How do you know when you are experiencing a Manic State?

How do you know when you are experiencing a Manic State

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Usually other people are aware of it before you are, but a manic attack is when you feel "wired", don't need sleep, are sure you are right about something big and important like winning at gambling or a big business deal, have an exaggerated idea of your importance  and in general are as far away from being depressed as any mental state can be.

[Doggies4]

When I was manic I felt the most incredible happiness and peaceful feeling in the world.  I spent a lot of money all which I should not have done and didn't really have to spare, talked too much and always seemed to have funny stories to tell, I slept only a few hours a night and was ready to hop up at 2:00 a.m. and start cleaning the house and cabinets and drawers.  I was full of energy.  I just felt incredible.  I thought of many things that I wanted to do or start and I remember telling my docotr that I felt like I was in the Indianapolis 500.  I never experienced feeling like I was super important but I just felt incredible.  I have read that many people feel irritable and angry instead of the incredible sense of well being that I felt.  

Good luck to you.

[msholee]

i often go for days without sleep, and tend to feel "invinsible", and go for days or even weeks without sleep. i tend to do things that most people would categorize as "crazy". my manics can last from hours to days to months even. i often feel extreme happiness for a period of time, till i get to a point where my body doesn't want to keep up with my mind any more and then get extremely irritable. the best way to tell if your begining a manic episode is if you find it hard to sleep, not always not sleeping, but difficult, AND start to notice exasberated emotions at the same time whether they be happy or irritable feelings.

[sinnequan]

when i am manic (and i tend to have mixed episodes...), i get ANGRY and HOSTILE...... i know this sounds weird but i always know one is coming on because i start having TERRIBLE NIGHTMARES... then WHAM it starts.  i clean clean clean clean clean all day--- organize and clean.  for hours... until there is nothing at all left to clean.  then, something small can make me FURIOUS----- livid all day.....  then, after i have one of these spells, i have nightmares for months.  usually about babies--- i guess that is b/c my doctor wants to do a hysterectomy and i have never had children.  i also go nuts buying stuff on ebay.  

i woke up this morning and checked my e-mail.... and realized that i am top bidder in like 6 auctions..... *sigh*... i don't know how i am gonna pay for all the stuff i have bid on.

i usually know when i am manic, b/c i don't have the "feel good" mania, i have the angry, hostile, furious mania....

lithium helps some.... but not all the time.

if your manic, it won't take long for someone to notice.

fairydust

[Lithiumhead]

hi there...I'm 19 years old and I have ultra rapid cylcing bipolar. I know when I'm going into a manic state because I feel an incredible sense of motivation, like I can do almost anything and do it well. I also have an increse in extreme irritability and also don't sleep that well. For me, a manic episode can be great because I get so many things done, but the lack of sleep is dangerous for me...I become very paranoid, I hallucinate and i have panic attacks and do not like to leave my house. My cycles continue on a daily basis but sometimes I have one or the other for days at a time (manic/depressed). I've been on 12 different meds since the age of 12 right now i'm not on anything. Hope this helps!

[princesscooi]

when I go through a manic stage I become very bored with life I feel anxious. I have racing thoughts I spend money that I don't have, get tatoos make bad decisions, get forgetful and when questioned of why I acting that way I get deffensive irritable. and I can't sleep well or have weird or vivid dreams. I rapid cycle and swing back and fourth every 2-3 days, I become suicidual when I come down. Just a warning to everyone with bipolar that anti depressents can cause a manic episode do your research! When I get depressed I can't get out odf bed and every day tasks are impossible. Hope this helps.

[Vepa]

Hello,
I have had only a very stong and long maniac episode that changed completly my life, with 44 years old. Before I have not feeled any important change in my behaviour, except sleeping disturbance, that i can now remmenber. So, I agreed with msholee, since in my case, it is the best indication I have.
During that maniac phase, and others very soft, I feel the need to change everything and concretize my dreams. Normally I am very positive and happy, and at that phase I was more, I could not cache my feelings about family and job, and this costa me a divorce and difficult promotionm in spite I am a very qualified professional. Good luck for all.