Some kind of manic behaviour with being bipolar?

Some kind of manic behaviour WITHOUT being bipolar - sorry can't edit the title!

I am considering seeing my doctor. I am going through an unusual period over the last few weeks when I become focussed on something that I am angered by - it is not irritability at all - I regard myself, generally as quite positive in my mood - I don't feel like I get depressed to ever say that I'm depressed and I've actually rationalised that that is perhaps not as positive a thing as it might sound - in evolutionary medicine there is an idea (based on some research - sorry I don't have a link) that depression can be helpful to help motivate some people to take action to change their lives or their outlook in such a way that they remove or mitigate against depression - in the study those that suffered more severe depression (and I don't think it was crippling depression) tended to make more progress than the group of people who suffered much milder depression anyway, that's a digression. So, in looking for information on mania I am swamped with links about manic depression, i.e. bipolar disorder and I do not identify with that condition at all - I am not cycling between incredible highs and lows, I feel on an even keel - I am not irritable to be around or irritable however I have noticed that I sieze on things - usually issues of injustice - some large, some small and then throw my time into researching and contacting people to find out more e.g. the future of our local swimming pool - the facility is in decline (it is old and public finances are always short of cash) and there is no information about it's future even though meetings are being held by local government (borough and county council) groups - I seized on this after the sauna facilities were taken out of service - it seemed there was no information about what was happening and when or if it would be repaired, etc. I suppose I have to be honest and admit that I feel strange atm and wonder why I act on these feelings and the majority of people do nothing. I just have this energy, this desire to ask questions, get to the bottom of what is going on and I know I am quite a handful to deal with - I've read up on 2 years worth of minutes from council meetings in a few days, made numerous phone calls, wrote numerous emails. The pool is one current issue but there have been many other smaller issues that I have complained about - problems with junk postal mail, problems with treatment I have received on the health service - it seems that once something gets my attention for the wrong reasons I get myself involved and become very critical, verbally aggressive/combative/confrontational/undiplomatic but I am not ranting like a lunatic over trivialities - I question everything, find weaknesses and errors - but I do find myself mentally dismantling things, tearing things apart to get to a picture of what is really going on - I know at these times I am incredibly difficult to deal with. I do wonder what is going on with me and why. Obviously there is more context and detail to this but I don't go into it any more atm - I can add more if anyone is remotely interested or can contribute something to help me make more sense of my thinking and behaviour.
TIA

Is this new? Do you feel that your mood/behavior is having a negative impact on your life? Is it causing you problems in your relationships, work, finances, general well-being etc.?

Honestly, your post feels a bit 'manic' with the intensity and digressions and run-ons...which is not me saying 'I think you have bipolar disorder' - just an observation - could just be your style

It does not sound like mania but let me quote the DSM-IV-TR.

"A Hypomanic Episode is defined as a distinct period during which there is an abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood that lasts at least 4 days. This period of abnormal mood must be accompanied by at least three additional symptoms from a list that includes inflated self-esteem or grandiosity (nondelusional), decreased need for sleep, pressure of speech, flight of ideas, distractibility, increased involvement in goal-related activities or psychomotor agitation, and excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences." (DSM-IV-TR, 2000)

I will stop there and let you make your own assessment. There are other disorders within the bipolar spectrum, which are not manic depression. If you are distressed by your behavior, you may consider making an appointment with your psychiatrist.

Maybe you are just a passionate person.

Go read Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison's book "Exuberance" you'll find bunch of people that are exuberant and elevated by nature, not having bipolar

My boyfriend does not have bipolar, and he tends to do exactly what you are describing. He's a very research inclined individual. That's why I know I'm hypomanic when I start intensely researching or focusing on things I normally wouldn't because I usually don't do a whole lot of research.

I was in IP with a girl who was Dx'd "Unipolar Manic".

I fixate aggressively on topics. Feel quite capable and that it is my responsiblity to correct a situation (even if its out of my hands) I feel like I must often steer things in the right direction. I feel very strong, powerful, capable and focused. I can be quite formidable - at times. It doesn't always feel like mania, it seems totally sensible at the time.

Later I can wonder how I got so over-involved.

I have added 'fixate' on my list of symptoms I keep track of because it is usually close to around mania - before, during or after. I never fixate around depression.

Idk if know that helps. Good luck to you.

It's rare, but being highly passionate and exuberant doesn't directly point to mania.
There are people whose baseline mood is around hypomania on the mood-scale but they're not ill, whereas a diagnosis of unipolar mania definitely crosses the line between normal and abnormal.

Seriously, read 'Exuberance; passion for life'
http://www.amazon.com/Exuberance-Pas.../dp/0375701486

agreed. I am a very obsessive, research-driven person as well - I fixate on a topic and do nothing but read, think, write about it. While this is 'normal' for me, sometimes I think it can be a bit of a trigger...for example, I can get overly excited, eat/sleep much less because of this, develop unrealistic expectations, buy things I really can't afford in order to pursue my current fascination, and then start to feel I've made some miraculous discovery and am 'special.' When it gets to this point, I'm bound to fall - unrealistic visions and loss of perspective sets one up for failure, that state of being, for me at least, just isn't sustainable. This is when I get frantic, confused, angry, and then depressed...

I guess my point is - are you setting yourself up to fall? Your goals don't seem particularly out of reach or bizarre (I'm thinking of Dr. Jamison's description of buying up all the city's snake bite kits in order to save everyone...a good example of when goal-driven enthusiasm crosses the line)

Thank-you for all your replies - I'll be brief now as it's late (UK time). I think it is just a first experience of some kind of episode. I've only ever had 2 migraines and I remember the first time (10 years ago) I wondered what the hell was happening - I knew the term but didn't really know first-hand how it differed from a bad headache - the 2nd time I knew exactly what is was and was less distressed by it. I saw my dr about it and I have a referral to some psychological services and I'll follow up on that. I know a number of abnormal things were happening all at the same time - my eating went a bit haywire, my driving too and I'm a placid driver. I swim a lot - 3 times a week and up to 2.5 hours each swim as I'm training for something atm and I wondered if my eating went out of the window after months of carefully control and a lot of exercise but I know I don't feel quite right in myself - something like the feeling (I imagine) of climbing out of a wrecked car after a crash and feeling like I'd had a lucky escape - that feeling of being jittery and unnerved. I am not doing anything irrational or delusional - just becoming very forceful, persistent, verbally aggressive - a general PITA and I don't like it, makes me feel unsettled. I think there is an anger issue in this somewhere - as with all of us - there is a wider context, a mixed terrain of other issues. If I can understand that this is some kind of episode the awareness I hope, will be enough to help me recognise and deal with it better next time (like the migraine) - I'm never keen on drugs or talking therapies. It also crosses my mind it might be the start of more problems - I don't know.