obsessive thoughts

Do bipolars have issues with obsessive thoughts? I am a diagnosed bipolar yet I posess the symptoms of obsessive compulsive compulsive with the troublesome, disturbing thoughts and the compulsions that are hard to control. They are frustrating and take up a lot of the time during the day though that has lessened. Not to mention it is all mixed up with the need for a lack of sleep except during the day, eating a lot of food late at nights, rather binging, severe depression, racing thoughts, which scare me, and a lot of crying. I have been under a lot of stress in the past year which have caused me to gained a number of pounds within a three month span, neglect in care, etc. Should I talk about those changes?

There are different kinds of bipolar disorder. theres mixed bipolar....and others. I have lots of racing thoughts that I associate with being bipolar. but i do have OCD and cannot stop a thought until i have over processed it into the ground. So imho i think it sounds llike a combo of both bipolar and ocd. you should talk with your T regarding the obsessions. I had my mom tell me to write a spreadsheet of my ocd issues. I have issues with hoarding and obsessing over just about anything. and until i see it in black and white i keep obsessing until i wear myself down. the lack of sleep is part of being bipolar. Im sure others with more experience here will add theyre opinions.

Hope this helps. Hope you can feel better too. Also have you tried journaling to see if anything triggers the obsessive thoughts? I do and sometimes it does help.

Take care,
colleen

Dear GeeN: I'm bipolar and often have obsessive thoughts about issues that are stressing me out at work. Sometimes I get up in the middle of the night and have to go out and smoke just to try and calm it down. I take Klonopin but sometimes it just isn't enough. I've gained weight too from eating at night. It seems the thoughts are strongest at night when your mind is supposed to go into "rest" mode. Definetely talk about the thoughts with your therapist. I talked about some today and she suggested journaling too. I also have a good relationship with my mother and I call and talk to her. Sometimes she is really good at making those thoughts go away.

I get VERY obsessive when I'm hypomanic. This is probably when my BP is most dangerous. If I can't alleviate the source of my obsession, I get very angry and frustrated.

I dunno what to say, but I think it's fairly common to have BP and OCD or OCD symptoms.

i have obsevive thoughts alot! mainly about wanting a true boyfriend. but i think if you talked about you obsessive thoughts with some one even if it's with us it would help!

I'm a bit ocd too. I sometimes can't sleep or really concentrate on anything until I've completed the job or even the thought. I can clean the house to death, just stay up all night and think through every aspect, possibility, or probability that has to do with any specific situation, or eat everything in the refrigerator. There are times that only a smoke, a small drink (rarely), or a sleeping aid (most commonly) will help me calm down enough to sleep. There are still more times where I will wake up in the middle of the night with an obsessive thought and can't get back to sleep. I showed these traits long before I ever had my first hypo manic episode. I can tell you that this bugs some of my friends as I can get on a project and get so involved with it I don't seem to look up for a month or more.

GeeN, I feel for you with the severe depression and the racing thoughts. I sometimes feel, when my thoughts are racing, that someone has let fly one of those super bouncy balls (the little ones kids get in those vending machines) inside my head. There have been a few times that I have actually banged my head against a wall unrelentingly, until my husband is able to tackle me and make me stop, (lots of nice bruises and bumps after those times) trying to get it to stop.

I have obssessive thoughts too....and they started way early in my illness.......when I was thirteen, I was obssessed by the fact that I was taller than everyone else....then I was obssessed with astrology, then various guys, then mind reading, now I get obssessed with how people give me their order while I'm waitressing (be nice to your waitresses, please people........) it's always something!! You write your thoughts take up a lot of time during the day, is it to the point that other things that need to be done don't get done? When thoughts interfere with the rest of life, that's when one should be concerned...neglect in care and changes about weight, yes they are changes that can be talked about, talking helps from feeling one has secrets....write us more?

Hello (((Geen))). It is good to see you posting about your issues that you are having at this time. OCD obsessions and the like really do start to consume your days and life in general. Have you got a therapist that can help you at this time to help you sort out some of the triggers that may be causing your problems. A good therapist can help you with your obsessions and OCD as well by thought stoppping processes and medication of the imbalances, that may be triggered through stress or other conditions. I agree with a lot of the posters here at Psych Central, Journaling is wonderful and is helpful in therapy as well, so you can keep up with what is happening in your life, and allows you freedom of not having to remember everything you would like to share with you therapist, at your therapist appointments. The main thing is to seek professional help so that you dont have to suffer to this degree without direction from a professional, who can help greatly when you are in need or crisis. Take care Geen. I hope things get better for you soon. Soidhonia