Hypomania often boosts energy and insight, but some dismiss your ideas as mood-driven. Here’s how I stay steady and keep moving forward.
When my mental health isn’t 100 percent, I’m open about it with family, friends, and colleagues who know I have bipolar 1 disorder. Although I’m offered a lot of support, I’ve noticed that there’s a stigma attached to hypomania, the mood state that — with bipolar 1 — can precipitate a manic episode.
Aside from others who have bipolar, only a select few truly understand what it means to be hypomanic. When my mental health isn’t 100 percent, I’m open about it with family, friends, and colleagues who know I have bipolar 1 disorder. Although I’m offered a lot of support, I’ve noticed that there’s a stigma attached to hypomania, the mood state that — with bipolar 1 — can precipitate a manic episode.
Aside from others who have bipolar, only a select few truly understand what it means to be hypomanic. While it helps when trusted loved ones stay alert for possible mood escalation, I still want my ideas to be valued and taken seriously when I’m euthymic (not experiencing a mood shift).
Misconceptions About Hypomania
People sometimes perceive the ordinary things I do as strange or exaggerated. Even simple enthusiasm for activities and interests I’ve always loved can be misread as a symptom of an elevated mood.
People take you less seriously. There’s the air of, “Oh, she’s just saying (or doing) that because she’s hypomanic” — as if I have a diminished ability to work or I don’t really mean what I say. Everything is taken as funnier, more outspoken, or more radical than if I said the same things while stable.
Sure, I speak fast, fidget, and have mild flights of ideas when I’m hypomanic, but I’m still capable of rational thought. I retain insight and judgment. In fact, I do my best work as I form links and grasp concepts immediately; and I’m very good at problem-solving because I’m more creative and more confident in my ideas and abilities. I have the energy to complete a larger number of tasks quickly.
People watch you like a hawk. In my case, family members are watching for the evolution of hypomania into mania, which I understand, since it’s a risk with the diagnosis of bipolar 1. Nonetheless, it’s still annoying — especially since I’m well-launched into adulthood. I’ve found that, at times, you revert back to a child in the eyes of loved ones, particularly if they’ve had to care for you in the past when unwell.
Dealing With Blame and Skepticism From Others
A certain amount of blaming can occur. I feel like people think it’s my fault I’m elevated, because hypomania is my favorite mood state. People see that depression is not enjoyable (to say the least), so they assume you’re doing everything you can to fight it. Because hypomania is enjoyable, they’re skeptical when you tell them you’re trying to manage it.
RELATED: Missing Hypomania and Accepting Sacrifices for Stability
No part of bipolar management is easy, but hypomania is different. Part of you is aware of the consequences of mania, so you want to prevent it. The other part is having so much fun, you want it to continue.
You’re not only fighting your illness but also yourself. That’s why, even though it can be irritating, input from others who notice changes can be invaluable.
Strategies to Cope With Hypomania
I certainly don’t do anything to induce hypomania, and I work very hard to manage it. I’ve learned strategies to restrain myself and to appear less elevated. Here are just five:
- Reflect. Most of the time, I think through impulsive thoughts before acting on them (an incredibly hard feat).
- Breathe. Before engaging in conversation, I take a deep breath and remind myself to slow down (much like calming oneself before delivering a speech).
- Relax. I forcefully stop myself from excessive socializing that may come across as odd.
- Take Notes. I write notes to keep track of my scattered thoughts.
- Move. If I’m sitting down working, I set an alarm every hour to do a body check to reduce fidgeting. I also go for a quick walk after every hour of work as a reward. This helps keep me focused. Otherwise, some days, I’d be bouncing off the walls.
Importantly, I can do these things because I am hypomanic, not manic, so I still have insight and some level of control — but believe me, it’s challenging.
RELATED: I Know Hypomania is Dangerous, but I Still Fall for It
Correcting the misunderstandings most people have about bipolar is a motivating factor to prove I’m not always bed-bound with depression or incoherent with mania when unwell. Instead, I’m fighting a hidden and mostly successful battle to continue functioning at my normal level.
UPDATED: Originally printed as “Hypomania: The Misunderstood Mood,” Spring 2016