Um, I might be headed up. Hypo/manic may be on the horizon. Will it help that this time around I am cognizant of it being as such; that I recognise the signs?

i believe this is being brought about by the positive changes in the weather - the nearing of Spring. That the days are noticbly growing longer is likely a factor too.

I am getting restless. My sleep pattern is changing (actually improving - 8hrs sleep instead of 14). I'm irritable. And yes, I've spent some money (not a lot, very little actually considering my limited income but it is enough I may have trouble with groceries come end of the month). Most of all, I have been furiously doing tasks: the house is clean, I'm writing scads of pages journalling, in the last several days I've read 5 books, and I am back to making art everyday for hours on end).

Don't get me wrong. This isn't a bad feeling. In fact, for the first time since summer I am actually enjoying myself. Still, just a little bit concerned. Yes, I have an appointment booked in several weeks to see my psychiatrist. i have Seroquel PRNs that I may actually start using more regularly.

So, rather long-winded I'm sorry...

Questions: Does recognition of these signs help you in fending off hypo/mania? How does the change of weather/season affect you? And, I suppose I'm curious to know, what activities do you suddenly find yourself occupied with?

[Skeezyks]

Hello justafriend306: Well... I've never actually been given a real diagnosis by any of the mental health professionals I've seen over the years. So I don't know if I could be considered to be Bipolar, although the pdoc who saw me during my last hospitalization suggested I might be. (She put me on Abilify. But I didn't stay on it.)

I tend to have a lot of difficulty with anger & frustration. I do try to be cognizant of when I'm becoming agitated. And when I do I try to do what I can to head it off... sometimes successfully... sometimes not... Years ago I used to get periodic bursts of inspiration to take up some new hobby or activity of some sort. When one of these would hit, I'd rush out & buy books & other stuff I thought I needed in order to get off to a flying start! Then after a few days I'd lose interest & whatever I bought would just collect dust until I finally got rid of it. I still have these types of experiences from time-to-time. But I now recognize them for what they are so I can head them off before they drain my wallet.

So I guess I would say yes I think being aware of when you perceive yourself to be heading into a hypomanic phase could be helpful in fending it off. But, of course, you also need to have a plan in place for what to do about it. At least from my perspective, that's the tricky part. I don't know if the weather has much of any particular effect on me. I'm mostly an indoor person nowadays regardless of the weather. I do, in some ways, prefer the comfort of the cold & darkness of late autumn & winter. So I'm always a bit apprehensive as spring & summer approach.

[Eddiesmom]

I am Bipolar1 rapid cycling and know when I am headed up and recognize the signs of when I am headed up, I have been bipolar since I was 14 and now I am 51, I was off medication for a long time thought I was cured but now am back on seroquel because of a major stressor with my spouse, I would say just because I know my patterns doesn't mean it helps the swings. The spring coming I think does help us because I am the same way, seasonal affective disorder, I love the warm weather longer days and swimming and the warm sunshine, even though I live in Florida I still get the blues for summer! I do know that I have to keep my sleep in check and know my other triggers, family, etc in check or or I will go off the rails. Hope my two cents helps, good luck! Lela Hugs

[franz kafka]

Yes, recently I realized I was getting elevated so I contacted pdoc and he upped my Seroquel. Since then I've been on the mend. Can you get in touch with your pdoc any sooner?

Glad you're feeling better and having a nice time. Sounds like you're very creative. I'm sorry to say that learning that i have bipolar and being able torecognize the signs of hypomania does not help me prevent it. One thing i like to do when hypomanic is decorate my home. I also do load after load of laundry. During my last hypomania i cleaned out my large storage locker right down to the floor which i mopped with bleach. That storage locker had been outstanding for ten years! I found some great treasures i'd forgotten i had. I had a nice time. But in the endstages i got paranoid on my neighbor and it's never been the same since, so it wasn't worth it.

Spring is a trigger for my hypomania as well. I also get planning grand renovations which i never pursue because i'm all crashed out by the time it comes to actually have the work done.

I skipped my Spring hypomania last year and i am hoping to skip it again this year. It's so exhausting.

Glad you're enjoying yourself and wishing you a soft landing!