For those of you with sza, do you know of anything to help with manic/ hypomanic phases?
I can’t sleep, have racing thoughts, want to go on spending sprees (and my husband just got a bonus, so that enables me), and am hypersexual. I keep getting really excited about things, then really upset about things. I am really unhappy and want it to stop, but I don’t know how to help it.
Has anything worked for anyone else?
Have they placed you on a mood stabilizer?
This is important.
If not ask your doctor about it.
I’m on Depakote ER and it helps with my moods and anxiety.
I am on lamotrigine, 200 mg twice a day. I have been on it for years,
I want to mention it to my pdoc, but I have sent her notes twice in the past week- once about the snipers looking in the back of my house, and once about whether or not taking diazepam regularly would help me with worrying all the time. I don’t want to keep bugging her.
You may need a med adjustment.
Hmmm… I should clarify. I didn’t randomly say there were snipers behind the house. I let her know that my paranoia was acting up on my current med dosage. That sounded bad. 
I take 150 mg twice a day to stabilize my mood but I feel that it is time to up it again… However my hyper sexuality is something that has always been untamed … except for when I was on Latuda out of my mind and highly delusional
I throw myself into projects hard when I’m manic. And I clean. Right now my house looks fantastic. I’ve been scrubbing and organizing like crazy. My husband keeps looking around and asking me if I’m alright. He knows what’s happening and he’s worried. But I can’t stop it. All I can do is attempt to focus it into something productive.
I also literally have a list of project ideas on my computer. When I get like this I pull it up and start working on them. I’m creating illustrations for a children’s book I’m working on right now. I try to take advantage of these times to get things done because I know the days when I can barely get out of bed are coming.
I miss being manic i think im going to stop my lamotragine
Practice self control. And be very aware of your thoughts. Like hyper vigilant.
That’s how I catch myself if I near towards the impulsive acts.
Let your close ones know of your possible manic mood if you realise your in one and they can look out for you too.
Your husband should also only give you access to a limited funds acct lol
Haven’t been able to get out of the bed for the last two days …:
My husband knows I’m going through all this. He’s great.
Limiting funds is a problem. I have my debit/credit card number memorized, so even if he takes away my card and gives me just a little bit of cash, I can still shop online. It makes things difficult.
I keep an accountability buddy, and ask them if something is a good idea before doing it. I have a tendency to make very risky and impulsive decisions, so it helps to have someone I trust who can say, “no, that’s a terrible idea and you will die.” For spending, I always used the envelope method, where I would calculate how much money I needed for essentials, and then I would put that in an envelope and seal it. That way, even if I impulsively spent everything else, I could at least pay my bills and eat. I suppose for online purchases, you could get a prepaid credit card with however much money you and your husband agree can be spent on impulsive purchases, and then swear to only use that card. You could even call the credit card company and freeze your other cards temporarily, while you’re waiting out your manic spell.
Self-control is the big thing, here. You have to agree to a system, and then stick to it, no matter what.
Very good ideas, @Ninjastar! Thank you! I really like the prepaid credit card. That would let me spend without breaking the bank. I’d love to just NOT spend, but if that isn’t an option, best to play it safe.
Believe me, I get it. I once spent an entire paycheck on colorful headbands.
Colorful headbands? That’s a hoot!
Cash is way more scary and real for me! With the credit cards prepeaid or not … I do not see my money decrease, all I see is card and swipe …: cash works best for me .::: but I prefer to have someone give me an allotment
Half of them melted because I was living out of my car in Oklahoma in the summer. Which was another impulsive and dangerous decision. “I think I might be gay. I know! I’ll move to rural Oklahoma to explore my sexuality!” I almost died because I thought this girl had taken me out on a date, but halfway through she started ranting about all those f-cking f-gs up north, and how she’d like to just beat some sense into one.
I am no longer allowed to go in WalMart alone:: (my request) WAY to many options and I can’t get my thoughts together … with a list or without .:: My weakness is food and the Dollar Tree.: everything is $1!! I can’t control myself there either FML
My prior hobby was couponing… it helped me and it gave me an excuse to buy 45 packs of paper towels.etc; cause I only had to spend $7. I need to start back
I think setting goals helps.
Example: I am saving up to buy a single family home and would like to live independently again.
But if I spend my money on stupid ■■■■ that I don’t need I won’t be able to get there.
Example: 3 weeks ago I wanted to take a road trip to Colorado to get some of that. Last week I wanted to buy a new bicycle.
I have reminders around the house of things I bought when manic…
Now I give myself a couple of weeks to see if it’s really something that I want to do. Since I started doing this my wants have changed EVERYTIME.