[down&out85]

Has anybody else had hypomania that lasts 6 months or more? If so, were you "UP" the entire time, or did it vacillate back and forth? Was the depression that followed worse than a shorter hypomania? How unusual is a duration that long?

Thank you.

My last hypomania was just over 6 months, I was up the entire time, but had a short temper and NO filter. I wasnt fussed by it though, I felt great and did what I want when I wanted. Quit my job, dropped my meds, dropped my pdocs, pretty much went partying and having a blast for 6 months... then it turned mixed and within 4 days I was back in my pdocs office begging to be medicated. That was the first time it turned mixed and since then I have had more mixed features. Since then I havent dropped my meds again, that was about 5/6 yrs ago? Time is weird.

[Mrs. Mania]

I suffered mania for 9 months in 2011. I was working 80+ hours a week, sleeping 2-3 hours only between shifts. Though physically exhausted, mentally I felt sharp as a tack and super happy. My huge paychecks were spent frivolous while my rent wasn't paid. I kept missing Pdoc appointments and when I finally saw her and got taken down, I felt like my world ended. Lost my job and have had a hard time keeping one since. Let your Pdoc know what's going on, in my experience, the longer your up, the worse you go down.

[Toodles333]

Been manic for over 5 months now. I went a week without eating or sleeping at the start, but I was proper euphoric then. Lots of casual sex. Lots of spending. Lots of acting like a complete tool. Mixed bits thrown in. Finished off with a psychotic episode which ended with me in the hospital. Medicated since last week but still feel the mania fighting through.

[MagicDragon]

My earlier episodes (before I was diagnosed) lasted several months. I don't even remember now; but I was highly productive, very involved in several projects, extremely creative, and slept only a few hours a night without ever feeling like I missed it. I was grandiose, had racing thoughts, and was certain that God was inspiring me to lead and do great things. At the time, we thought this was just "normal" me.

After a few episodes like this (with lengthy depressive episodes in between), my episodes started occurring just about every 3 months, on the dot. I would get involved in several projects and be "high"; then all of the sudden, I would crash and not be able to do anything. I would end up in my pastor's office crying because I felt like a flake. After about 3 times of this, he advised me to tell my pdoc about these episodes.

When I did this, I was diagnosed as Bipolar (this was during a depressive episode). He started me on Abilify which switched me into a hypomanic mode. I didn't care; in fact, I welcomed it because I was back in school and needed to be able to work. I stayed up for a LONG time.

Finally the INTENSE anxiety caught up me, and I ended up in the hospital. They took away all my benzos (which I had been abusing), and it has been hell ever since. My meds have changed continually for 1-1/2 years, I have been hospitalized 9 times, and I am still struggling. I hope they can figure out something soon.

Has anyone else found this illness to be progressive--to get worse over time?

[jacky8807]

yes i have had them up to 6 months . They tend to end on a horrifying mixed note and well...that ruins alls the fun
to answer the other posters question....i have found it to be progressive and worse over time. I know that is something that is different for everybody though

[Secretum]

In high school, I believe that I was mildly hypomanic for just over a year. I got straight As, tried to start a club, placed 6th at state for a science competition, got 5s on the 5 AP tests that I took my junior year, including AP bio which I hadn't actually taken the class for, just studied on my own.

It was great, and then it ended in what was the worse depression I had ever had.

I keep chasing the sustained hypomanic productivity I had then. I think that is why I am dissatisfied with my life, even when things are going "well"-they are not going as well as they were during that period!

[cashart10]

Yes (manic, not hypo-manic), but only while extremely psychotic. My husband didn't know what to do (so he says) so he did nothing. When I "came down," like others mentioned, it wasn't into depression but into the most hellish mixed episode I've ever had. I wouldn't wish that episode, even with it's wickedly extraordinary euphoria, on my worst enemy. It was entirely lurid and terrifying!

[lunaticfringe]

My last big hypo/manic episode lasted somewhere around 10 months with no down period. Towards the end it got dysphoric. Lots of irritability and anger. I ended up in the hospital at the end and was put back on meds. It was followed by a moderate depression that lasted about 2-3 months. Then a couple smaller hypomanic episodes, and now depressed again.

[Secretum]

Originally Posted by MagicDragon

Has anyone else found this illness to be progressive--to get worse over time?

Unfortunately, yes. Bipolar tends to be progressive.

[BastetsMuse]

Looking back from stability, yes, I was hypomanic and manic for months at a time, but I can't say it was for 3, 6, or 9 months .... can't say a set period. I did, in Vermont, tend to be manic in the winters when the sun would reflect off the sun and depressed in the summers when I'd stay inside to get away from the heat! A reverse SAD of sorts. I've also spent months on end depressed.

I eventually learned how to function fairly well when hypomanic, without casual sex or too much stupid spending, but I was grounded by marriage, children and work.... and not very hypo at all. I don't suggest anybody shoot for this. On the other hand, I tend to resent my pdoc's tendency to medicate me to what I call a 4 on the mood scale... just slightly sub-par, to make sure there are no hypomanic days at all.

And yes, Bipolar tends to be progessive, which is why this 21 year veteran of the bipolar wars takes her Geodon every single day without fail.