Hyper mania

[Overreactionoftheweek]

does anyone have any experience of this? My GP thinks I may have it and after googling, I think I agree.

It's basically a mild form of bi polar. Looking back, I've always been like this but it got really bad after pregnancy. I thought it was PND but this makes more sense. I have a few weeks of being really happy, busy and on top of things. But then I just crash, don't want to get out of bed, let the house become a tip, ignore the baby

The downs have been getting worse and last night I told dh I was thinking about cutting myself (I didn't). I feel a bit better knowing there's a reason behind it all thought. GP is starting me on progesterone-only pill and I'll go back in 4 weeks to see if it's helping.

Just wanted to chat to anyone else who has this or has dealt with people with it

[elvispelvis]

sounds like me...

I have a bipolar diagnosis. I had mixed states and depressions in my past. I was ok until I got pregnant. I had antenatal depression. I was fine after giving birth but around four months my moods started swing. I am couple of days very depressed and some other days okish, but I am getting worse as well. I have been thinking of cutting myself, too. I have done it in my past a lot and the cuts were really bad. It took a lot of effort to get rid of that habit, so I try my hardest not to start that again. It is very slippery sloap.

I was given progesterone pill but they made me very angry, so I stopped taking them.

Is your GP going to refer you to a psychiatrist to get diagnosis and medication?

[KeemaNaanAndCurryOn]

I have bipolar type II, which is lots of depression with periods of hypomania in between. I'm on mood stabilisers now.

I've never heard of the pill being used to treat it, but have heard of it being used for bad pmt.

Can you ask for a psych referral? They can properly assess you and see whats what.

[Overreactionoftheweek]

thanks for replying.

it's at the very early stages of diagnosis - GP mentioned referring me to pysch, I said I wanted that so I could know exactly what's going on...she then backtracked and said we'd see how I got on with the pill. Maybe she actually just thinks it's bad PMT?

I'm going back in 4 weeks - have to keep a diary of my moods and obviously take the pill to see if that helps. If I feel the same, I think I'll push for more. Although how much will really change in 4 weeks??

GP also mentioned putting me down for counselling the first time I saw her but seemed to have forgotten that at our last appt. I probably need to be a bit more on the ball and have a list of questions next time.

my maternal grandmother has bi polar - is there a genetic link?

Elvis, how are you doing?
Keema, are the mood stabilisers working?
thanks again for replying

[elvispelvis]

Hi Overreactionoftheweek,

Your GP sounds good and it seems he/she really wants to help you.

I was not given mini-pill because of bipolar but because of breastfeeding. It was not good for me at all.

How old is your baby? I was fine until baby was three months old. I started to get symptoms now and then and I actually thought they were because of PMT. The symptoms got worse and mood swings more frequent (and stranger) so I decided to go to GP. I had been prior last pregnancy ok for three years.

My paternal grandmother had bipolar and that's whyt he doctor first suspected bipolar 12 years ago.

I am ok today :). Yesterday I just wanted to die but today I am fine. My psych, who I saw during pregnancy ( i had antenatal depression) said that sudden big changes in mood are usually caused by a more severe mental health problem like bipolar.

[Overreactionoftheweek]

I thought it was PMT too! Ds is now 1. I had a stressful pregnancy and shocker of a birth so felt crap from the start and thought it might have been PTSD or PND...but as it comes and goes, and seems to be linked to my period, I started thinking it must be something else.

You're right, my GP is lovely and she's keen to help so hopefully things will improve. It's just great not to be fobbed off. I'll just keep being honest with her and see how it goes

[Scheherezade]

It's hypomania. Not hyper mania.

[Overreactionoftheweek]

Thanks for the correction, any other advice you can share about it? Support is really helpful...

[4aminsomniac]

I am bipolar, as is/was my grandfather and mother, in retrospect. Had a couple of very major depressions (psychiatric ward, ect) and since my diagnosis 15 years ago I can see that all my adult life I have had times of low and high mood.

It is well known to be hereditary, my doctors tell me that my children each have about a 10% chance of being prone to it (which isn't the same as actually going on to get symptoms) with my family history.

I have been very manic after childbirth, continuing during breastfeeding: only diagnosed years afterwards, but clear in retrospect. Very useful in some ways, I only needed 3 hours sleep and couldn't understand other new mothers complaining of tiredness!

I take lithium as a mood stabilizer, and believe it has probably saved my life. I take an antidepressant when I'm depressed, usually Prozac or Citalopram.

One thing I have found over the years is to avoid hormonal contraception like the plague, as I very soon get very depressed!

If you are bipolar, you need to develop a good relationship with your doctor; see the same one every time. There are online tests you can do that rate how depressed or manic you are. Perhaps find one of each and score yourself regularly as part of your mood diary, and take the results to the doctors with you?

Life with bipolar has its bad aspects, but I have achieved quite a lot in my life, and overall I am happy. I hope you will be too!