Bipolar Disorder: Hypomania and Mania Symptoms




Bipolar mania, hypomania, and depression are symptoms of bipolar disorder. The dramatic mood swings of bipolar disorder do not follow a set pattern. Depression does not always follow mania. A person may experience the same mood state several times -- for weeks, months, even years at a time -- before suddenly having the opposite mood. Also, the severity of mood phases can differ from person to person.
Hypomania is a less severe form of mania. Hypomania is a mood that many don't perceive as a problem. It actually may feel pretty good. You have a greater sense of well-being and productivity. However, for someone with bipolar disorder, hypomania can evolve into mania -- or can switch into serious depression.
The experience of these manic stages has been described this way:
Hypomania: At first when I'm high, it's tremendous ... ideas are fast ... like shooting stars you follow until brighter ones appear... . All shyness disappears, the right words and gestures are suddenly there ... uninteresting people, things become intensely interesting. Sensuality is pervasive, the desire to seduce and be seduced is irresistible. Your marrow is infused with unbelievable feelings of ease, power, well-being, omnipotence, euphoria ... you can do anything ... but somewhere this changes.
Mania: The fast ideas start coming too fast and there are far too many ... overwhelming confusion replaces clarity ... you stop keeping up with it … memory goes. Infectious humor ceases to amuse. Your friends become frightened ... everything is now against the grain ... you are irritable, angry, frightened, uncontrollable, and trapped.
If you have three or more of the mania symptoms below most of the day -- nearly every day -- for one week or longer, you may be having a manic episode:

• Excessive happiness, hopefulness, and excitement
• Sudden changes from being joyful to being irritable, angry, and hostile
• Restlessness, increased energy and less need for sleep
• Rapid talk, talkativeness
• Distractibility
• Racing thoughts
• High sex drive
• Tendency to make grand and unattainable plans
• Tendency to show poor judgment, such as deciding to quit a job
• Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity -- unrealistic beliefs in one's ability, intelligence, and powers; may be delusional
• Increased reckless behaviors (such as lavish spending sprees, impulsive sexual indiscretions, abuse of alcohol or drugs or ill-advised business decisions)

Some people with bipolar disorder become psychotic, hearing things that aren't there. They may hold onto false beliefs, and cannot be swayed from them. In some instances, they see themselves as having superhuman skills and powers -- even consider themselves to be god-like.
Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Department of Psychiatry and Psychology.

I think I get hypo something.....since I am BP II (depressive side) I think there is another hyper or is it hypermania?

I always get confused on the hyper thing.

Although the first category seems more, I just don't know.

Sorry, confused....

Nikko

Hypo, hyper, manic........whatever you call it, it's the pits.

Hugs to you both....
hypomania is really what the mania lists...
true mania is the same list only intensified...
and maybe exhibit with added psychosis(false beliefs, paranoias or hallucinations) but not always....
does this make sense?
I still think it is rather subjective.
bizi

Hypomania/Mania Symptom Checklist (HCL-32)
(Journal of Affective Disorders 2005, Angst and colleagues)
The HCL-32 is a screening tool for researchers trying to find people with bipolar disorder. This is one of the better "complete but simple" lists of manic-side symptoms. It's a good "fine-tooth comb" when people want to inventory all possible hypomanic symptoms, usually in the context of asking "do I really have bipolar disorder?" (Download pdf of symptom list only)
Remember, however, that this is not exactly the right question. As at the Harvard bipolar clinic, we should instead be asking "how much bipolarity might you have?" In that clinic's Bipolarity Index, you'll note that hypomania or mania only account for up to 1/5th of the possible score; the other 4/5th's of the total 100 points possible come from other factors such as family history, age of onset of depression, course of the depressions since, and response to medications.
Thus you should not look at the HCL as a "yes or no" tool for detecting bipolar disorder. It's simply a handy way to check what should be checked when looking for hypomania or mania -- which is just one part of the story. Okay, with that reminder, here we go.
At different times in their life everyone experiences changes or swings in energy, activity and mood ("highs and lows" or "ups and downs"). The aim of this questionnaire is to assess the characteristics of the "high" periods.
1. First of all, how are you feeling today compared to your usual state?

Much worse than usual Worse than usual A little worse than usual Neither better nor worse than usual
A little better than usual Better than usual Much better than usual

2. Compared to other people, my level of activity energy and mood: (Not how you feel today, but how you are on average)

is always rather stable and even is generally higher is generally lower repeatedly shows periods of ups and downs

3. Please try to remember a period when you were in a "high" state (while not using drugs or alcohol). In such a state:

1. I need less sleep
2. I feel more energetic and more active
3. I am more self-confident
4. I enjoy my work more
5. I am more sociable (make more phone calls, go out more)
6. I want to travel and/or do travel more
7. I tend to drive faster or take more risks when driving
8. I spend more money/too much money
9. I take more risks in my daily life (in my work and/or other activities)
10. I am physically more active (sport etc.)
11. I plan more activities or projects.
12. I have more ideas, I am more creative
13. I am less shy or inhibited
14. I wear more colourful and more extravagant clothes/make-up
15. I want to meet or actually do meet more people
16. I am more interested in sex, and/or have increased sexual desire
17. I am more flirtatious and/or am more sexually active
18. I talk more
19. I think faster
20. I make more jokes or puns when I am talking
21. I am more easily distracted
22. I engage in lots of new things
23. My thoughts jump from topic to topic
24. I do things more quickly and/or more easily
25. I am more impatient and/or get irritable more easily
26. I can be exhausting or irritating for others
27. I get into more quarrels
28. My mood is higher, more optimistic
29. I drink more coffee
30. I smoke more cigarettes
31. I drink more alcohol
32. I take more drugs (sedatives, anti-anxiety pills, stimulants)

The remaining questions ask how these "highs" affect your life (positively or negatively); other people's reactions to them; how long they last; whether you've had one recently; and how much of the last year has been spent in such a state.

Unfortunately this is all so confusing just as I think my pdoc is conufsed. I get a rash, the Lamitcal is causing it. Ease into it. I follow orders. Okay rash goes away. Become hypo/manic whichever one and make a call because I know I'm getting out of control. Wean off Lamitical because it's making me hypo. And you wonder why I'm so confused?

I wouldn't wish this disease on anyone. It's a roller coaster of ups and downs and try this and increase that and come off this. Where is that magic pill?

Dear Bj,
I am sorry that the lamictal made you hypomanic...
What are her plans now for a mood stabilizer?
Ya know it really does suck to have to go thru this rollar coaster.
You are doing well just by sticking in there and trying to follow her suggestions.
hang in there girlie.
It is going to get better for you...
Do you have a good therapist to help you thru this?
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

My pdoc "thinks" the Lamitcal casued ultradian cycling, anxiety, loss of sleep, and nightmares. We're cutting it down to half, 100 mg bid, added Trileptal to the mix. Starting that at 300 mg bid. I usually have to take Klonopin in the afternoon.

Maybe this is the one. Don't know. Don't think anyone knows.

I haven't slept, have no desire to do much of anything. Talke about being dazed and confused.

my heart goes out to you about not sleeping....
I have had to take klonipin at night with my sleeping pill to get any sleep.
I wonder if you could do that? ask your pdoc.
1mg knocked me out.
I was on trileptal for a few years, please have her check your blood work.
I am not saying this to scare you it jsut happened to me.
I had a low blood count and white blood count and had a low sodium and it took awhile to figure it out. The med says you should check for these things yearly. Both my pdoc and I missed that...we are human.
ahng in there and I am rooting for you.
call your pdoc today and ask if you can take the klonipin.
let me know.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

Thanks Bizi. I called yesterday and she said she'd I can try it in the evening. I can't function like this. Many worries, many fears, worried about my job. All because of this roller coaster ride.

As I crawl back into my hole. Safe here.