[lunaticfringe]

So fortunately I have a small amount of insight left to see that my behavior lately equals manic mostly of the dysphoric sort. My mind had been moving like a freight train....churning and moving in circles NON STOP. It is so painful. I have been feeling the unstoppable urge to drink...been ranting and raving and yelling, been horribly abusive to my fiance, sleeping less and less. Been having some really strange and bizarre thoughts going on...intrusive thoughts I guess. Just feeling a general hatred toward the world and I think last night I was acting quite strange in public.

I am off of lithium now...just made an appointment to see a new pdoc next tuesday.

How do you keep yourself relatively under control during mania? I'm just going to try to eat and sleep as much as I can I guess and try not to get so angry. Going to take the last of the risperdal I have until it runs out then start on a bottle of geodon. Will try not to drink but when the urge comes I can't control it.

One thing that I found helpful are these meditation oasis podcast things that you can download. There are specific ones for grounding and for rest, sleep, etc. Hopefully that and the risperdal will help.

[LettinG0]

I don't have any great words of wisdom but I am thinking of you and sending I'm glad that you are aware enough to recognize your state of mind. That is a positive in itself. Hope the med helps and you can rest.

[Crazy Hitch]

I'm sorry that you're going through this.

That sleep schedule does help, yes.

Also (as I'm sure you already are), keeping tabs with your pdoc helps too as you may need adjusting of meds and if that's the case that's the best person to advise you.

Try stay away from things that might aggrevate your mood - people / places etc that can cause you to get more overwhealmed / angry.

Keep posting here, that's a good distraction

[convalescence]

I have bipolar II, but I'm positive that I have had full blown mania in the past.

Anyways, during hypomania I tend to try to put my energy towards something useful, such as studying, cleaning the house, organizing, doing tasks quickly, and so on and so forth. If possible I remind myself that I don't need to self-medicate and that there are healthier ways to cope with mania.

Don't forget to eat and try to keep your sleep schedule on track. I know it's a hard thing to do.

Oh, and during episodes I like to write down everything that I am feeling. My habit of writing during manic episodes actually helped me reach my bipolar diagnosis.

I wish you the best of luck. I am sorry that you're suffering with this... This disorder is not easy to live with. I hope I gave you at least something that might be of help to you.

[wiretwister]

Originally Posted by Hooligan

.

Keep posting here, that's a good distraction

that's what I did to get thru a bad time, it really helps, talk it out with us ....

[Capriciousness]

You're already ahead of the game because you are able to see what is happening.

When I'm like that I try to just damage control. Like don't talk to people (like the significant other), and tell him not to bring up anything to you. Don't make big decisions. Don't go to places where you get overstimulated. Etc. that is what I do. But it sucks. Big time. I hope you get some piece. The drinking thing is hard for me too. It is just so counter intuitive when there is something in your reach that you know will help you feel better. I know I know.

^^^
Such good advice. Avoid making big decisions and try and stay around people who are positive and sensitive to your situation. Exercise (I'm talking yoga and walking), eat three square and proteins and veggie based meals a day, avoid caffeine, avoid annoying *** people, pray, meditate, journal. Don't make any decisions on impulse, especially when it comes to money, sex, or drugs and alcohol.

The one thing I appreciate about my manic break is that afterwards my house was spotless and organized. I'm generally horrible about that stuff but it was oddly satisfying when I was manic.