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I have already had TWO hypomanic episodes this summer. But, the depression is here as well. It depends on if we have rapid cycling… I hope that we can find stability. I used to go absolutely wild in the summer due to this mania. I am now much more aware and able to stay away from the bars and the men. Is life less exciting? Well, it’s safer- what I considered exciting was actually very dangerous. So, life is still exciting, it is just SAFE at the same time. Good luck! Julie<\/p>\n
Here is an article I wrote for Bp Magazine….<\/p>\n
Preventing mania takes a lot of self-awareness, especially in summer when it\u2019s so nice to feel good again. Have you ever noticed that your mood is better in the summer? This makes sense when you consider that mood swings often run in cycles, depending on the natural light where you live.<\/p>\n \u201cFor many people who have bipolar disorder, too much light exposure can provoke mania and too little can lead to depression,\u201d says John Preston, MD, coauthor of our book and psychopharmacology expert in the treatment of bipolar disorder who\u00a0teaches at Alliant International University, Sacramento Campus. \u201cThis is why hospitalizations for mania peak in the summer, and for depression [they peak] in the late fall.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s certainly tempting to spend more time outside in the summer, so one must make a focused effort to keep bright light exposure at about the same amount of time per day, year round,\u201d adds Dr. Preston. \u201cWhat matters is the amount of bright light entering the eye, which has been shown to have a significant impact on brain chemistry\u2026so sunglasses help.\u201d<\/p>\n Even though it helps to read a reasonable explanation about why we often get manic in the summer, it\u2019s still hard to take it seriously. After all, summer feels so good. However, this good feeling is often the result of mania and therefore has to be monitored carefully. Mania is so tricky\u2014it can sneak up on you in just a few hours. Before you know it, you\u2019re staying up all night for a week (at the expense Follow Julie Fast\u2019s Blogof your job and relationships), working on a project you just know will change the world. Meanwhile, everyone around you is asking, \u201cWhat the heck is wrong with you? Have you lost your mind?\u201d<\/p>\n There are two types of mania, depending on whether you have bipolar one or bipolar two. The basic difference between the two diagnoses is that people with bipolar I experience full-blown mania, while those with bipolar II experience hypomania. If not detected early, full-blown mania gets out of hand very quickly and often requires hospitalization. Hypomanic mood swings, on the other hand, can go undetected for years, which is why people with bipolar II are often diagnosed much later in life than are those with bipolar I.<\/p>\n The number one sign of full-blown mania is when you sleep a lot less, but have plenty of energy. It\u2019s especially important that you look for mania symptoms if you have a winter depression that suddenly lifts once there is more light outdoors. People with hypomania have more difficulty recognizing the signs they\u2019re manic than do those with full-blown mania. Rapid speech and over socializing are often signs of hypomania. The more you know about your particular form of mania, the easier it will be to notice the first signs that you need help. I know: It stinks to have to get help when you\u2019re finally feeling good again, but mania is simply the flip side of depression\u00a0and needs to be treated just as aggressively.<\/p>\n The best defense against summer mania is prevention. This, of course, starts with medications. But as you may already know, while medications are invaluable at preventing the large mood swings, many people with bipolar disorder still have to deal with the smaller manias that slip through the medications and create disasters. There is also the problem of going off medications because you start to feel good and your brain tells you you\u2019re not really sick anymore. This is really easy to do when it\u2019s so nice and sunny outside. You often feel so much better and you think: It\u2019s finally over! No more bipolar disorder for me! I\u2019m cured!<\/p>\n And yet, just as depression creates false feelings of despair and hopelessness, mania creates the false feelings that we are fine and no longer need medications. The treatment window for mania is much less than that for depression, which is why mania must be prevented, instead of merely treated when it happens to show up. If you have even one thought that you \u201cdon\u2019t really need those medications any more,\u201d this is a time to talk with your doctor.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know about you, but I find it a real burden to have to look for mania every time I start to feel good. It\u2019s the reality of this disorder however, and I\u2019ve found there are certain things I say, think, and do every single time I begin to get manic. By learning these signs, writing them down, and then teaching my friends and family to recognize them as well, I\u2019ve finally gotten more control over my mania. You can do the same. Here is a short version of my list:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What I say:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What I think:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What I do:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I always try to evaluate myself as soon as I have the first thought that I might be manic. You can do the same.<\/p>\n Ask yourself the following questions:<\/strong> Have I stopped my medications because I feel better? Have I conveniently decided not to tell anyone about doing this? Am I sleeping a lot less than normal and not feeling tired at all? Am I more irritated with people than usual? Am I using drugs or alcohol without thinking of what they\u2019re doing to my brain? Was I depressed in the winter and now feel a lot better? Are things getting done really easily? Have I stopped eating or taking care of the people in my life? Have I become selfish? Has anyone expressed concern about my behavior? If you answer yes to any one of these questions, it may be time to talk with your doctor about mania.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve had too many summer manic disasters and they took a lot of recovery time. I don\u2019t want to go through it again this summer. If you\u2019re well enough to read this article and see mild signs of mania, you have time to prevent a serious mood swing that could land you in the hospital, or cause you to make decisions you will regret. Do now what it takes to protect yourself, your family, your finances, and your life. You will thank me (and especially yourself) when the next winter comes around.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *\u00a0\u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n *\u00a0\u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/manic-wood-1-300x180.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWatch Out for Summer Mania<\/h1>\n<\/header>\n
\nSummer\u2019s sunshine is a notorious trigger for mania. To prevent summertime mania, keep taking your medication\u2014even when it feels like you don\u2019t need to.<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Watch out for these summer mania triggers<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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