Understanding and Helping Family with Hypomania

Who doesn't want to feel like a creative genius, a loved, spiritual creature, a super-productive person without inhibitions? What creative person with a "block" doesn't want to be inundated with ideas, and then have the energy to act on them?

These are just some of the positive aspects of hypomania (also known as hypermania), a condition that often leads to a full-blown manic episode among people with bipolar disorders.

The problem, of course, is that along with the euphoria of hypomania, comes the fear that friends and family have for that person. They are afraid because they know that poor judgment, increased agitation, and damaged relationships may be just around the corner. And that they, by default, will most likely be the ones cleaning up the subsequent mess.

Another negative aspect associated with the aftermath is the guilt and shame that the person with hypomania feels after realizing he has hurt his loved ones or embarrassed himself / herself.

Of course, future consequences aren't on the radar of the person experiencing hypomania at the time. Speaking from personal experience, these consequences hardly register when you are flying on the updraft of an episode. When you have the whole world and you want others to "feel the love" as you do, why would you ever want to come down?

Before I had been treated appropriately with medication for my bipolar disorder, I had at least two marked hypomanic episodes; they are periods I will never forget.

One episode lasted for about a month straight. Normally an 8-hour-a-night sleeper, I suddenly only seemed to need 5 hours. I spent my days reading, meditating, and praying. Every moment was an opportunity to get closer to God. I loved myself for maybe the first time in my life, and felt that love and confidence completely. Sounds great, right?

Well, it wasn't all great.

During this time, no one could tell me anything different than what I "knew" to be true. Whereas before in my life I had been affected by the negative energy of others in the household, the only energy I was effected by was an energy that seemed to run through the top of my head.

This episode, as it lasted so long, eventually turned into a mania, and then fell dramatically and mercilessly into severe depression. I felt ashamed, like I did something wrong to "lose" my perceived connection to God.

The second episode I experienced occurred while in the hospital several years later. I had recently tried to do without my mood disorder medication as per a doctor's permission. (He wasn't sure I still needed it -- oops!)

I entered the hospital with severe depression. A few days later, I felt like my head was somehow hooked to the heavens. Being an artist, I began drawing pictures with colored pencils on a constant basis, only stopping for classes or to eat. In one day, I churned out about 15 fully-colored landscape drawings which I gave to the other patients around me.

While I was drawing, I remember "talking the ears off" the other patients, all who seemed OK with my constant chatter, philosophical thoughts, and grand insights about the world. I perceived them as happy. Of course, being in a mental hospital, and probably already agitated, many patients probably wanted to shoot me!

That evening, myself and another individual with hypomania shared our experiences, talking into the early morning and jotting down insights. As far as I was concerned, we could have been ancient Greek philosophers discovering the meaning of life!

The next day after sleeping 5 hours and feeling fine, I knew logically that this was no ordinary mood. if I didn't get back on my mood-disorder medications, I would exhaust myself, spiraling back into the abyss of severe depression.

I share these experiences partly to glean humor from my past, and partly to help you understand what you or someone else is going through. How do you "help" someone when they don't understand what will happen to them in the future without proper measures?

As my loved ones did, you can begin by noticing when symptoms are taking hold. Notice: fast talking, excessive talking, prolonged energetic behavior, changes in sleep patterns, and / or impulsive decision-making.

To help, you might mention how important it is to think decisions through. You can also remind your loved ones that feelings don't last forever. This statement grants a seed logical, long-term thinking important to combating the negative aspects of hypomania.

Don't get discouraged if the loved one doesn't want to listen to reason. You have planted seeds that will help, if not now, then in the future. It is not necessary to keep talking about it, unless, of course, you see a life-changing decision on the horizon. However, even then, you can only do so much.

If the loved one is a dependent, you can get rid or caffeine products or at least prevent access. Caffeine can aggravate the condition.

When a person comes out of hypomania, coming "to their senses," you can be there for them in several ways. First, refrain from placing blame. Chances are, the sufferer already regrets bad decision-making.

On top of that, you can provide emotional support. Be there to talk to about their experience. Chances are, the experience is a very dear one to your loved one.

It might also be important for the family to prepare for future symptoms, especially if your loved one is off of medication. If medication used has side-effects that are too severe, perhaps there is another medication that could be better. Encourage the loved one to discuss this with his / her psychiatrist.

And, don't forget to get support for yourself with research, in a help group, or with therapy of your own. You worry about your loved one. You shouldn't have to feel overwhelmed.