Bipolar what is it like

I have the most fun running around and entertaining people, making them laugh, and acting like a big clown. I get a lot of satisfaction from the laughs and smiles I can get out of people. It makes me feel invincible. I see all my friends, have a blast, get everything done on my to-do list, and more. And do I talk. Unfortunately, this is when I go out more, spend all my money, and drink too much.

Getting into a fight at a bar with some dude twice my size is exhilarating. An upside to the mania is that my sex drive goes haywire.

During my mania, I feel like a god. I feel like I can do anything, so my self-worth skyrockets. People living with this disorder also have periods of depression and alternate between extreme highs and extreme lows.

You may be all too familiar with these extremes and unpredictable moods. Your relative could be laughing and having a great time one day. And then the next day, they disconnect from the family and isolate themselves for no apparent reason. They may have little to say, become easily irritated, or lose motivation, which can be a difficult time for everyone. Your relative may also simply revert to a normal amount of energy without symptoms of depression.

They can remain like this until the next manic episode occurs. So, the easiest way to feel better is to hide. Do they try to cheer me up, or do something to make me laugh? They just want their clown back. If friends invite me out, I imagine waiting for the bus, being crammed against angry people, waiting in lines, and all the other negative things. I think of every possible downside of something, which leaves me dreading the idea of doing anything.

That self-reminder helps me from doing anything stupid. I can only envision more troubles, endless work, and an endless string of letdowns. I wake up in the morning and I feel fine. I go to work, get things done, and have plenty of energy throughout the day.

I can roll with the punches the average day gives me. Trying to stay well and steady takes a lot of effort. Cait, a mother in her 20s talks about the ongoing impact of experience that started at a young age:. Becoming unwell at such a critical period in my life shaped my self-image and I struggle with social anxiety. I put off having children for a long time because I was frightened of getting ill.

The negatives focusing on some of the more harmful actions I have taken as a result of the disorder, such as falling in to self-medicating habits which lead to addiction. I am very lucky to have a close circle now, each person I know truly value me, and see the real person that I am through the disorder. As a teenager, I was a high achiever. I was destined for academic and occupational success, but I haven't been able to work since I was 18 and I had to drop out of university because I was too unwell.

I volunteer, study part time with the Open University I will finally get my degree next year. I started university in ! Living with bipolar, often for years, teaches you a lot about yourself, about mental health services, about medication…and sadly often about stigma, shame, and discrimination. I never thought I could be a worthwhile human being and have something meaningful to offer. I have discovered that there is more to life than getting a degree or a good job.

I have learnt that I have amazing friends who never stopped believing in me, even when I couldn't believe in myself. Hannah draws on a theme park analogy to talk about assembling your team of helpers:. There are people who are too scared to come to the theme park, those that will hop on rides with you and those that watch sensibly in awe and sickness from a distance minding your bags.

Going through episodes alone has had some disastrous consequences in the past. Hannah points to long experience of episodes to reflect that mania is the most dangerous state for her. But mania is the dangerous one. This can be a challenge when many believe mania to be exciting. I have even had people ask me how to get there. Keeping well when you have bipolar is an interesting concept.

For some it revolves exclusively around manging moods. For others it means fitting life around moods. Missing doses or tweaking them without professional help can be devastating. I took lithium for a decade, and then wanted, once I knew myself and had done my research, to try tapering off. I did it carefully, over two years, with support, whilst learning other techniques. So I have to be super careful, and alas, super boring. I don't drink a lot, I have relatively early nights when I can.

Bipolar can also be triggered by trauma, or other life events and sometimes part of therapy is addressing underlying concerns to get someone to a point where they can start to see a life worth living.

I believed it not only saved my life, but helped me actually have a life. Mood diaries. Management plans. Making and keeping a routine. Being me. Doing one thing that is the same every day.

Doing one thing that pushes me out of my comfort zone every day. You can monitor mood via downloadable or printed mood diary charts, or through several apps and web resources. I try and practice mindfulness daily, and remain wedded to my work and its importance to my identity. Medication, therapy, or other treatment options can help you or your loved one get symptoms under control and live a full, satisfying life.

Some people wrongfully label people with bipolar as "crazy," and my mom isn't that. If someone close to you has bipolar disorder, dealing with the uncertainty can be hard. You may be more likely to develop bipolar disorder if you have a family member with the condition.

Learn more about the connection. Mania and hypomania are both symptoms of bipolar disorder. Here's how these conditions are similar and different. Discover six diagnostic features of bipolar disorder, a mental condition where a person fluctuates between periods of mania and depression.

Bipolar 1 disorder and bipolar 2 disorder cause your feelings to hit unusual highs and lows. These emotional peaks and valleys can last for weeks or…. Siblings separated at birth must feel this way when meeting as adults: seeing part of yourself in someone else.

Use these tips to help choose the right mental health professional for you. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Could It Be Bipolar Disorder? Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. Bipolar disorder can be hard to diagnose, but there are signs or symptoms that you can look for. What are the signs of bipolar disorder? Bipolar disorder types and symptoms.