I'm bipolar and going through a manic episode. Anyone have any coping tips?

I strongly suggest you reach out to your doctor. Write all these things down & strongly advise your doctor you don't want to be hospitlized. If he insists it is only for your own good, & others you are around & interreact with. For instance, do you have children that you are responsible for? How can you make decent decisions or be 100% positive you wil make the right choices for all involved especallly yourself. Sometimes to get a person straightened out on their meds it takes a hospital visit to make sure they don't injure themselves or others around them. It's a safety net if you will. Please copy what you have written here, & call your doc ASAP, & see what he has to say! It surely can't hurt anything, & listen to his reasoning for why if he so chooses to have you take a vacation for a bit in the hospital. He is only trying his best to help you & the other people you interreact with on a daiy basis.

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Dear key28,
Wow..I'm so impressed by the responses you have received. These people really care. I care. I don't know how to use fancy proffesional words. I'm just a southern girl lol., but I will say that I too have suffered with bipolar my whole life too. Unfortunately I was hospitalized twice in the phsychiatric unit for one to two weeks in my earlier years, do to some unwise things I done, or didn't do. I am a completely different person now, but when I was in a severe depression/panic eppisode I would do self harm. This is the first time I've shared this on the site. But I want you to know you are not the only one who struggles with this, and you are not alone. And there are many people on here that have had or are experiencing the same thing as you. I'm going to be carefule about giving you advise right now. I don't want to give the wrong one. It doesn't appear that are anywhere close to being stable right now.

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Hi - I had many years dealing with PTSD. It can take you all over the map with mood swings! I've gone to several different hospitals for 1-3 weeks - one thing you might do to have some control in a shaky time is to research inpatient places that specialize in trauma disorders and see if there are any in your area. Once I got past being sent to the closest impatient pysych unit (who didn't have a clue on what to do with a PTSD patient - oh do I understand those trust issues! I did SO much better when I was inpatient at a place that knew how to help trauma patients! I know in my area (Maryland) there is Shepphard Pratt in Baltimore and Pyschiatric Insitute in DC. Try doing an Internet search and talk with your doctor about this - he/she can make the call to get you in should you need to go. Sometimes just knowing we have some say in our care can be all that we need.

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Hello Key,

Many people care about you, pretty obvious wouldn´t you say.

Before I share my thoughts; I read all of the answers and they are as someone put it "spot on", and I also read your profile. I am glad you are happily married and how you describe him, your hubby... "he is my rock!" really made me think, you must his. Key you must be stronger than ever, you are young and have a full life ahead of you, so do not be afraid , because that fear will only do 2 things keep you alert, which with all due respect is not your case and immobilize you and make you weak and it will cloud your vision by taking the wrong decision, be a warrior, you want a family, fight for it, prepare for the future.
I am trying to say go to the Dr., you at this very moment need it more than ever, and if you are hospitalized use it to your advantage, learn from it, you need to be in a safe environment and take it as another experience.

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I have had manic episodes and phsycotic breaks due to bipolar disorder and protracted klonopin withdrawal... I was extremely productive but anxious as hell during the episode... I was always compulsive and grandiose as well... I was bedridden for months with the withdrawal during which time I researched researched researched... these forums are a great place to share... people who know what you're going thru are
here to help... just remember " this too shall pass" I went from bouncing off the walls on friday to covering my head when the sun came up on Saturday I was so depressed... it was SOOO hard to function... I found that being able to recognize the symptoms allowed me to deal with them better..I had a psychotic break recently.and was able to recognize it for what it was while it was transpiring... helped me cope... the break was caused by sleep deprivation stemming from the withdrawal..I still have it but its getting better slowly... time my friend...

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