sensory distortion

I had never heard the term (sensory distortion) before my therapist used it a couple of days ago. It came up when we were talking about my hyperacusis. She asked some questions about other senses that were revealing. I vary lighting backwards from what would seem more logical; I want it dim when I am hypomanic and don't really care much about it when depressed (other than when trying to sleep). My wife had pointed that out to me because how I light the kitchen and I had shrugged it off and not really thought about why I hate the overhead light sometimes and use it others. There are foods I am "moody" about and I am not just talking about comfort foods when depressed; I am talking about Greek peppers, pickles, salmon, shrimp with or without a lot of Old Bay; there is a definite pattern there - sometimes I don't want fragrant food, sometimes I crave it. I often "see" things in my peripheral vision that aren't there. Everyone does that (right?), but there definitely is a correlation as to how often I see it and mood. When I am hypomanic, there are often little forest creatures shadowing me on both sides (we have lots of wild rabbits and voles in my neighborhood, so that seems to be what my brain likes to fill in for something that seemed to be moving out in the periphery). If I saw them front and center I would say hallucination; sometimes I am fairly certain there is a rabbit until I turn my head.

So I searched for it and bipolar and yep, a whole lotta hits. Anyone else experience this much?

As far as I know, I haven't experienced anything like this. Then again, I don't really pay too much attention to things, I kinda just go with the flow. You are right though- everyone sees things in their peripherals. That is normal. Only when it is in front of your face, it's a hallucination. I've had several hallucinations, but I'm not convinced they have anything to do at all with my bipolar diagnosis, as they happen when I'm not having an episode. I haven't even ever brought them up at my appointments. Just my paranoid delusions. I'm not too worried about it.

The sound (hyperacusis) I already knew about, but I never thought about light sensitivity and I do see a definite correlation there once it was brought to my attention. The peripheral vision stuff; not so sure. The fragrant food stuff; not so sure. The food could just be queasiness from all the meds. I have some touch compulsions like flat of fingernails across lips but they are always there.

I can definitely relate to the light thing. We have a living room light that I sometimes find to be way too bright. It's difficult to describe the sensation - I wouldn't say it hurts, but it makes me uncomfortable and I have to turn it off. Much to the annoyance of everyone else.

I just happened across this article:
*mod edit*

Noise sensitivity is not often one problem alone. When our body experiences a threat, whether it be neurological or psychological, our stress levels increase and our body attempts to protect itself.

Our senses are heightened and hypersensitivity kicks in. This could be noise related or relating to light, touch, sound, smell or spatial awareness.

Hyperacusis is the only one it mentions as being in the DSM.

I am somewhat sensitive to particularly low-pitched, high-pitched or loud sounds that most people wouldn't be bothered by. People (men with deep voices or children with high voices) talking loudly is particularly upsetting. It's more a case of my hearing things louder or higher/lower pitched than they should sound. I also can't stand bright or dim lighting. I need to cut labels off clothes so that they can't rub against me and I only wear t-shirts as I don't like the material touching my arm. Certain textures, such as sand, are a big no no for me due to how much they irritate me. I've always just assumed that this is caused by my autism not my bipolar.
However, one has to remember that 'bipolar' and 'autism' are just groups of symptoms. The reality is that I simply have one big psychiatric disorder and it's impossible to split the symptoms (e.g. irritability, anxiety, social withdrawal) into one or the other.
I'd certainly be very shocked if my sensory problems come from my bipolar disorder. I've never thought of the two as being linked
(I don't know if that's what you meant by "sensory distortion". I don't really understand your post very well, in all honesty, sorry.)
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I also do sometimes see things in my peripheral vision. Often I mistake trees in the background as people in spooky cloaks and see bins as people. It seems to happen mostly in the dark at long distances. It's due to my paranoia that people are plotting to attack me/are judging me, I think.

When my new tdoc was talking about it, she described your clothing experience to a T as a warning sign in kids. Also "can't stand the toe seams" in socks.

It can also be at the other extreme. I have some hypersensitivity to touch also but I find pleasure in some of the sensations (and not just where most minds go if I say that). When I shower, the water gives me chills when it hits my skin. When it is warm water, it is a strangely wonderful sensation. I like smooth things. Sometimes I polish my thumbnails and then slide them along my lips and face around my mouth to feel them. The reason I usually don't polish them is to avoid the embarrassment of doing that so much. I like feeling different textures and shapes. I have a fidget spinner and I hold it so that it grazes my hand when I spin it.

I don't really understand your post very well, in all honesty, sorry.)

More confirmation that I am still slightly hypo (as if I needed it). All this stuff is bouncing around in my head and sometimes I just grab a handful of it and go with that, hoping it is enough to communicate what I am thinking. It rarely is.

UpDownAround wrote:

I don't really understand your post very well, in all honesty, sorry.)

More confirmation that I am still slightly hypo (as if I needed it). All this stuff is bouncing around in my head and sometimes I just grab a handful of it and go with that, hoping it is enough to communicate what I am thinking. It rarely is.

I hate to preach (I'm just a little worried), but maybe you should take your as required medication (Saphris) consistently and at the higher dose (regardless of the price - it'll be worth it in the long run) if you feel you are a bit hypo. Hypomania can easily escalate into mania, even in people with type two. I was probably type two for years and then suddenly one of my hypomanias escalated into a full-blown manic episode and I got hospitalized.
Hypomania is a b****. It may seem fun at the time, but afterwards, you'll have blown a lot of money, taken risks you wouldn't have otherwise taken, done a tonne of cringy embarrassing things you regret and ruined your relationships with many people. I've lost so many friends and embarrassed myself so much thanks to hypomania.
You're much more hypomanic than you think.
Speak to your pdoc about increasing your medication so that it doesn't get out of hand.

I agree with David about being on your meds...

I have experienced weird sensory stuff before, colors sometimes seem more vibrant. Cold temperatures aren't pleasant at all, but warm is very nice, certain sounds are awful to me when normally I wouldn't care. I also can get locked into looking at textures.

Honestly I'd pretty much describe me acting towards certain sensory things being very similar to a person on psychedelics. Everything sensory seems so amazing or awful during that time.

@David1999 and HoloDeck,
Your concern is appreciated but I am taking meds as prescribed, though do have leeway to up the saphris from 2.5 to 5 mg if needed for sleep; it isn't.
The sensational stuff I usually keep to myself and I think I may have just remembered why. Some of my quirks cross boundaries; I have issues; that's why I am here. I see both the tdoc and pdoc next week. Neither would be shocked to hear I am still slightly hypomanic. I have been much worse and I spent so much time slightly depressed that I don't want to go under again, not yet.

Like David1999, some of my issues may not be related to BP. I explain myself better when I am not even a little hypo but it's partly because I have so much less to say. But I still have the touch sensations.