When was the last time you were (hypo)manic? What happened?

I’m not entirely sure myself. It’s possible I was hypomanic a few months ago when I spent thousands of dollars on useless sh_t from eBay. And I literally mean thousands of dollars. I don’t remember much else, though, because my memory is a bit hazy. (Thanks, lamictal!)

Last week. I made myself sore from sexual activity and flipped off my psychiatrist. Slept maybe 10 hours Monday through Friday. Hallucinated quite a bit. Lost five pounds.

I bought a really expensive website, engaged in really risky behaviors, and slept maybe 2-3 hours a night. It lasted about a month.

I had no idea what was happening because I didn't know what hypomania was at the time (this was years ago). Looking back at that episode and others before it got me my bipolar dx.

I haven't had such a long lasting episode since. I did rapid cycle several years ago (switched moods every few hours) for about a month as I was increasing Lamictal but that resolved once I got to my target dose.

Interesting times.

I'd definitely say this past week I was at the very least high-level hypomania, though towards the end there were mixed features involved. Looking back, I had what I call a "mood upswing" for at least a few weeks. Sometimes I can start with a low level hypomania that lasts a number of days and then escalates either slowly or quickly, usually because of a trigger. That's not uncommon in my bipolar experience, though I have had plenty of times when I zoomed up to full blown mania with psychosis in a flash.

This past elevated mood experience started in a lovely way with me able to take on several big home projects. My energy levels were definitely up there. A while back, my therapist, husband, and later my psychiatrist started to make comments about my high energy and my talking (fast, loud, interrupted people, a little grandiose, elated). Towards the end, my thinking became affected. I was having mild delusions, the racing thoughts became a bit disturbing, I was having violent thoughts, my behavior in public became a bit inappropriate, I started to do things I hadn't done for a long while (like going to AA), giving unsolicited speeches at places, being more flirtatious than usual, sleeping a bit less, etc. I ended up finally gaining some insight into the episode, so I took extra Seroquel. Then I called my psychiatrist and he increased my base Seroquel XR dose. I had to take even more Seroquel PRN for a couple days after that. I've since stopped taking the PRN, but am left with the higher base dose of Seroquel XR. I see him this Wednesday.

For a couple days, I did wonder if I was having a downswing below baseline, but that has since been resolved. I feel very good today with very good energy. I'm kind of back to the usual euthymic me, or ever so slightly above. By nature, I'd say I'm a very positive, outgoing, high energy person.

I was hypomanic a little over a week ago. It lasted about 5 days. I re-arranged my garage at 3 in the am. re-organized the kitchen. slept about 3 hours a night and I would binge on junk food and browse the internet for things to buy. I felt like I could run a marathon. I did some mindfulness and knew I was having an ep. and my Wife got me thru it.

Last fall. I was working almost full time on an intense project, I was volunteering my time to help abuse victims and I was homeschooling. I thought I was superwoman and could do it all. I felt very insightful and in sync with the universe. I had no idea I was in Hypomania. I had never experienced it before. That lasted for a few weeks and then it escalated into very severe psychosis with mixed features one night. The hallucinations and delusions were insane. Its a chapter in my life I cannot forget and I'll probably spend the rest of my life trying to forgive.

It was before psychosis set in with that depression in April/May. It’s all hazy because I did 15
Rounds of ect because the ip dr convinced me I had no other options. It didn’t help.

The last really bad time was around a year ago. Got me into a CPS investigation, a police trip to the psych ER in Houston (a truly horrible place). Things were hard with H, with my daughter, my eating disorder became active once more.

I've been rapidly cycling and have felt hypomanic recently. Hardly slept, racing thoughts (I'm still experiencing these two signs), higher energy starting writing stories excessively, spent a lot of money on stuff I do not need, said things to people that I wish I did not say, became obsessive over certain projects, and hypersexuality. I feel I'm developing mixed features now though and problems with my thoughts (i.e. voices).

Hey there, Raven, I am so sorry you are having a tough time
i hope you have a therapy and/or a pdoc to help.
it's been nice to have you posting again!
I do hope you will find peace with yourself and will get better soon.
Please do take great care.


..

My last manic episode was 8 months ago. I tried to buy a $28,000 ticket for a cruise to Antarctica with only $112.90 in my account. I downloaded a 100 photos of Antarctica and sent them to everyone in my email directory. I also became obsessed with an island off the coast of India that has cannibals on it. I called people all night long and made ridiculous cannibal jokes and laughed hysterically. The only person not amused was my psychiatrist. The man has no sense of humor when I'm manic. He asked me where my passport was. I told him my therapist had it. He was releaved. He medicated me. He wanted to see me first thing in the morning. I did get him to laugh at a cannibal joke though.

I don't know that I did anything in particular, except be delusional and put up a LOT of posts here. And of course talk a lot and be REALLY speedy and bouncy, not sleep for days and think God was talking straight to me. I had no money but that's not unusual. I was researching and posting my findings.