[MtnTime2896]

Does being around someone else who's manic cause anyone else's mania to feel that much more euphoric?

I should add, that I'm referring to hypomania for myself. My friend, however, is manic.

[Ripose]

Does being around someone else who's manic cause anyone else's mania to feel that much more euphoric?

Definitely. I had one friend that we seemed to feed off each other. Continually spiraling higher until we totally lost it and both ended up laughing and crying for hours on end. Even my wife whom suffers from bad depression could not help but join in the laughter.

[MtnTime2896]

Originally Posted by Ripose

Definitely. I had one friend that we seemed to feed off each other. Continually spiraling higher until we totally lost it and both ended up laughing and crying for hours on end. Even my wife whom suffers from bad depression could not help but join in the laughter.

Thanks, it kind of explains something that happened earlier this year when I was IP. At that point, the hospital suggested BP and I told them to screw off. Looking back, with those two that ended up being my friends to this day, we got medicated to hell because we were so hyped. I thought it was normal, didn't realize getting that happy just a day after a hard depression was normal.
I still have a lot of questions about BP, so thank you for helping me out with this one.

[Wander]

Originally Posted by Só leigheas

Thanks, it kind of explains something that happened earlier this year when I was IP. At that point, the hospital suggested BP and I told them to screw off. Looking back, with those two that ended up being my friends to this day, we got medicated to hell because we were so hyped. I thought it was normal, didn't realize getting that happy just a day after a hard depression was normal.
I still have a lot of questions about BP, so thank you for helping me out with this one.

What are your Q's on BP that you feel up to asking?

[MtnTime2896]

Originally Posted by Wander

What are your Q's on BP that you feel up to asking?

I don't really know where to start. Right now I'm dealing with something that's driving me nuts. I keep swearing to god people are staring at me. The one guy's head twisted 180 degree, like an owl, and stared at me. Next thing I know, the back of his head is facing me but I don't recall it moving to that position, it was almost like a fade or something. No one's actually looking at me, it turns out because my fiance is reminding me that it's not actually happening. I don't even know if that's the BP or my PTSD issues. I have no idea what's wrong with me at this point.
I swore someone was coming after me earlier when I was getting into my car. Turned around to fight him but no one was there. I'm used to thinking someone's breaking into my house etc. because of hypervigilance, but this is different and I can't explain it.

[Wander]

It could be hyper-vigenlene, could be paranoia or even psychosis. Either way it sounds scary to live with. Does your treatment team know about this? Maybe they can help. I went through a phase where I was so paranoid and hypervigilent that o wore sunglasses and an iPod while food shopping. I was terrified people were watching me and knew my thoughts. Once the stress in my life was removed over time the symptoms eased.

[MtnTime2896]

Thanks Wander, I often do the same thing with music and sunglasses. Last week I touched on it with my therapist and I'll tell him more tomorrow.

I guess, my next question for everyone: How did you adjust to thinking your moods were average, like everyone else, to coming to terms with being bipolar?

I don't think I'm handling it well. I still don't believe it, to be honest. I'm just letting my doc do what he thinks is best to see if anything is actually wrong with me outside of PTSD.

[franz kafka]

I hate running into other manic people in hospital. I want to talk. I want the attention. Not that person.

[Wild Coyote]

My husband and I can both experience hypomania at the same time (now and then). if/when this happens, our collective hypomania might add up to a more hypomanic episode.

One time, we went on a buying spree together -- on a whim one afternoon -- and bought too much product which could not be returned after 72 hours. That hurt our "budget" for the entire year. Lesson learned.

Generally speaking, we are both quite self-aware and also aware of one another's moods. We tend to be careful and seek "grounding" if/when we are hypo at the same time. We don't spend money on anything other than "needs" during that time. (I hope we can keep this in place.)


WC

[xRavenx]

I was dating a guy a while back who never got the help he needed, but I am pretty sure he was Bipolar based on very manic behavior he displayed. He definitely made me feel even more euphoric.

He used to spend a lot of money on lavish things, he would drive recklessly, and display very erratic and grandiose behavior. We'd impulsively stay at hotels and suites way out of our budget and spent the whole time drinking, having lots of sex, and generally living a lifestyle way out our means. I felt like a celebrity--as if I was on top of the world. We did this every weekend for a few months straight, although he was in bad financial shape to begin with. The more we were with each other, the more reckless we were. We planned trips across the world, but since we both crashed before being able to go, I ended up owing money on tickets I purchased.

We had a lot of fun together, but it ended up being a destructive relationship that fell apart when we both became depressed and reality set in. I felt so euphoric with him, but it later resulted in financial and emotional problems. Also, since he made me feel especially "up," I yearned to experience that mania again once it diminished and had a hard time getting over him. Really I realize now, it wasn't him I was trying to get over. I was really just trying to cope with missing that high feeling I experienced before falling into a depression. Now, I realize it was such an unhealthy situation.