[lokiez]

I am working with a person who suffers from Aspergers and shows symptoms of Unipolar mania.
Medication has been difficult area and compliance has been an issue. But in all this chaos we have seen some good phases as well.

But even during calmer phases, this person often talks about working in movies and searches for actor/actresses profiles on Social media and talks to them even over video chat and phone. Majority of these actor/actresses profiles are fake [I scolded one on phone myself] but if we try to reason out, then we are told that we think negative and people can be real as well. And it often baffles me why cannot this person understand that these people are fake.

This person doesn't have great IQ but then many times acts very very smart. So its like IQ is low is certain areas...Is that possible?

Recently i was talking to a Counsellor who suggested that talking about working in movies and talking to actors looks like sign of mania which looked correct to me but then i felt could it be lower IQ because this issue keeps popping up from time to time.

I am totally confused with this, because if this is a sign of mania then may be we need to increase medicine dosage? or is it a sign of low IQ.

Any thoughts on this?

[tecomsin]

It can be either one, or maybe even something else. Does the person have any other symptoms of mania? If not then it is probably not mania.

[MickeyCheeky]

I'm so sorry you're going through all of this, lokiez It must be very hard for you and for him. The only way to know for sure whether he's manic or not is to go to a doctor and get a proper diagnosis. I'd suggest to talk to his Pdoc about this and see how it goes from there. Hopefully he/she will be able to help you. I completely agree with what tecomsin has already wisely said better than I ever could. Try to see if there are other symptoms of mania. If his counsellor thinks he may have mania then it's definitely worth checking it out. You can have an high IQ in some areas but lacking in some other areas, I believe. But don't rely too much on that number. Each one of us is good at certain things and less so at others. You're a wonderful person. I'm glad you're there to help him. Remember to take care of yourself as well! You can't fully take care of others if you're not taking care of yourself as well. You're a wonderful friend. I wish there were more people like you in this world. I'm sure he's a wonderful person as well. I'm so sorry he's going through all of this. I'm so sorry, I know it's hard. Please don't give up. I hope things will get better soon for you and for him. Is there anything we can do to help you? Please let us know. Remember that we're here for you if you need it. Feel free to PM me anytime. Let me know if I can do something to help you. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this

[Pookyl]

To answer the question how long can a manic phase last - my longest manic episode was
4-5 months. It was early on and since my meds were increased I have never had a manic episode of that length.
The only way to know what is going on is to see a psychiatrist.

[Guiness187055]

I was manic once for almost a year

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by Guiness187055

I was manic once for almost a year

me too.💙

[~Christina]

I was manic just over a year. Wow what a ride , I had no clue I had bipolar at the time.

Besides this interest in movie stars what other symptoms ? Lack of sleep , pressured speech, over spending ???!

Maybe this has nothing to do with Bipolar ??! Just a “ crush” on movie stars and thoughts of working on some way , sounds great, we all need to have a dream.

[Wander]

It depends whether in or out of treatment, and even then it can be hard to treat sometimes. I tend to have mixed manic episodes that include extreme euphoria but also the deepest and dangerous depths of depression. Untreated they have gone on over a year. Now I’m in treatment the longest was my most recent episode which lasted nearly five months. New meds saved me. I had psychosis.

In your case another psychotic disorder might need to be ruled out before applying the Bipolar label.

[BipolaRNurse]

My longest manic episode lasted over an entire summer. Had no idea I was bipolar then, I just thought I was having the best time of my life. I worked 14-hour days and drank copious amounts of alcohol to be able to sleep a few minutes at a time, only to get back up in 3 hours and do it all over again the next day. Those were some wild times...did a LOT of partying in between working five days a week. Looking back, I don't know how I survived. Guess being young and stupid has its uses.

[lokiez]

Thanks everyone for inputs.

It has been quite difficult diagnosis, we first went to counsellor when this person was 13 years old with behaviour issues and an IQ test revealed Borderline Intelligence. I was not entirely convinced that intelligence was that low as this person could easily lie and act smartly when money was needed or something was required.

As age progressed, there was aggressive and voilent behaviour as well and we were told that it seemed like Bipolar as well along with low IQ.

Although we have hardly ever seen depressive phase, most of the times it mania. Symptoms like staying out late, aggressive behaviour, spending like anything, wanting more money, meeting strangers, wanting to be an actor and searching and talking to them over social network with people having fake profiles.

When mania comes down then spending, aggressive behaviour and staying out late night goes down but talking to actors over internet and strangers doesn't really end and it continues with some level of control.

It baffles me why this person cannot realise that these people are fake despite being very smart at times.

Sometimes i feel that it could be that stronger medication is needed as mania may not have gone away completely, so i asked how long mania can last.
Then i feel could it be IQ but then with low IQ how is this person so smart at times that people say this person is playing tricks.

Counsellors and Psychiatrist say it could be combination of both which really leave me in a hopeless situation with not knowing how to control it.

[pirilin]

IQ is only potential.
Some geniuses are very unproductive.
Tell me about it.

Cheers.