Smart or Manic?

[Tony402]

Why is it that when I am experiencing bouts of mania that I can do almost anything and my senses are so clear? However, it is so heightened that I run myself into the ground after a day or two of it. But, I fear being prescribed something that will make me dumb or loosing my mania alltogether. It is almost like mania is my best friend but worst enemy!!!

[Alex_X_18]

this is common with maina and alot of bipolar people go through a phase where they don't want to take their meds. I can totaly empathise because I went through this as well. after a while people start to recognise the sad truth that mania cannot be harnessed or controled and risking going thtrough the higher stages of mania is not a wise decision.However once you get on the right meds your mind will become clearer.
Just don't give up hope I know its hard to focus or accplish anything but if you work at spoting your moods and taking your meds regualrly, evetually things will lighten up onece you find the right combination at the right time.

[bernie40]

Hi, that is a classic example of how the mind seems during mania.  It isn't a case of you being more intelligent but your confidence level goes through the roof, you suddenly don't need to sleep therefore you get more done, you seem to have wonderful ideas etc etc.  

Crashing after a couple of days of this though is not good and it will come to a point where your "low" points last longer and longer or your "high" points become out of control and impact negatively on your life.

It's worth taking a  look at the website that ILAD has given you to see the various medications available.  You do not have to become a zombie in order to be well, there is only one medication that did that to me but that was due to the doseage and was easily rectified.

It's quite normal to feel you don't want to lose your manias, however because we can't control how far our highs will go then it isn't healthy to ignore them.  You will be surprised how alert and clear headed you feel on a more permanent basis once you become stable.

[ILADVOCATE]

Mania and intelligence are not the same thing. When a person is manic they feel that they have a heightened sense of awareness and perception but in actuality due to the mania their senses are flooded and they often can't understand what is going on and they eventually lose judgement and reasoning. I know having been through it. Some medications can cause cognitive confusion but each person responds differently. I know for myself I tolerated Lamictal the best in this regard but each person has a different response as stated. This is a full list of mood stabilizers:
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/meds/moodstabilizers.htm
Speak to a psychiatrist about how they could best help you.