I was clinically diagnosed with depression in March of 2012.  It took until September 2012 to come into mental clarity.  Getting the right medication and dosage takes time.  This is a point where I could BEGIN to think clearly.  Something was still wrong, but I did not see it.  It’s a good thing that my doctor noticed some issues.  I was hypersexual, responded to new medication too quickly, fast speech, brimming with confidence, and engaging in risky behaviors (wanting to start a new business in a field I had no experience in.)  In December 2012 he introduced a mood stabilizer to me.  I was officially diagnosed in January 2013 with Bipolar II.  Here are some symptoms of bipolar disorder :

· 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 impulsively 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, gambling, 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.

 

I know the feeling of overwhelming impulses, and that’s why I got treatment for bipolar. I was horny all the time. When I woke up; when I went to work at that time; driving; walking; everything reminded me of sex that I couldn’t get it out of my mind. It’s a good thing my P-doc recognized the symptom and gave me the proper medicine. I also have heard some strange stories about people being hypomanic.

One highschool student in the middle of class got up and jumped on all the desks and ran out the classroom door. He kept on running until he ran out of energy.

Another person took his car and raced on the highway until he ended up crashing into a house. Luckily no one was hurt.

I honestly like the feeling of being hypomanic, but the unwanted behaviors outweigh my decision of remaining hypomanic. I hear some people try to medicate themselves to be hypomanic because they feel so much better that way. There is a HUGE risk of falling back into a deeper depression even though a person may be medicated on anti-depressants. The depression will more than likely be very deep, and almost suffocating. This is the danger of being bipolar on just antidepressants.

Does depression just suddenly clear up that quickly?

It can!  That’s the weird thing about it.  With someone that is bipolar, the “middle normal mood” keeps shifting.  Antidepressants alone will make his overall mood ‘elastic.’  He will have greater swings in mood, and his highs (happiness) will be extreme, and his lows (depression) will feel like rock bottom.  A mood stabilizer will prevent the massive swings in mood. 

I hope this was helpful.  Please ask me any questions if you need to.

 

-WW