[Misssy2]

In hypomania (and in mania) the principle difference is that the person who is experiencing hypomania experiences a decreased need for sleep. The person remains energized and not fatigued despite needing considerably less sleep than is usual for them. In insomnia, the person wishes to sleep and would experience fatigue or daytime impairment because of lack of sleep, but struggles to sleep.

I just copied the above paragraph because I googled...Mania vs. Insomnia.

I was wondering last night as I was laying in bed if I had insomnia for real or if it was just "Mania".

Well after reading the above paragraph...I realize I have never had "insomnia" and always have been "manic".

Is it possible to ALWAYS be manic? I was only diagnosed with Bipolar about 2 months ago...and I have had it my whole life (I have figured this out learning about Bipolar). My sleep issues started about 2 years ago and I thought it was stress from leaving my job...but I am not tired at all during the day and I only sleep 3-4 hours a night for 2 years! DUE TO MANIA.

[gayleggg]

It's different for everyone, so I guess it's possible to manic all the time or hypomanic. It's surprising that you aren't feeling the effects of not sleeping more than 3-4 hours a night. But my mother used to sleep only a few hours a night and was always full of energy. I think it's fine if that is your cycle. I wouldn't worry too much about if it isn't giving you any trouble otherwise.

[Coconutzo]

Brains are weird.
Sleep is different for everyone, as is bipolar. I did the same thing for years, just thought it was insomnia. I thought mania had to involve the running around and projects all night, but it really doesn't as it turns out. It can be laying in bed with your head spinning tornados around itself because you "should be in bed".
To be fair, I have smoked crystal meth and laid in bed with the exact same feeling. Am I sleeping? Am I awake? How many thoughts have passed in five minutes? How many five minute spans have passed in thoughts? It's perfectly possible to have all of the energy in the world and be still with your mind doing all of the running.

[mossanimal]

The 'tornado' as I lay in bed THINKING of projects.. or a current project.. is how I experience hypomania very often. It was one of the reasons I resisted the idea that I was bipolar.. i.e. because I wasn't usually physically up and doing project (although sometimes this could be the case). More staying awake and reading/researching in bed with a headlamp and then getting up at 4 or 5 to be closer to 'normal'.

Originally Posted by Coconutzo

Brains are weird.
Sleep is different for everyone, as is bipolar. I did the same thing for years, just thought it was insomnia. I thought mania had to involve the running around and projects all night, but it really doesn't as it turns out. It can be laying in bed with your head spinning tornados around itself because you "should be in bed".
To be fair, I have smoked crystal meth and laid in bed with the exact same feeling. Am I sleeping? Am I awake? How many thoughts have passed in five minutes? How many five minute spans have passed in thoughts? It's perfectly possible to have all of the energy in the world and be still with your mind doing all of the running.