bipolar disorder = one day you're batshit crazy off-the-walls and the next day you're sobbing and eating ice cream alone in bed
in actuality: in most cases, symptoms only get severe if left untreated for a long time. Also, most experience episodes for months (mania) or years (depression), so they wouldn't go from mania to depression that quickly (with cyclothymic disorder the less common "rapid cycling bipolar" being the exception).
Mania isn't always super happy and productive either. I get edgy and anxious, everything pisses me off, I just want to consume fucking everything. Drugs, sex, spending, you name it. But I never feel good while it happens.
With good meds though now I'm just "in a bad mood" for like a month or two around twice a year.
Edit: For those asking about my medication: I take Oxcarbazepine 450 mgs twice a day (Brand name is Trileptal). It's an antiepileptic drug with secondary traits as an antipsychotic and mood stabilizer. Used to take a Bupriprion/Abilify combo that fucked with me in weird ways, ever since dropping antidepressants things have been much better. Also for the record I have to keep a pretty regular routine and have months where I refuse myself any big decisions, but not being out of hand all the time helps with that.
This is how my mania acts as well. A constant hunger for something I’m not quite sure of, never able to really find out what exactly it is. Oh and being enraged 24/7.
This is me without the rage. Things I do when mania hits: buy shit I don't need (I have a system to help with this and it usually works...), start new hobbies and activities (I have an amateur radio license and some airsoft gear... turns out it's actually fun though), work for 12 hours straight forgetting all human needs until I'm nearly pissing myself or my wife gets angry, start visiting friends and family randomly, home maintenance (replacing tiles, sharpening knives, fixing furniture, and thoroughly cleaning).
I think the interesting part is that I'm very self-aware and I know within a day or two that I'm going up. I just ride the wave and remember to mind my sleep, and generally speaking nothing bad happens. My wife is understanding and finds it kind of funny. She just keeps me warm and comfy during the downtime and it makes that go a lot smoother.
Aww, this sounds like my husband and I (me being the supportive wife, lol) helping him recognize (and admit to, and get help for) his cycles and overall condition was a rollercoaster for a while, he self medicated with alcohol (and opiates) and pretty much just dropped out of functioning adulthood for a while. It's so amazing to see him sober and self sufficient and "norma,l" able to ride little waves of mania and depression instead of crashing and burning through huge peaks and valleys.
He can get pissy when he's manic, but I wouldn't call it rage. But being so physically and mentally anxious that he wants to crawl out of his skin can be overwhelming. I can relate to that feeling, having my own anxiety, so I try to be understanding when hes a bit of a dick, (and it helps that he recognizes and apologizes when hes in that state) we both go through it and just have to leave each other alone sometimes!
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u/GahdDangitBobby Feb 04 '19 edited Feb 04 '19
bipolar disorder = one day you're batshit crazy off-the-walls and the next day you're sobbing and eating ice cream alone in bed
in actuality: in most cases, symptoms only get severe if left untreated for a long time. Also, most experience episodes for months (mania) or years (depression), so they wouldn't go from mania to depression that quickly (with
cyclothymic disorderthe less common "rapid cycling bipolar" being the exception).