I'm not listening to my own voice of reason

I’ve been in a hypomanic/manic state for the better part for 2 weeks. I keep telling myself to stop skipping doses of my Invega, and kill the episode. But I’m hooked on the highs, and the wellspring of inspirations. Based on the results of my neurotransmitter test, I feel like I’m gaining more insight to what is going on in my brain. I could be full of manic nonsense, or I’m close to a breakthrough to understanding how the bipolar happens in my mind. This episode has been very norepinephrine heavy more so than dopamine. But when the dopamine trigger gets hit, my brain is in chaos and then my manic high becomes severe mania/anxiety.

I wrote my ideas down, I will get stable someday and take a look at them.

Back to my original point. I refuse to use Invega to kill this episode, because I fear anhedonia and loss of interest in college and learning. I fear depression, too. Anhedonia from Invega’s potent D2 antagonism could trigger a depression. I just can’t let go! But this is not cool. Every morning I drink two cups of half-caffeinated coffee when I tell myself daily to switch to decaf. My mind spirals out of control. Oh I wish I’d obey myself and switch to decaf. All the drama and I lose 3 to 4 hours to manic thinking. Luckily, my psychotic symptoms have not been too bad. Thank you, Invega! Don’t need the drama.

I’ve taken an Ativan 9 out of the past 14 days. Inacceptable! I tried to reinstate my old rule. I may only take an Ativan that often if I fiddle with the Invega to kill the episode. I’m rebelling against my own rule.

My anxiety this morning was so severe that I lost rationality, I was afraid to take a 50 mg Seroquel to rein in my out of control brain. There was nothing to be afraid of! I’ve taken it before, but I have never attempted to drive on it. I took an Ativan instead. Anxiety got into my body. My blood pressure soared, hands were trembling, my stomach hurt, my chest felt like it was burning. I felt a burning/tingling sensation throughout my body. That one might be a hallucination. I feel stupid asking a doctor, but what if it’s real, and something serious? I’ll ask a doctor on Wednesday. Will I please listen to myself on the coffee at least? I’ll need a .5 Ativan even without caffeine. I mg with the caffeine.

I’m guilty of fearing I’m being a hypochondriac about my mental state when I’m in a bad way. But 99.99% of the time I feel better for talking to a doctor about it. So don’t worry to much about being proactive on this.

Anyway I hope it settles soon and you come crashing down on soft comfortable pillows rather then face the black dog of depression.

Thanks. It has settled down drastically. The episode seems to be over today. I hope it doesn’t start back up again. I’ve never been so unstable. I had an episode in June- horrible hallucinations mania anxiety. More crap started in July, fiddled with the medication to stop it before it got out of control. ANOTHER episode in August, but for the first time ever, no issue with hallucinations.

I felt a let down this morning, almost depressed, but I got on my exercise bike and listened to my favorite band, and I got out of it. I hope the drama is over, but it will be back I’m sure.

Great news. Sometimes all you need is a goodnight sleep for everything to settle. For the Bipolar symptoms it’s worth keeping a mood journal sometimes. You can pick them up just about anywhere off the net. It’s just helpful for picking up on triggers and being aware of your triggers can help a great deal.

I also envy you having very mild depression ATM.

I know how you feel about loving that high even though you know it’s self destructive. When my mania kicks in I am brilliant, hyper aware, and the universe opens before my very eyes. Unfortunately, my hallucinations become super interactive, my delusions are at their peak, I don’t sleep and the people around me get very confused by whatever I managed to talk about even if it is perfectly rational to me. About 1/3 of the time I get away with riding a short high by doing things that red line me such as not sleeping, eating or taking my meds. 2/3 of the time, I land in the hospital delusional, hallucinating up a storm, self destructive (I’m a cutter) and suicidal. Then the choice is no longer mine.

It sucks.