Manic Delusions?

This is the first time I've ever posted here but I'm kind of confused and I can't find anyone who is having a similar experience to mine. In the past when I've been manic I've been really amazed by how beautiful nature is, particularly trees, but lately I've started thinking that trees are communicating with me through music that only I can hear - specifically classical music for some reason - that I hear through the way they're moving. Like I'll see the way their leaves are moving in the wind and be like "yes this is papagino by Mozart and this means I should do this" etc. It is really freaking out my friends. I have accused a tree of being "rude to me" because it wasn't communicating, to give you an idea. Has anyone experienced anything like this before??? It would be nice to know I'm not alone in this kind of crazy...

Yes nature is very mood altering. Feelings that things are talking to you or there are hidden messages just for you are almost always delusions. I would seek help immediately and probably get on medication. The delusions usually get worse. Have you ever seen "A Beautiful Mind?" There was a scene where he saw all these patterns in nature and golden ratios. He was a schizophrenic but Bipolar is pretty similar in some ways. Bipolar is a mood disorder with delusions mostly when manic.

I can't add much to z7z's excellent reply, except to reiterate that, as far as I know, thoughts of things communicating with you or sending hidden messages are usually classed as delusions, and form part of the psychosis which often accompanies full-blown mania (and less usually, bipolar depression).

I've had at least 3 manic psychoses in the 15 years or so since I was diagnosed, and one of them included the belief that I was getting coded messages through the TV. I also tend to marvel at nature when manic, so can understand why your thoughts are centred around trees.

I know how scary and confusing these unusual thoughts can be, but as z7z mentioned, the good news is that there are many meds out there which can treat these symptoms, such as the Zyprexa/Olanzapine I'm on. I'd make it a priority to be seen by a psychiatrist and start treatment with the meds that they prescribe. All the best of luck to you, and please let us know how you get on.

Hi, I very much relate and understand. My SO has felt similarly. We both have bipolar 1 with psychotic features. I am short on words and I’m not giving medical advice.

It can be really amazing. The ticket for me is to know when the party is over and take my Geodon and get sleep. Antipsychotic med for me.

Your insight is a good thing.

Take care.

-- 10 Nov 2017, 12:48 --

Ennui wrote:I can't add much to z7z's excellent reply, except to reiterate that, as far as I know, thoughts of things communicating with you or sending hidden messages are usually classed as delusions, and form part of the psychosis which often accompanies full-blown mania (and less usually, bipolar depression).

I've had at least 3 manic psychoses in the 15 years or so since I was diagnosed, and one of them included the belief that I was getting coded messages through the TV. I also tend to marvel at nature when manic, so can understand why your thoughts are centred around trees.

I know how scary and confusing these unusual thoughts can be, but as z7z mentioned, the good news is that there are many meds out there which can treat these symptoms, such as the Zyprexa/Olanzapine I'm on. I'd make it a priority to be seen by a psychiatrist and start treatment with the meds that they prescribe. All the best of luck to you, and please let us know how you get on.

I’ve had the scary one you mention above a few times. But mixed episodes. Your advice is good, IMO. Geodon works for me...but I guess another antipsychotic would work, too. Abilify helped me. I’ve heard good things about various ones.

-- 10 Nov 2017, 12:53 --

z7z wrote:Yes nature is very mood altering. Feelings that things are talking to you or there are hidden messages just for you are almost always delusions. I would seek help immediately and probably get on medication. The delusions usually get worse. Have you ever seen "A Beautiful Mind?" There was a scene where he saw all these patterns in nature and golden ratios. He was a schizophrenic but Bipolar is pretty similar in some ways. Bipolar is a mood disorder with delusions mostly when manic.

I have also found it starts out amazing but then gets “dark.” The delusions and ideas of reference (messages) suck. Geodon halts it for me.

I think it is more intense and quickly spirals out of control if you’re not inside. My SO is bipolar 1with psychotic features, like me. However, he can never manage to stay home. He lands in IP every time and, well, takes an antipsychotic and gets better.

Take care, OP.

You are not alone. I also get delusions and ideas of reference.

For instance I think I'm on a secret mission and many foreign agencies are spying on me, and that insignificant events like the specific time that the phone rings or I get or send an email or even license plate numbers and phone numbers are imbued with meaning that only I and maybe a few others can decipher. These delusions of having special abilities and seeing hidden meanings seem far preferable at the time to my otherwise boring and inconsequential existence so the appeal is strong.

Or the time and number of birds that i see from my window... all kinds of odd things become filled with personal meaning affecting the fate of the world.

In retrospect I realized that although I've had depression since my teens I didn't have delusions or manic episodes till my mid 40s and that was also the time I started smoking cannabis after decades of being abstinent.

I stopped the cannabis. Delusions have retreated into the background, which means it is 'optional' for me to believe them or not. I should say that there is always some doubt in my mind about them. I'm never completely sure they are real. Just sometimes more inclined to believe than not.

In retrospect delusions can be frightening but at the time I found them enthralling... they gave my life some meaning.

It's good you have friends. I think the most important factor long term for people with serious mental health problems is social support.

And yes take an antipsychotic.

I have Schizoaffective Bipolar type, which is pretty much the exact same thing as bipolar with psychotic features, but with a small difference. You sound like you could possibly be going through some psychosis yourself. I used to think my pillow was trying to communicate with me by using my fan that I always have blowing while I sleep. I put my head down on my pillow, with one of my ears burrowed into the pillow, and I'd hear things, almost like someone trying to communicate with me.

In reality, it's nothing, and as other have said, it will get worse. It may go away for a short time, or even a while, but it will come back. Maybe seek out a doctor, if you can afford it.

During my recent blip there was some delusional thinking, and an increase in my antipsychotic has helped dampen that (but not make it completely go away). Definitely bring it up to your pdoc; he should be able to help you out.