Bipolar Question

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Bipolar Question
5
Tue, 10-11-2005 - 2:29pm

When you are in 'mania', do you feel almost like your other "self" is someone else altogether?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: pen1971
Tue, 10-11-2005 - 2:57pm

Hi Pen!

I can relate to that NOW in many ways. When I was not diagnosed or medicated, I didn't know what the heck was going on! Now, that I am very much educated about mania and the two "poles" of my illness, mania and depression, I know exactly what is going on. I am better equipped to recognize the swings between the poles and the meds help control the swings, but they still happen. Sometimes they are uncontrollable and before they get out of MY control I call my pdoc and we get them under control. I know that sounds confusing, because it IS confusing!

But yes, I can relate to that very well. When I'm getting manic, I usually can't stop it, or don't want to stop it is more like it. But its quite dangerous to allow myself to go into a full blown mania, so I do what I can to prevent it from happening.

I hope you'll stick around with us here...we'd love to have you! Its a very supportive place and I think you'd really like it!

Good luck with tdoc!

Hugs,

Keli

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: pen1971
Tue, 10-11-2005 - 3:03pm

One other thing...

When I am manic or depressed, yes, I am LIKE 2 different people...when manic, I'm happy, full of energy, talkative, think I'm the best thing since sliced bread (its a bit embarrassing sometimes) and very productive...then when depressed, I'm very quiet, withdrawn, sad, i feel sorry for myself, and don't care about ANYTHING...i dress differently, talk differently, act differently, the whole works.

Then when I'm in the middle, or what they call stable (not very often for me), I'm in between both of them. Its kinda interesting. I'm more towards the manic side usually...even when "stable". So, when I'm depressed-acting, you know I'm in real trouble.

Funny how that is.

k.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2005
In reply to: pen1971
Tue, 10-11-2005 - 3:15pm

Hi Pen and Welcome !!!!


Keli said it perfectly for me also.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: pen1971
Tue, 10-11-2005 - 7:14pm

yep, mine is a bit different. But pretty close to the same. However I also get mixed states that is more confusing for me, very manic but yet feeling awful about myself and others. During my mania, my house is spotless, when working very productive, I worked in a call center, so I would many times jump or spin out of boredome even when on a call, I get aggitated, been known to pace in front of my house for hours on end, talk at light speed, I get some grandous feelings about myself, but not too bad. I dont mind the mild mania, but when I go manic - I hate it. I will try and calm myself, ha.

When depressed - keli spelled it out. Today was depressed, for weeks manic. Meds help, but I always feel as though I am cured and stop. Not this time. Gotta stay on to show my son there is normalcy.

Jen

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
In reply to: pen1971
Wed, 10-12-2005 - 9:27am

Thank you all for your replies.

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