Personally, I can hardly tell when I get manic in the first place. I have like no insight. Though even in the rare cases where I DO have insight, I tend to wait a while instead of knocking myself down. I kinda go with the flow for a bit, which I know isn't exactly "responsible."

[chels127]

I don't have an answer to that question since I've only had one manic episode in my life (this past spring), but I'm curious what others have to say. Having been in a depressive episode for months now, I can certainly empathize with why you would want to wait a while before knocking the mania out. I'm sure it's dangerous, but I can see how tempting it would be to feel high after feeling so low. How exactly do you knock yourself down when manic? I'm still new to this manic-depressive world, so just curious.

I had zero insight into my elevated moods when I was younger, through maybe 7 years after my bipolar diagnosis. But through my insight has improved, it's not perfect, or at least it takes getting to a medium or higher-level hypomania sometimes for the insight to kick in. Or, my husband, therapist and psychiatrist clue me in. The latter two obviously have decades of experience recognizing it. My husband knew there was something amiss with me early in our relationship, but didn't identify it as mania right away.

My hypomanias and manias were quite problematic when I was younger, but the course of my illness grew worse and worse as I aged, unmedicated. Plus, I eventually realized the damage more. Because of that, I do want to cut them short, if I can. I do so aggressively now, using PRN medications and various "tools" to deescalate. My PRN medication for mood elevations is regular Seroquel. I also have Ativan, but Seroquel is best. If PRN regular Seroquel and the deescalation methods don't work well enough, I call (or am pushed to call) my psychiatrist for intervention. I am extremely fortunate that he is responsive. That care has spared me several hospitalizations over the last 9 years. His usual remedy for me is to increase my base Seroquel XR dose.

One issue that I have written about in the past is "bipolar episode denial". This denial has been especially the case for "downswings", though also "upswings" in mood. After so many years of severe episodes, I just wanted to be well again. It can get deeply frustrating and distressing to have mood issues crop up frequently. In the referenced blog post, I note how when mood tracking in the past, I would often just choose "baseline" all of the time. You know..."I'm just fine," even when I wasn't. Often it took some weeks to realize that. I would then go back and change my mood choices for weeks prior. It is also frustrating when I feel very good or great and people label it as hypomania. I ask "Why can't you just accept that this is me, and not an illness?" I know many of us reject someone calling happiness or extra creativity dysfunctional, in some way. Often they are right. Sometimes, they're not.

[fern46]

Originally Posted by chels127

I don't have an answer to that question since I've only had one manic episode in my life (this past spring), but I'm curious what others have to say. Having been in a depressive episode for months now, I can certainly empathize with why you would want to wait a while before knocking the mania out. I'm sure it's dangerous, but I can see how tempting it would be to feel high after feeling so low. How exactly do you knock yourself down when manic? I'm still new to this manic-depressive world, so just curious.

I'm right here with you in that I've only had one manic episode. I have set a very firm intent to knock it down hard if I ever notice symptoms. I have asked my friends, family and therapy team to help me do that if the time ever comes. I had no insight last time. I hate that I did not see it coming.

My plan is multifaceted depending on how severe the symptoms are. I plan to cut out caffeine and sugar to help slow myself down. I plan to actually slow down and focus on calming activities. I plan to stick to a strict sleep schedule.

I also plan to call my therapist and psychiatrist for help if the coping skills fail. If I am too amped up I will remove myself from my home. I do not want my kids to ever witness me in a manic state again. I'll go to either my Mom's house or my Dad's house for a few days. There is also a respite center near my house I can stay at. They have group therapy and daily activities.

If all of that fails or if I am too far gone I will go back into IP. There is a women's center at my mental facility and I'll try to get a spot there.

My husband and I have a safe word. I have it burned into my brain that I need to relinquish control and let him and my parents and my therapist decide what's best for me if he ever says that word. I hope I never hear it, but I pray I'll be in my right mind enough to do the right thing if I do.

[bpcyclist]

Has to be stopped immediately. Mania=catastrophe for me.

[saucygirl31]

in hypomania i rarely notice so i ride it out, but if it were to turn into mania id do something about it.

[~Christina]

This is tricky for me. Of course one of the biggest indicators Bipolar has to offer is a change in sleep. But I suffer with insomnia so , well that isn’t anything I can depend on.

My hypo is so brief, like usually 2-4 days only at most. Often I feel it’s just that Fibromyalgia is giving me a break , my PsA isn’t so debilitating so of course my mood improves.

But then I just get agitated, inpatient, annoyed, noise and light is painful. feels like I have one nerve left and everything is stomping on it. I do drive faster not really aggressive , just faster.

As it rolls into true Mania I get rage-y and in floods self loathing , strong desired to self harm, reviewing my plans if I were to make an early exit.

I don’t have the desire to shop or risky behaviors or habits.

I do wish I had more heads up when things start to go bad. I’m so good at hiding it , my husband is usually very surprised when I finally tell him things are going sideways.

My T ? Many times as we start a session 5 mins in he will say something like ... Okay when did this start ?? Then I realize things are out of wack. I explain his ability of seeing it clearly because for years him and his office is a true place of comfort and I can always feel, say and can let all my guards fall off.

When I do realize I’m in trouble I immediately work hard to get back to more level ground, kick and claw my way there.

I wait.

I believe in if something is going to happen, then it's going to happen, and you shouldn't interfere (it happens for a reason)

so on that bases, I wait