Wanting Change = Mania?

I live in a very dead-end town where the only two careers in the job market are nursing or car sales. Everyone here is so set on getting married and having kids. I'm about to be 24 years old in two weeks and people are just BAFFLED that I haven't gotten married yet...nor do I have any real desire to. No kids, either. And that's completely fine with me.

I don't belong here. I'm suffocating in this trap of a town. The only thing this place has done for me is prescribe me my meds that really help with my erratic moods. And I've told my counselor repeatedly that I want OUT of this freaking place. All he does is question if I've been taking my meds. I have...but he doesn't believe me.

So my question for you guys, is wanting change REALLY so extreme that it's considered an act of mania? If not, when is it considered abnormal? And how do you get people to understand without immediately jumping on the "oh it's just your meds needing to be altered" bandwagon?

I think wanting change just means you are alive. I mean, unless it is extreme and out of character for you, moving doesn't seem like an unreasonable idea. Just plan before you act. Idk.

After being stuck in a hole of depression and finally coming out of it, I decided to apply to med school which had been my original plan after college. I suppose since I finally felt stable I felt capable of doing anything. Anyway I thought about it for a while but didn't tell anybody until I knew I was serious. And every one around me acted like it was some crazy impulsive idea that I pulled out of my *** or something.
The funny thing is after a while all my family and friends came around and then when i decided against going (I did actually get accepted into 1 overseas school on an island near fla), they were all mad. Like I had let them down... The point of my story is I don't think you can always get people to understand. I got reactions like this was some sort of hypomanic driven idea even though I was even less sure of a bp dx back then than I am now.

If people are pressuring you to settle down at 24- that seems crazy to me. What's the rush? You have lots of time still to do dumb **** and explore and have some fun along the way.
Sorry if this wasn't very helpful. But I hear you and if u think moving is a sound reasonable decision and you find a job and a place somewhere else that looks better, and you are confident it is really you making this decision, I say go for it. Best of luck. Be safe.

That does not sound like mania to me. If you have a carefully considered plan of action, it sounds like normal human behavior. That being said, I have periods of time (like right now actually) where I am dying to completely change my career, but for no good reason other than one day I decided "my heart is not in it" (I just posted about this last night). Wanting more opportunities for yourself sounds completely reasonable. Maybe I am biased because I want change myself, but I say start coming up with realistic options for yourself and go see what the world has to offer.

Thanks guys...you're both right.

I work in a car dealership in town. Service department. And I freaking hate it. There's no future for this job. And the fact that I'm the only employee NOT related to the boss, I'm getting fed up with the BS around here. I desperately want out...but how?

H.R., do you have a job you always wanted to do? Does it require training?

Maybe your change is to go back to school and get training for something better, something flexible or challenging or whatever you would like out of a job. Maybe going to school away from your current town is one way to deal with what you are going to do with the rest of your life. There are loans that could support you while paying for school. It would be tight, but could be worth it.

And at 24? To be settled down? You have some time. And maybe you don't want to be married at all. That's your call and yours alone. People are weird. They like confirmation that their lifestyle is normal. I'm telling you your life is normal.

Your T is just checking to make sure you're not going into a mania because taking off or wanting a major change like you're suggesting could be a sign. But you're also 24! You are just building your life. What you want is normal. And guess what! You will have this question at various times in your life. I did a major move at fifty to go back to school-all the way across the country. On my own. To a place I had no-one-no friends or family.

Now such a move could trigger a mania. I made sure I had healthcare where I was going, and I have been very lucky to find a superior health care team. That is a consideration when you move that there are shrinks and therapists where you are going.

The only sure things are change, and The Last High.

I don't think it's symptomatic of mania unless you have other symptoms of mania. I think wanting a big change -and the reasons sound very reasonable to me- can be perfectly normal.

I think what might be a symptom of hypo/mania would be if you were to make a radical move without any forethought of applying for/getting a new job, for example. Again, along with other hypo/mania symptoms.

As an example, I was hypo when I decided to move across country all the way to CA. I had no job lined up and I oversaw every tiny aspect of the move with utter hypo focus. I had no fear or anxiety (as I usually would), I just wanted to do it and picked up and did it. I had a stable job, which I didn't like, but I could have resolved that issue without moving clear across country.

Now I'm thinking of moving back east again. But I'm not hypo. I've applied for a job and won't move unless I get the job. I'm full of anxiety and fear associated with the move (which would be normal for me) and have my eyes wide open as to the consequences. Moving takes an enormous amount of work and focus, especially if it's far away, and I just don't have that focus (again, normal/baseline). I'm thinking of moving because the only job here I've been able to find is a 2.5 hour drive away, something I didn't research before I left. I also don't have much of a support system here, I moved here not knowing anyone. So it would make sense for me to move back east if I were to get the job I applied for.

I hope this makes sense and is helpful. In short, in my case, I was hypo when I moved here and now I'm not, but am considering another move. The different in my mood and focus between the two moves is astronomical. To the point that I WISH I were hypo now to make all of this easier, to erase the fear and anxiety and get that razor sharp focus I have at least in the beginning's of hypomania.

I don't think it's mania. Sounds like you're needing a change, because you don't have enough opportunities where you are at now.

Thank you so very much for the kind words! ;;

I've thought about getting certified to teach, but I don't want to teach here. Anywhere but here lol. I have been looking into different programs that I could sign up for and get certified for this deal. I also want to write, but I know that's a riskier career to get into. I am supposed to be getting some money in soon that would be enough to move and rent an apartment...but like what Gabyunbound said, I don't want to move unless I have a sure give in job set up.

My dad keeps telling me that I need to be patient, but it's getting harder and harder to deal with this lifestyle. I know I need something better and I know I need to play it smart, but...damn man.