Recognizing Manic and Depressed Episodes

I’m depressed most of the time so my manic days are obvious. I get the zoomies and can’t stop taking or sit still. I feel like a super hero that can conquer the world. But that also comes with decreased sleep and ocd. My house gets really clean though! Lol

Normally mine would start by thinking “I feel great, I don’t need these meds!” Then I’m out spending money, no impulse control. Living the “1970s Rock star” like (on under poverty money) but loving it. However not paying important things like rent. I’m the best and worst versions of myself at once.

Less sleep is a great indicator of mania, especially feeling well rested with little sleep. I personally don’t really get that because of my meds, but I think I’m a little hypomanic because I am very easily distracted, irritable, restless. It is difficult to identify if you’re not looking out for it. Depression is extremely obvious for me. All the classic symptoms and it is extreme. What is good for me is being aware of the symptoms, my therapist gave me a little checklist sheet that I can look at, you could probably find one on google. Also my therapist and psychiatrist will catch me if I don’t, especially with manic symptoms. But yeah, there are a few very classic things to look out for. Also, in general, if you notice you are doing anything out of the ordinary. If you think something is up but aren’t sure, talk to someone who knows about bipolar disorder, whether that be a doctor, family member, friend, etc.

When I’m Manic, the first signs I usually notice is my decreased need for sleep, less eating and I make many plans to do things that I never even would do. When I’m depressed, I often sleep a lot, my self-esteem is very low, etc( the classic depressive symptoms). This obviously is different from person to person but if you notice those irregularities you’ll be able to track your episodes. That’s how I found better meds. Hope this helps🖤🖤🖤