided to not go down the meds road. Its such a slippery slope , before u know it your on 4 different meds , not even sure how much they are helping you.

Myusername i have thought about going the wellbutrin way , the only thing is that both my hypos so far have been euphoric , im just scared something like wellbutrin could throw me into pure mania or dysphoric mania. Will checkout a light box though.

Candijay chasing mania is a sort of illusive dream every bp2 person has i guess. I dont think anyone has been able to do it successfully .

Wish it was the other way around hypo for a year followed by 4 months of depression.
Its become like a waiting game for me , 4 months of bliss followed by an year of just existing.

[Craving_hypomania.]

Candi - the problem with mania is that its too glorious. Once uv experienced that state of being it is kind of hard to live without it.
Even if ur not depressed at all ull still always fall way short of how u felt when ur manic. U need to accept that.
I am pretty much where u are , not super low but not really enthusiastic either. So things like a new car or a new phone etc wont really make u feel awesome. U need to find a hobby or a sport or anything that gives u some sort of pleasure. That can distract you.
Also u can try antidepressants , but for bipolars u cant just take ads u will need to take a mood stabaliser too . Personally i dont want to be on couple of mind altering and addicting drugs for the rest of my life.
Distract urself for the majority of the time and have a blast when u have your hypos , thats the goal for me.

[Ruftin]

I am not sure from what I have seen prolonging the mania is a wise move. Some people think they are invincible. They wake up with a $500 shopping bill for stuff they don't really need.

I have done this. Thanks CANDC for the reminder. Mania is not good. (((CJ))) I don't think you can chase mania. It kind of sneaks up on you from behind.

Chasing mania means doing things that set off hypomania and turn it in to mania. Doing things and acting in a way to destabilize you. The easiest way is going off your meds.

Yes, you can push yourself over the edge by a lot of things. Have you had a manic episode before?

I am just coming down from mania and this last episode was hell.

[Ruftin]

Originally Posted by ValentinaVVV

Chasing mania means doing things that set off hypomania and turn it in to mania. Doing things and acting in a way to destabilize you. The easiest way is going off your meds.

Yes, you can push yourself over the edge by a lot of things. Have you had a manic episode before?

I am just coming down from mania and this last episode was hell.

Thanks for the clarification ValentinaVVV. I guess I didn't know what chasing meant. Doesn't sound like something I'd want to do.

[BipolaRNurse]

Just last week I ran out of both of my antipsychotics and didn't take them for two days. On the third morning I woke up knowing something was terribly wrong and I felt totally crazy. I was up, I was down, I was laughing and crying at the same time, I was paranoid and irritable and scared. I got better quickly after I got my scripts refilled. I wish I wasn't so sensitive to being without meds, but I am and I don't want to go through that again so I'd better make sure I keep tabs on my meds so I don't run out again.