For fellow bipolars on meds...?

Question

I've been bipolar all my life and was diagnose about 2-1/2 yrs ago. Like many bipolars, I've done my fair share of medication juggling. I think I'm now settled in a regimen.

My question is geared toward still feeling symptoms while I'm supposedly getting enough lithium and my other meds. Often times when I feel myself going manic my primary symptom (an increase sensory sensitivity - amplified sight, sound, smell, etc) skyrockets. My other symptoms are more or less dulled, but this one really stands out.

Does anyone else get this, and what do you do?

For me, colors are more vibrant, sunlight is nearly blinging, I can hear animals miles away, I can smell things that others can't. Of course, my sense of touch is kinda wild 'n' hot -but that's a different story.

Anyway, all my senses feel like someone has turned up the volume on a stereo to its highest setting!

I do all I can to avoid situations that may trigger episodes, but I can't live like a hermit either.

Thanks in advance to everyone for their honest answers.

For me, colors are more vibrant, sunlight is nearly blinding, I can hear animals miles away, I can smell things that others can't. Of course, my sense of touch is kinda wild 'n' hot -but that's a different story.

Anyway, all my senses feel like someone has turned up the volume on a stereo to its highest setting!

I do all I can to avoid situations that may trigger episodes, but I can't live like a hermit either.

Thanks in advance to everyone for their honest answers.

Answer 1

For me, my main mood shift is manic. I start to need less sleep, have racing thoughts, and my senses are highly sharpened, and I get and I don't care attitude about everything.

I have signed a Treatment Contract that I got off the net with my husband and docotr. Basically when you are fine you sit down and go through the whole thing. It covers everyting from what your first symptoms of a mood disorder are, how you feel, what you can do in the early stages to help with it, and you give permission to your doctor and whoever else signs with you to admit you to a hospital if you get out of control and can no longer be treated at home.

But usually it is me that tells my husband when I am having a mood disorder. I just tell him that I feel funny, and start describing what I mean. Then we go immediately to the doctor to get me on more meds.

Answer 2

Hi, I am bipolar and have been diagnosed for many years. I too have tried different meds with varying results. I doubt if I will ever be symptom free but I shoot for symptom reduced. I still have some hallucinations when I'm manicky and see small animals like squirrels or raccoons coming into my walking path out of my peripheral vision. I know they're not real so I keep walking. I write great stories when I'm manicky and that has proven to be a good therapy. I'm compiling a set of short stories. My family and friends think its good. Even if it isn't its good for me. I try to accept my disease and find happiness. My family helps me with my extremes. They stop me from working around my farm when I"ve gone 8 hours straight without a drink of water or a meal. Its ok to have this illness and its ok to have help. I could have something much worse. See if you can use your "gifts" toward a positive instead of seeing them as a sentence. Go online and see all the fantastic people who are bipolar. Bless you. Stew

Answer 3

I stopped playing and juggling with my meds a couple of years ago cause I realized that it was affecting my behavior. It took along time for me to be convinced that others were right and I was wrong!! Man...I feel so much better. Sometimes I have a manic attack, but I usually bring that on myself and if I concentrate and try to do my meditation, I can bring myself back to my good "space". I like feeling right, you know what I mean?? But I've resigned to believe that I can't do it on my own, not my fault, just life. Good luck Dude.

Answer 4

I've got that too. My symptoms come from seizures, so I take an anticonvulsive. Should I be happy to tell you that the world is no longer bright colors, noises are quieter, and everything doesn't hit me as hard? The one I miss most is amplified arousal. Everything used to turn me on, now it doesn't. Maybe it's just that puberty came back for a while.

Answer 5

i have been diagnosed biolar since i was 12, i am now 21 and hwile i need medicine a lot of my symptoms have died down because i remove myself from situations that trigger episodes and i still have long bouts of depression after i was flying high for a wk but i just remember that this is inmy head it will be okay and hey i am bipolar itll all change ina wk anyway =)

Answer 6

I've been in the hospitals a few times myself, and I know what you mean with those behaviors, especially the deleting / destroying of stuff then feeling stupid over it later, thou I only tend to do that when in a depressed state(which I tend to be in often, it can't really be helped.), whatever I destroy / delete is usually something connected to why I feel depressed, even if I feel depressed for no real reason.

Answer 7

yeah, i rarely get manic but when I do it is just like you say, I call it my "Spidey senses" cuz everything is so amped up. And i "feel ya" on the crazy wild sense of touch ;)

Answer 8

Meds don't completely stop manic episodes. Hopefully,though, it makes them shorter and less dramatic. My daughter has this problem. and she tries to put herself in less stimulating surroundings.

Answer 9

.I've been diagnosed too with that illness. Often i Buy things that are not neccessary to my needs.Sometimes i smell something awful but not really present,irritated at times.