Question

Can you have one manic episode and still not be bipolar?

This may sound silly but I'm serious.

When I google it I can't find an answer.

The nature of the illness seems to include depression, but I think BP can be diagnosed based on just an upswing. Mania is very unique..

I believe that according to the DSM-5 criteria you only need to have one single manic episode for a diagnosis of BP. The presence of mania is what characterizes the condition, not the depression.

I'm no expert but I believe even just one manic episode points to bipolar. I would personally doubt this if it were med induced, however I believe even if it is med induced it's still considered bipolar by the medical community.

Nah, if the mania is caused due to substances (illegal drugs or legal prescription drugs) it doesn't count as "Bipolar mania."

EDIT: Or maybe I could more accurately state that as "it doesn't count as a symptom of bipolar disorder."

Mania off meds isn't a symptom, nor is it exlcusively BP, but if meds induce, say, a week long manic episode that is absolutely beyond the nature of the drug, I'd consider that bipolar.

A non med induced mania, with depression episodes as well. Should have clarified that.

Yes that is absolutely bipolar.. Assuming your idea of mania isn't skewed. The reason I know I'm BP is because hypomania is absolutely beyond what I'm naturally capable of feeling. Even on drugs.

Easy test: Have you ever woken up feeling like you were on cocaine and just had a couple coffees, for a week straight? Then you're bipolar.

Welcome to the disorder!

Other symptoms may include:

-Suddenly feeling like you are incredibly attractive and interesting and that everyone secretly wants to **** you?

-Talking incessantly and extremely quickly and then feeling confused when other people ask you to slow down or have absolutely no idea what you're talking about?

-Strongly suspecting that you are under surveillance despite not doing anything particularly illicit or unusual?

If you have any of these symptoms, please call the number on the bottom of your local bathroom stall wall right away, because you're about to PARTY - and we can help. We specialize in encouraging FUN and PARTYS.

CANDY and RAINBOWS. LEPRECHANS riding DILDO MACHINES.

DILDOS riding LEPRECHAN MACHINES.

This was what I experienced: Needing to sleep less, three hours a night, racing thoughts that kept me up all night and were so torturous that towards the end it felt like they were screaming in my head and I couldn't even concentrate enough to watch movies, incessantly writing in my journal, discovering the secrets of the universe, driving around all over town at night, things so beautiful I wanted to cry, euphoria, intense paranoia and anxiety, believing I was in a dream, in my unconscious, doing as much as I could to accumulate positive energy, making collages (lots of them!), hallucinations, words on street signs spelled backwards, believing I had the power to control positive energy and that I could save the world with it, believing when I "woke up" my positive energy would be released, taking lots of pills only way to wake up. Ultimately ending up involuntary IP when my husband called the police on me... I'm probably forgetting something. Experience lasted about two weeks. Intense. Overall awful. I was so frenzied and confused and those racing thoughts were like nothing I've ever experienced.

Oh, and talking really fast!

Thanks for the responses guys. You're all awesome! I want to give you all hugs. I love everyone.

Damn, Ive always wanted to discover the secrets of the universe. Maybe this will be the year.

You're funny. Lol, lol.

Hey, I'd totally discovered the secrets. If only I could remember them. I'd become a genious. Lol.

Cheers, torte!

Haha, thanks lol! Lots of cheers to you too.

Sorry to bring this thread up, but does my description sound like a manic episode?

I didn't spend lots of money or do anything risky.

Could it have been something else? Are there things that mimic what seems like mania?

It all sounded pretty typical of mania. If not mania, then hypomania.

I am sure things can mimic mania, like high doses of testosterone or cocaine, but they should be pretty relative to the amount of drug in your bloodstream. I am not sure if anything on earth can thrust someone into a 2 week manic episode, but if anyone knows, id love to know how its done...