Hypo or Normal/Just Happy?

I get confused about whether or not I'm hypo or just normal/happy.

I've been suffering from mostly OCD symptoms lately, so I worry a lot and obsess a lot. So, when I'm in a good mood for once, I feel like I may be hypo. But if I were really honest with myself, I think I've been mildly depressed with OCD most of the time, and then other times feeling normal/happy.

Does anyone else deal with this or something similar? Thanks!

P.S. I saw my pdoc today, and he's upping my Lexapro from 5 mg to 10 mg. I have only taken Lexapro for about 3 weeks so far.

Hi Music,
Hypo could be just part of your personality. It's part of mine. Take care. Luv.

I deal with so much depression and physical pain in a chronic sense that I, too, have some difficulty distinguishing between "normal"/"happy" and hypo. My psychiatrist often challenges me when I say I'm feeling hypo. because he sometimes feels I am not experiencing hypo, it's more the fact the depression has simply lifted.


WC

I agree with this.

I usually monitor my sleep to help me figure out if I'm hypo or not, so maybe that's something that could help? But also, I *think* (not 100% sure) it's rare to be hypo immediately after a depressive episode. I've heard of crashing, but not the reverse... but it's technically possible I suppose.

It's also possible to be hypo on a normal amount of sleep, but I'm terrible at identifying hypo when I'm like that

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Hopefully you can figure it out, though. Be careful if you're hypo

My ex-boyfriend answered when I asked him if he ever perceived me as hypo that at times I dod an awful lot but that his impression was that I just saw what was possible after long times of depression. I kind of agree and that is why now I see the difference more clearly, because now I obviously don't just see what is possible but I am so wired and overly active that it has nothing to do with coming out of depression.

For me, it gets difficult to distinguish whether depression is just lifting, or if it's the calm before the storm, where true, undeniable hypomania begins. I think with most of us who have Bipolar, we are sensitive to little 'cues' that make us wonder if an episode is starting, or if it's just a normal state of mind where elevation is part of our natural baseline.

You say you are happy, and from your post, it sounds like you are in a pretty good place and not in an episode, so I would say it's best to stay in-the-moment, enjoy the good times, and try not to worry!