Was this a manic episode?

I have been diagnosed as borderline personality disorder and I agree with this diagnosis but I wonder if I have bipolar disorder (I have questioned this in my previous post).

On Saturday night I had an episode that I think must have been manic, but my councellour barely talked about it with me and continued with the borderline surveys.

A brief summary:  I was in a hyper good mood, having a few drinks (although didn't drink much my memories are foggy), I made an innappropriate speech at a party where I knew no one and felt like I was super funny and awesome. My fiance made me leave and I became very violent (quickly), i kicked him and ran out on the street and straight into a tree. Once home I wouldnt stop screaming and cut my neck with a knife. My fiance had to ring the police in the end and I was arrested and put in a cop car. But at this time I remember feeling like an action hero and planned my escape; I escaped the cuffs and the car and tried kicking the policeman.  In the jail cell I was having the time of my life, I was making jokes, running around talking to everyone, singing and trying to come on to the policeman! NOw I am horrified by this behaviour, At school I was a top student, over achiever and well behaived. My partner picked me up in the morning and said he could see in my eyes that I was high and what he would call 'manic'. He said I was rambling and not making any sense...

Okay so it wasn't so brief, but does this sound like a manic episode?

[looloo141]

It does sound like a manic episode yes.. it must have cycled very rapidly. You say this is behaviour you are ashamed of, and that is how most of us feel after an episode where we have found ourselves in serious trouble because of our behaviour. I think that Bipolar and BPD are closely linked and your case needs looking at a lot more closely..Things are different in different countries but where I am there is no real medication for BPD just therapy, but with BP there are allsorts of treatments that can make life a whole lot easier for you and everybody around you..

Definitely get all this checked out, you don't want to get into much more trouble hun..

Good Luck.

[amylove21]

To me it sounds like it could have been a manic episode. I don't know this for sure but I think that BPD and BP are quiet similar but there are differences too. I don't know a whole lot about BPD so I am not sure. I know that bipolar is treatable once you find the right meds and with theoropy. You should get this checked out because you might get into more trouble. That would be bad. So I think getting this checked out is something that needs to be done. Mania can become a big problem at times.

[adel_ezz]

i remember to have asked this same question in the BPD forum whether a BPD pt can become manic and i received conflicting answers. Seemingly nobody knows. HOWEVER upon reading a canadian health guide it says ADHD, BPD, OCD and PD are gateways to BP. Pdocs say  that BP comes with comobidity with other syndromes. Also there is always a syndrome shift.

Still unfortunately, ONCE manic you have then BP according to psychiatry and deserve to be treated like one IRRESPECTIVE whether you are in origin or upon taking an AD or for whatever reason you are manic. So since this sounds like being manic then you should consider a BP treatment. period

[nlr_tiff]

It does sound like a manic episode mostly. I also think you could put this situation under a mixed state because of the violence. Maybe try to stay away from the drinks since they could have triggered this mood change or have made it worse. I know that for me personally, any alcohol gets me into trouble.

[Athena_M]

It sounds like whatever happened was induced by your drinking, so I'm not sure if it would be a true mania.  I agree with bradian to stay away from the alcohol.  

[outrageous23]

I agree- staying away from the alcohol is difficult but I am trying. But on this night  I was violent when I was the most drunk but as I sobered up the more excited I got.

When in a manic phase- does the degree of mania fluctuate? since this night I have been pretty hyped up but change between 'just in a good mood' like now and still in touch with reality then completely out of it feeling awesome. I just get angry when insulted but it goes away quickly but I never really feel sad until sad is all I feel for ages...

[looloo141]

Everybodies Mania is different hun so its hard to say when and where your mood would fluctuate..some peoople get higher and higher, some people may flip to mixed, or go back down.. I akin this illness to being Multi-polar, there isn't really and up or down..

I agree with the others, you have found now that alcohol has a profound effect on you, so you must stay away, I drink when I am trying to self medicate and its not good..

You really need to keep records of your moods and behaviour so that your pdoc can reassess the situation.

Hope you are ok!

[Athena_M]

I am kinda wondering if maybe somebody but something in your drink.  Have you ever had this type of reaction before?  Did you have an alcoholic drink with something sugary?  

I am bipolar type 1, and my manias will last weeks and weeks.  Bipolar 2 can have one day of mania and the next a depression.  Do you think you have bipolar 2?  

[bpchris]

I was diagnosed at BP2 several years ago and my moods used to swing all over the place, all day long. However, my issues were exacerbated by the Celexa I was on. My moods would turn on a dime; it was ridiculous.

[sweetsgrplm]

Maybe,,you just need to stay away from alcohol all together, or pay the price. Some people don't forgive and forget so easily. and these actions are something you will have to live with the rest of your life..I'm not trying to be mean but i have a sister with same problem. and everytime i forgive her and think we can start over, she does same things again and again..So, I've decided to just stay away from her..it has wrecked our family.

[Athena_M]

I agree with sweets!

[LuvMyGoldnz2]

Obviously...I cannot diagnose you. I myself have been diagnosed with Bipolar 2 AND Borderline Personality. What you described can easily fit the actions of a person with Borderline Personality.(intense violence, and cutting your neck TO NAME A FEW!). It's hard to say if it's a "manic episode" Again.....I cannot diagnose you. Do you take any meds? For BPD? Alcohol & BPD meds(if ya take them) are a REAL BAD COMBO!!!! Alcohol by itself for someone with a mood disorder is not a good idea either!! Anyway...Just thought I'd add my "2 cents" I guess my final suggestion would be if you think that you may be bipolar ,make an appt with your psych doc and ask him for an evaluation. Be persistant!! It took me a while TO FINALLY GET DIAGNOSED CORRECTLY, SO STICK WITH IT ,TILL U ARE SATISFIED.
                                                                                                                  LuvMyGoldnz2

[lindahand]

Could it be possible someone slipped something into your drink? That with any meds may have caused this. The fogginess of your memory is what made me think of this. And the fact that your bf said you looked high.

I guess my hesitancy to call it manic would be that it didn't last very long and from what you've described has only happened once. You would also have to have episodes of depression to be considered bipolar.

You may also want to talk to your BF about who to call when you are in trouble. Here they have something called the Mobile Crisis Unit. They are designed to help diffuse difficult mental health situations. If you call the cops you may end up being arrested and end up in jail - especially if you are violent towards a police officer or are resisting arrest, if you call these guys you are more likely going to be taken to the hospital. Which when you are in crisis like that is where you need to be. You didn't need a jail cell, you needed help.