Hypomania Part V: How Little We Really Know

For me, hypomania involves changes in behavior that dramatically affect interpersonal, family and workplace relationships. The cognitive problems that accompany the "situation" and the later confusion compound my ability to function at 100%. True, my moments of brilliance impress many. On the other side is the down side with irritability, rage, cognitive impairments and the inevitable confusion. I do not see anything in my situation that would make seeing hypomania as a blessing in disguise true at all. ************************************* Hi Charles. "I feel your pain." I've been there. See Hypomania Part IV for the kind of horror you describe. Thank you for reading, John
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Research, research, research.* That’s what’s needed here. Hypomania is not mania. And, a hypomanic not on medication is not the same as a hypomanic properly medicated. After discovering John Gartner's book, I do not view myself as bipolar, but now define myself as a "John Gartner Hypomanic." I have worked diligently over the past year to apply his pioneering work to my life. I am happy to report I have found my sweet spot, after consulting with leading psychiatrists. I’m disappointed to report, however, the pdocs I consulted either dismissed Gartner’s hypothesis or hadn’t even bothered to read his book. I persevered, nonetheless, and am doing my part to proselytize Gartner’s work. What's needed in the psychiatric community is some serious study into John Gartner's premise-- that so-called "hypomanics" are a unique, interesting breed. Further, that these individuals are neurologically wired to produce amazing results. I agree that Gartner has been shunned by the psychiatric community, but those of us for whom this shoe fits, we wear it proudly and productively. Incidentally, you’ll find, we’re not a crowd who needs acceptance by authority figures, but it sure would be nice if more of “us” knew there is a way to stay On and Safe. *Why aren’t the pharmaceuticals interested in researching Hypomania? It’s a new, huge market…A large preponderance of hypomanics won’t take meds at all because of the tendency of pdocs to over-prescribe. ********************************* Hi Sue. The good news is I'm confident Dr Gartner will prevail in the end. I have seen massive paradigm shifts in psychiatry since I first started writing about my illness seven years ago. Believe me, Dr Gartner will get a fair hearing in the psychiatric establishment. Sure, they're going to hate him at first, but then they'll all start acting as if they thought of the whole thing first. Give it time. Thank you for reading, John
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I was diagnosed with bipolar disease last summer after having a manic episode from pushing myself "too far" with stress. I had never experienced depression or any other signs. My friends would kid with me in the past by saying I was OCD, but I am a high strung, highly productive perfectionist. After the manic episode, I was placed on seroquel which made me extremely drowsy. Next, I was placed on depokote and after months of adjusting that my doctor added lamictal. I experienced my first feelings of depression and anxiety on these drugs. I had every side effect in the book from night sweats to insomnia, tremors, tingling in my feet and scalp, depression, anxiety, impotence, decreased libido, etc., etc., etc. I felt like I needed meds for the side effects. I am a dentist and I had tremors in my hands so bad, I thought I was going to have to quit practicing dentistry. I slowly decreased the meds and took myself off in mid- December. I feel "normal" and all side effects have disappeared. Since the manic episode, I occasionally have trouble going to sleep, but usually as soon as my head hits the pillow I am asleep. Also since the manic episode I occaionally feel anxious. But 99% of the time I am highly productive and I always have to have a "project" outside of work. I believe I am a successful hypomanic. I know that stress pushed me into the manic episode and I know now when to slow down. Do I need meds? I am concerned that my doctors do not understand how to treat hypomania. I discontinued the psycotherpy and the pschiatrist appointments because I fear they will not accept my choice to not take the medication. Any suggestions? ************************* Hi, John. Virtually every psychiatrist in the world will say your past manic episode means you have to be on meds. They can cite studies showing that bipolar meds help prevent mania (as a dentist you are firmly grounded in all this prophylaxis stuff). What they can't cite are studies showing how much or how little meds do the trick (especially with the high drop-out rates in these prevention studies), so you are entitled to challenge your psychiatrist to go below the standard dose ranges (which are based on acute phase severe mania treatment). Your psychiatrist may convince you to stay on the standard doses, but that kind of decision should only come after a constructive dialogue between the two of you. You may want to give him/her a copy of The Hypomanic Edge. If you fail to establish a dialogue, don't be afraid to shop around. Thank you for reading, John
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Hello! Finally someone is acknowledging hypomania (with occasional manic breakthrough) as a condition separate from classic bipolar disease. My grandfather and 3 of his sons (including my father) had the condition, but, of course, nobody every talked about it. My father was the only one who went on treatment (lithium) that controlled his symptoms pretty well for about 30 years, until age 80, when he started having major manic episodes after a doctor told him to stop the lithium cold-turkey because of liver toxicity. He died a few months later. But I do want to ask if anyone has information on the genetics of this disease (since it seems to affect only the men in my family; their sister was fine) and it came on them all in mid-life (my dad was over 50 when he started having seizures and manic episodes). Again, thank you speaking out on this poorly understood condition. Jan ****************************************** Hi, Jan. Studies on twins and family groups overwhelmingly demonstrate the illness has a genetic component. But it usually takes an environmental trigger such as stress to set off an episode. The illness often manifests during significant life transitions (such as to adulthood), which may or may not explain the onset in your dad in his 50s (when testosterone starts significantly diminishing). As for the women in your family, odds are an equal number have similar genes as the men, but for various reasons relating to the situation around them and how they handled these situations the genes maybe never got switched on were otherwise put to the test. Thank you for reading, John
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The Hypomania thoughts never come to fluition, as the depression then sets in that I can never amount and all is too hopeless.  The Hypomaniatic spurts come in too fleeting to be able to amount to anything and then feeds to the depression.  Or, in cases of overspending leads to worste case scenarios after-the-fact.
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The Hypomania thoughts never come to fluition, as the depression then sets in that "I can never amount and all is too hopeless."  Or, The Hypomaniatic spurts come in too fleeting to be able to amount to anything and then feeds to the depression.  Or, in cases of overspending it leads to worste case scenarios after-the-fact.
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Hi John, you wrote "This may involve careful micro-adjustments with small doses until you and your psychiatrist find the sweet spot. The sweet spot for you may be mildly hypomanic, with room to cycle down as well as shift sideways into occasional grumpy periods - in short, you. It feels right and you feel reasonably safe." 

 

What type of drug are you referring to?  Thanks.

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