[xRavenx]

Does anyone here struggle with not being able to wait for anything when manic or hypomanic? Kind of like the world depends on something? It gets really bad for me when full-blown manic.

One time, I had delusional thoughts that I must get multiple keys to my car or something bad would happen to me. I had paranoia about others harming me at the time. I do remember I got a really bad speeding ticket driving to the store.

Lately, I feel a sense of urgency to do everything. For instance, running out to my car at nearly 2 AM to read a book, then I'll get distracted, and get consumed with another idea or thing. Delaying gratification also gets difficult. I am starting to notice these early signs in me that have led to not so great things in the past while manic. Any input regarding these issues?

[RainyDay107]

Hi Raven,

I very much relate to what you're saying. For me, it's past the point of hypomania. There is no organization of my home, no cleaning, no truly productive activity because my mind is moving too fast to keep up...or I have intersecting thoughts. By intersecting thoughts, I mean thinking of different things at the same time. If you picture the diagram of an atom...my thoughts are like that. Is that similar to how you feel?

Like you, I have no patience to complete tasks. I feel like people are speaking and thinking way too slowly and I feel very impatient. It takes a lot of effort not to interrupt.

I haven't been fully manic in awhile. It doesn't end up well. I rely on my Geodon to control my mania. My Klonopin is a bit helpful. I get bad insomnia. If I am over three days with zero sleep despite meds (and I don't drink/use substances)...I call my pdoc. If I can't sleep, it gets worse and I become psychotic.

In the past, my pdoc has brought me in ASAP for an emergency appointment and made med adjustments. I had to call him last month because I had four days of no sleep and I was manic...it is was cycling into a mixed episode. This time, he arranged for me to go IP (voluntarily) to a (non-crisis) psychiatric mood unit hospital. He told me he knew the pdoc there, liked her, and said I could get stabilized there fastest. They did stabilize me but I hated the med changes so my pdoc switched me back.

My episodes are triggered by extreme stress, usually. How about you?

How's your sleep? Are you feeling manic or mixed? Can you call your pdoc? Or do you think you are needing to head off a crisis situation? Do you have any PRN/emergency meds to take? Thinking of you. PM me anytime.

[xRavenx]

Hi glamslam,

Thank you so much for sharing. This describes me very well. You explained it very well. When I experience this, I can't keep up with cleaning or things that are productive, because of the intersecting thoughts. This makes it impossible to finish important tasks with the racing thoughts that are all happening at once.

I have a tendency to be impatient with people as well during hypo/mania. I tend to interrupt more and jump from topic to topic when I speak, unless it's some overzealous idea that will get me carried away. The "pressured speech" is there, probably since nothing is up to my speed. Sleep gets difficult too.

Extreme stress definitely triggers me. Lack of sleep does too, which I'm experiencing. Once I'm asleep I can get some hours on Seroquel, but it's hard falling asleep. There is more pressure on me at work than ever before, so that can be a factor. I hope it doesn't get to a point of having to go to IP, but hopefully my pdoc can come up with a plan. Otherwise, I think I'm heading for full-blown mania or mixed mania. I feel pretty manic, alternating between states of being invincible and fluctuating with irritability and mania. Although I have some insight, it's impossible controlling this.

[RainyDay107]

I am thinking of you. Do you have a day off from work soon? Sometimes just "resting" in bed helps me, complete darkness, cool temperature, snuggled under the covers. I have a stuffed animal, too. Shhh....don't tell anyone. lol

Can you take a personal day or call in sick? I think anything to reduce stimulation and stress would help. Staying indoors, Netflix if you can sit still, walks.

If you are a spender---give your credit/debit cards to a loved one now. Or freeze them in a bowl in the freezer. Keep a reasonable amount of cash on hand. Like an allowance. Also, instead of shopping, I "shop" by checking out library books, downloading free books from Amazon and adding items to my Amazon wish list.

Keep posting so we know how you're doing.

[RainyDay107]

Hot baths with Epsom salt help me, too!

[Wander]

Oh, I can totally relate to this post. When I am hypo/manic I am the most impatient person in the world, and yes, I get speeding fines too. Nothing goes fast enough. I walk at breakneck speed and pretty much push people out of the way in front of me if I can't get past them. It's not like I am running late, just can't get places fast enough. My family notice this in me and is in fact the most common symptom, along with talkativeness (an interrupting them due to impatience) that tells them I am hypo. It is just amazing how slow the world seems to me and how much that annoys me.

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by glamslam

I am thinking of you. Do you have a day off from work soon? Sometimes just "resting" in bed helps me, complete darkness, cool temperature, snuggled under the covers. I have a stuffed animal, too. Shhh....don't tell anyone. lol

Can you take a personal day or call in sick? I think anything to reduce stimulation and stress would help. Staying indoors, Netflix if you can sit still, walks.

If you are a spender---give your credit/debit cards to a loved one now. Or freeze them in a bowl in the freezer. Keep a reasonable amount of cash on hand. Like an allowance. Also, instead of shopping, I "shop" by checking out library books, downloading free books from Amazon and adding items to my Amazon wish list.

Keep posting so we know how you're doing.

Thank you! I do have off tomorrow and for once I have nowhere to go, so maybe I'll just stay close to home. I think I need to work on sitting still...it's so hard for me, but I know it would do me some good. I know that driving too much wouldn't be healthy for me since when I'm manic, I drive too fast, drop everything and drive somewhere far, as if everything depends on it. This leads to expensive fines.

Maybe I'll do a little bit of light exercise from videos. I do think keeping my credit cards away from me (taking them out of my purse and only holding onto a little cash) is needed. As far as work goes, I would like to take a few days off soon. I need to take them up to 3 weeks in advance, but it'll be something to look forward to as long as I can make it until then as far as slowing myself down. I have called out before, so if that's what I have to do, then I might have to. I've almost lost faith in myself to be able to control myself, but at least these are things I can do to manage, along with whatever my pdoc has in mind. Thanks so much for the ideas. (((hugs)))

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by Wander

Oh, I can totally relate to this post. When I am hypo/manic I am the most impatient person in the world, and yes, I get speeding fines too. Nothing goes fast enough. I walk at breakneck speed and pretty much push people out of the way in front of me if I can't get past them. It's not like I am running late, just can't get places fast enough. My family notice this in me and is in fact the most common symptom, along with talkativeness (an interrupting them due to impatience) that tells them I am hypo. It is just amazing how slow the world seems to me and how much that annoys me.

Yes, that's exactly me right now, and I get that way every single time I'm hypo/manic since my very first episode at age 15.
I'm sorry that you deal with this too.

[PenguinExMachina]

When I start going up, I get agitated and impatient. I'm all over the place and upset at anything that's not at my pace. Its frustrating, because I have yet to find something that I can use to help.

[RainyDay107]

Raven, I have the same thing with driving. I'm normally a very safe driver, but when I'm elevated it literally feels like I'm driving NASCAR/Formula One racing. Every time.

I'm glad you have a break from work. Staying home sounds like it might be best right now. Keep posting.

[RainyDay107]

I just thought it's a good thing we aren't neighbors--I bet we'd get into all kinds of mischief lol

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by glamslam

Raven, I have the same thing with driving. I'm normally a very safe driver, but when I'm elevated it literally feels like I'm driving NASCAR/Formula One racing. Every time.

I'm glad you have a break from work. Staying home sounds like it might be best right now. Keep posting.

I hope so too. Thanks. It's been a struggle. I am glad I have here for support though. It helps a lot.

[Unrigged64072835]

I'm starting to feel that now with this going back to school thing. Hopefully I can keep it down.

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by Fharraige

I'm starting to feel that now with this going back to school thing. Hopefully I can keep it down.

I think stress can absolutely bring this stuff out, but at least you are aware it is something to look out for so that can lower the chances of any hypomania escalating. Congrats on going back to school!