[tryingtoundestand]

Have discovered that my bipolar 2 wife has been hiding the mail in the closet and under furniture. Is this normal when manic?

[Skeezyks]

Well... I'm certainly no expert with regard to mania (or hypomania) in bipolar disorder (although I have my own little hypomanic-type episodes periodically.) My thinking would be there isn't any "normal" when it comes to how mania (or hypomania) are "expressed", so to speak. Mania, or hypomania, probably affects each person who has bipolar disorder in individual ways. Here are links to 5 articles, from Psych Central's archives, on the subject of mania as well as hypomania:

Manic Episode Symptoms

Bipolar: What Mania Looks Like for Me

Hypomanic Episode Symptoms

What Hypomania Is And How It Feels

10 Ways to Prevent Mania and Hypomania

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by tryingtoundestand

Have discovered that my bipolar 2 wife has been hiding the mail in the closet and under furniture. Is this normal when manic?

sorry but we cant diagnose whether something is normal or not in your wife, only her own treatment providers can say that.

what I can tell you is that I know many normal non mental and mental disordered people who hide their mail in various places, in fact even the police force here where I am recommend hiding mail and any other papers/ certificates and such to prevent others from knowing or getting ahold of ones personal information. people hide all kinds of things.. I have hidden in my home a hidden fire proof safe that contains emergency money, documents and pieces of mail that I may need at some point in the future to prove my identity, my address (even getting a library card these days you are expected to show them at least two pieces of mail still in the envelops to prove you are a resident of that town and your address.)

Since hurricane sandy I know many many people who now keep things like mail and personal documents hidden and in what they perceive to be safe places... under the bed, inside the sofa, in safes, in the freezer you name it.

my suggestion if this continues to bother you ask to go with her to her treatment providers appointments and have her sign a release of information so that the doctors and therapists can talk with you about this. you can also enter therapy your self to learn how to help your self handle what goes on with your wife because of her mental disorder.