Question about Manic States

Hey everyone.

I have been in a manic state for the 9 days and I have noticed something different about it this time. I have to keep myself busy or the thoughts in my head overwhelm me, this has never been a problem before.

But I have been thinking about and analyzing my previous manic states and have come to a conclusion and wanted to know if it is just me or other people out there find this as well.

So here it is......
I have 3 very distinctive types of manic episodes. They are the following:

1. The Good type. I am extremely productive, outgoing, laugh a lot, friendly, sexually active (with my wife only), boundless energy and don't need sleep.

2. The Bad type. Outgoing, extremely reckless, unfaithful (this hasn't happened in a long time), drink excessively, overly friendly and don't sleep.

3. The Really mixed type (this is the one I have been in for the last 9 days). Cleaning all the time, no sleep, overwhelmed by my thoughts to the point where I can't take it and can't stop it, aggressive behaviour towards everyone, feel like if I stop moving I will just crumple under the weight of it all, overly sexually active and crushing feelings.

I just wanted to check to see if it is just me that has this or am the first one to really take notice of it all.

Thanks

Landor

1st state: sounds like hypomania, more managable.

2nd state: Mania

3rd state: Sounds like mixed-state with mania.

I've experienced all of these. Do you have a Dr. you can contact to knock you out of this state with a med adjustment? It doesn't sound great at all to be in this state.

Hang in there.

All three sound familiar to me, I can especially relate to the last one. Most of my manic episodes have been or became mixed manic episodes. The only thing that makes me better is the right combo of meds. In a mixed episode I feel like I'm speeding or something, I feel super pressured to perfect things and stay as busy as possible. I get obsessed with sex, I move and talk constantly,mi get overwhelmed with paranoia and boundless energy. I have thousands of thoughts at once.

What works for me may not be the same as what works for you,but the combo that saved my life in my last mixed episode was ziprasidone (antipsychotic and antimanic), bupropion (antidepressant for the crash I always experience coming out of mixed mania), and klonopin for sleep and anxiety.


Hope you feel better soon, mixed mania is intense and not fun. Although my apartment was never cleaner...

My mania episodes aren't as clearly defined as yours but I am familiar with all the symptoms.

If a "bad mania" has lasted for nine days, I think seeing a doctor would be a good thing.
If you are agressive and angry, don't drive. Ask your wife to drive you, take the bus, or take a taxi.

Don't think, "If I hold on a couple more days, this will pass." See a doctor.

If the Dr prescribes something with a sedative effect, ask him about how much you should take NOW, when the mania is high, and LATER when the mania is low. I hate returning to normal, and remaining sedated.

If you want to bring down your mood naturally, watch the TV channel that plays the House of Commons, or the Senate debates live. (just kidding)

I recognise the different states you are describing and some are better than others to experience. I would agree that if you are struggling, seeing your Dr might well be a good idea as it may be that they are able to help. Please take steps to keep yourself safe too if you are feeling risky. I really hope you aree feeling better soon- hopefully you will. Take good care

hugs

Cracked

Thanks for all the support guys. I have made an appointment to see my doctor again on Friday, this was the earliest I could get in to see him, so here's hoping that I can keep it together until then.

I got about 2 hours sleep last night. I just sat up watching season 3 of Sherlock (great show by the way) and was reading pretty much everything on here that I thought might help.

I have had to taken a double dose of Valium tonight as I have to go to work tomorrow morning. I can't bear not going into work, especially since I haven't told them about the Bipolar yet. I have to work because I don't want to just sit around at home waiting for it to go away. Luckily I work in a supermarket where I can just spend my time putting out stock and avoiding customers. Also I don't want to be thought less of by my manager, who is a really great guy and I respect him a lot.

Well I will let you know how I go at the doctors.

Thanks everybody,

Landor

Mine currently is lack of sleep, mind doesnt shut down unless im asleep. once i open my eyes no matter the time, my mind takes over again.
3 hours sleep last night, same before.
Of course i can work, work , work.
Mind just runs and runs
Funny side effect right now, i dont feel so irritable. thats a plus.

Yeah, those sound familiar- as previously said, sounds like the first is milder, closer to hypomania, whereas the second is full-blown mania and the third is a mixed state. I get mixed states a lot, and those definitely seem like the worse ones.

**UPDATE**

I didnt go to work today, I woke up and physically couldn't bring myself to leave the house.

I did call up and get an emergency appointment with my doctor. I have now been prescribed Sodium Valproate. Has anyone else used this?

So I started that this morning, just another tablet I can add to the ever increasing list.

I want to thank you all for your help and advice. Without the forum I would be pretty messed up and avoiding my illness.

Thanks

Landor

I do have experience with Sodium Valporate. It is as far as I know used as a mood-stabalizer, and I'm currently on it. I didn't originally incorporate this med intentionally for my Bipolar and didn't know it was for Bipolar, but it is a good conjunctive medication to stabilize my psychiatrist said tonight in my own emergency meeting. I can relate to feeling like a science lab project, but all we can do is keep aiming for the right combination. It's important to have a good Dr, who listens to you also. That's what they're there for, and it seems there is some out there who don't listen from my experience.

Take care.