[starshinelady]

Hi everyone,

As some know, I've recently been diagnosed with Bipolar-NOS. My most recent hypomanic episode was incredibly frightening. It began with what my pdoc called a "mixed state" where I was self-harming. In discussing this and my penchant for overspending, my therapist (not pdoc) mentioned that I have a need for stimulation.

I know an "excessive need for stimulation" is criteria for antisocial personality disorder. I do NOT have that. But, in your experience, can an excessive need for stimulation be part of Bipolar disorder? Is it part of hypomania?

[Blueberrybook]

I hate mixed. I think I could be now. Pdoc seems to think I am a lot.

Depends on the type of stimulation for me I think, but everyone is different. If it's a sexual need for stimulation, yeah, I get that a lot when hypomanic or manic. Are you talking about 1 type of stimulation or not? I tend to just want to do things a lot at once (such as tons of hobbies, projects, cooking, shopping & overspending - sometimes a LOT of money, etc.). I get little sleep, and I barely think about things like eating. I'm not sure you'd count a constant want for many projects (sometimes large) as stimulation. Sometimes (if I happen to get lucky with spending by leaving my phone & purse in the car), I will browse stores, like the mall in the mall & I could do it for ages if I didn't have a family and hence comittments to get back to. Now, when my eating disorder was bad I'd routinely cruise grocery stores for over an hour to look a food, and then checkout with only some apples and a box of Cheerios. But I did overspend online (which was just starting up), so a lot of it was from catalogs, running up the credit cards so much (before I even met my husband) that we took out a loan to consolidate them and pay them all once we got married.

[Scooter9]

Originally Posted by starshinelady

But, in your experience, can an excessive need for stimulation be part of Bipolar disorder? Is it part of hypomania?

I also have bipolar nos and when I was cycling up and down I would notice the beginning of a hypo or mixed episode with the need for stimulation. I would need more as the episode continued.

It would stop when my pdoc adjusted my meds or the episode would pass. Sometimes it would pass on its own in a few days, sometimes it took weeks.

Be patient with yourself and don't hesitate to see or call your pdoc.

[Blueberrybook]

Scooter is right about that. Once the hypomania, usually hypo, sometimes mixed episode (with me) is over , all that need and want disappears. And maybe you get lucky and the meds put you in a place where you can do projects but not skip from thing to thing, when you can think through, "now why was it I walked into the bedroom, I wanted something but I don't know what?" Which is happening to me now. Sometimes I remember, and sometimes I don't. But it's better than full depression & crying, staying in bed all day.

[starshinelady]

Originally Posted by Blueberrybook

I hate mixed. I think I could be now. Pdoc seems to think I am a lot.

Depends on the type of stimulation for me I think, but everyone is different. If it's a sexual need for stimulation, yeah, I get that a lot when hypomanic or manic. Are you talking about 1 type of stimulation or not? I tend to just want to do things a lot at once (such as tons of hobbies, projects, cooking, shopping & overspending - sometimes a LOT of money, etc.). I get little sleep, and I barely think about things like eating. I'm not sure you'd count a constant want for many projects (sometimes large) as stimulation. Sometimes (if I happen to get lucky with spending by leaving my phone & purse in the car), I will browse stores, like the mall in the mall & I could do it for ages if I didn't have a family and hence comittments to get back to. Now, when my eating disorder was bad I'd routinely cruise grocery stores for over an hour to look a food, and then checkout with only some apples and a box of Cheerios. But I did overspend online (which was just starting up), so a lot of it was from catalogs, running up the credit cards so much (before I even met my husband) that we took out a loan to consolidate them and pay them all once we got married.

That sounds like the type of "need for stimulation" I'm experiencing. It primarily manifests as an intense desire for "things" which equals LOTS of shopping and LOTS of debt and LOTS of activity around shopping (browsing the internet in search of whatever it is I want). I spend HOURS online shopping & browsing stores to compare, observe, get ideas. And if I can't spend money (bc my credit cards are maxed out from shopping), I make endless "wish lists" on my favorite websites. And I get SUPER grumpy if I can't buy what I want. Even if it's something stupid like a dish rack. I want what I want when I want it. Period.

I always feel like I'm searching for the next thing. Like I'm constantly on hunt and my senses are super alert.

Does that sound like the bipolar-NOS? Or is something else going on?

[mossanimal]

I noticed that you have an ADHD diagnosis. Isn’t the need for stimulation a hallmark quality of ADHD? Most of my life has been a constant drive for stimulation... new hobbies, new careers, extreme sports, sex, buying things.. but ever since starting Wellbutrin (for depression)... that all has been squashed. I’m perfectly content to sit around and do nothing. Wellbutrin also happens to be effective for ADHD treatment. So in my situation... this is becoming a strong argument for ADHD.

[Movingon69]

Mine is sexual. I need the excessive stimulation whether in hypo or depressive for different reasons. When I'm stable I have a normal drive.

The shopping you describe is experienced by a number of people here and well documented.