[~Christina]

Im going to throw this out there,

I have seen alot of people struggle and having issues with there life and it feeling flat or low.

I feel Bipolar is an addiction. Why would I say that ??????

Hypo ? or Manic? Omg the world is bright and shiny and full of joy , bunnies and puppies , some people dont get the happy stuff for long But some people zoom to the moon.

So Mania is great ...... Crash after ? Usually , But many people compare "baseline " to Hypo/Mania so sure baseline is going to feel flat to anyone... But there is no way to compare, everyone wants mania.

A person uses a street drug and everything is Fantastic ..... So they want to do it again ... So that is why I feel how mania vs baseline is the problem.

Yes people come outta a episode and get depressed that pretty typical .. and it takes time to dig yourself out of depression and find life again and hobbies and enjoy life with out the thrill of hypo/mania. There are some ways that can help someone break a depression down , Get pissed at Bipolar and kick claw and fight like hell to get that baseline.

Baseline is not bad ... Bipolar thinking is skewed to make us think we have to be up and thrilled with the world ,, But that is not real.

Hense why I say Bipolar hypo/mania is an addiction.

Originally Posted by ~Christina

Im going to throw this out there,

I have seen alot of people struggle and having issues with there life and it feeling flat or low.

I feel Bipolar is an addiction. Why would I say that ??????

Hypo ? or Manic? Omg the world is bright and shiny and full of joy , bunnies and puppies , some people dont get the happy stuff for long But some people zoom to the moon.

So Mania is great ...... Crash after ? Usually , But many people compare "baseline " to Hypo/Mania so sure baseline is going to feel flat to anyone... But there is no way to compare, everyone wants mania.

A person uses a street drug and everything is Fantastic ..... So they want to do it again ... So that is why I feel how mania vs baseline is the problem.

Yes people come outta a episode and get depressed that pretty typical .. and it takes time to dig yourself out of depression and find life again and hobbies and enjoy life with out the thrill of hypo/mania. There are some ways that can help someone break a depression down , Get pissed at Bipolar and kick claw and fight like hell to get that baseline.

Baseline is not bad ... Bipolar thinking is skewed to make us think we have to be up and thrilled with the world ,, But that is not real.

Hense why I say Bipolar hypo/mania is an addiction.

Hi Christina, I definitely see what you mean, here! I have drawn the same parallel myself, between a street drug (which I've never used) and a hypomanic high. I've learned to "temper" the high, because I know the terrible depression crash will come after. But I do get pleasantly high! I am, today. Don't know what else to say.

[lilypup]

Right now I am having problems, but the last couple of months I have gone between a flat lineand mildly elevated. This is not hypo. I am okay at the flat part but the mildly elevated feels a lot better. It makes me willing and cheerful to do things.

I'm not addicted to hypo. I don't even want it. That's when I make a fool of myself.

[bioChE]

I wish I was hypo. Been stable or depressed for far too long.

[Tucson]

I also think mania is an addiction for many.

[bioChE]

How do you get addicted to mania? Are you saying people do things to precipitate the mood state?

[Wild Coyote]

I wonder how an "addictive personality" might affect this?

I desperately want baseline, forever more.

I am not one to like my reality altered by anything.

I do read of people "craving" hypo/mania.
I prefer it over depression; yet, I don't prefer it over a nice, neat baseline (forever more, please).


WC

[Sunflower123]

If I could I'm probably one who would opt for hypomania. Unfortunately, I never have hypomania. I just have severe depression and would welcome the break. My psychiatrist said be careful what you wish for because hypomania isn't always happiness and light. It can also be extreme irritability and can cause real problems when you crash.

[scatterbrained04]

I love me some euphoric hypomania. However, I spend all my time mostly in depression, mixed, or irritable hypomania. So I've really come to to be more content with a normal mood.

[vjdragonfly]

I'm not going to lie, when I am depressed I wish for a happy hypomania. I can understand how you can see this as an addiction. I just don't want the crash afterwards. Honestly I just want to feel like part of life. Not just existing.

[wildflowerchild25]

Originally Posted by bioChE

How do you get addicted to mania? Are you saying people do things to precipitate the mood state?

Yes, there have been a few posts over the years about inducing mania. I myself did it, and it backfired spectacularly.

I've often likened mania to a drug. Happy mania, that is. I love feeling so creative, feeling like I can heal the world with my words. But for me the euphoria only lasts for a few days, and then it turns nasty.

I have been able to be stable, not flat, for a long time now and I would NEVER want hypomania again. Because that would mean depression. And depression is horrible.

My husband once described what he felt like on opiates. When he finished, I told him that's exactly what mania feels like for me. We had a better understanding of each other from then on.

[gina_re]

I don't I've ever craved hypomania. If I did it was for the energy to clean my house!

(Hypo)mania is definitely an addiction to me. I've actually already discussed this with the group I used to go to regularly. I would do things to induce hypo/mania.
However, I've been stable (but not flat or low) for 6 months and I haven't been that interested in mania where I'm doing those things to induce it.

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by bioChE

How do you get addicted to mania? Are you saying people do things to precipitate the mood state?

Yes I see it on here all the time.

[Moose72]

I hate not being able to sleep, and that's one of the things mania does to me. (Wellbutrin did, too, when I first started it.) I've never craved mania. I get so ramped up and just CAN'T stop. (I also think I've figured out the secret to the universe and the one thread that binds my life together, and other things like these.)

[wiretwister]

Christina I used to fit that mold ... but you know that ... content now ... up , down or side ways I just am ... not going to chase that tiger anymore ... my advise to any one on that path ... just be content where you are ... it is the only long term solution ... bp has no cure ... but being content ... is a beginning ...

ps: just my opinion ... but it was long in finding it ... peace and love my friends ... Tigger .

[~Christina]

I'm glad to see many people can relate to what I was trying to say in my post.

Thanks everyone

[Standup2me]

I like that thought, that baseline is okay.
Life is like a canoe
Floating is often just as fun as paddling

[Tucson]

(Hypo)mania is a drug to some. Personally, I like to be in full control of my senses.

[BlueInanna]

I like baseline - whatever that really is. When I feel relieved that I'm not too up or too down... Now that feels good.