Hypomania is often one of the the least understood things about bipolar disorder. It’s sometimes called a “little mania.” That’s because it can look an awful lot like mania and in some ways feel like it.
Some signs of hypomania are
- inflated or expansive and even grandiose (but not entirely out of touch with reality) sense of self
- need less sleep than usual
- more talkative than usual
- sensation of racing thoughts, aka “flight of ideas”
- distractible or derailed thoughts occurring more than usual
- increased goal-directed activity, such as taking on new projects, or physical agitation such as pacing
- increase in strong desire to and/or partitipation in fun but risky behavior such as gambling, spending sprees, unprotected sex, sex with strangers, etc.
The big difference between mania and hypomania is that hypomania isn’t as extreme as florid mania, and doesn’t have psychotic features like losing touch with reality or hallucinations.
Anyone can have one or two of these things above going on. It’s when a bunch of them go on together that it’s considered hypomania.
I joke around a lot about the manic times because they’re funny. We manics do outrageous things and it is part of our colorful nature.
~~Patty Duke
~~Patty Duke
References
MentalHelpNet Bipolar Disorder, Hypomania, and Hypomanic Episodes 11/20/08
MentalHelpNet Bipolar Disorder, Hypomania, and Hypomanic Episodes 11/20/08
Babbled by Immi.
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That pretty much sums me up since last week
I hope that works out for you GirlBlue!
Thanks for such a useful short piece. I’ve linked to it from my blog.
I’m glad it’s helpful to you Omaniblog!