Has anyone done anything stupid while manic?

[Martha]

I went through a manic period all this week - no sleeping or eating for 4 days, racing thoughts, the usual... then I went & did something stupid. I decided to go shopping and for some reason I stole some makeup. Well, on my way out the door I got caught by security and was arrested and taken to jail. I have never been in trouble before - this is just not me. My therapist says it is a hallmark symptom of mania. My mania has never been this out of control before & it really scared me. In fact, I am still scared for future mania episodes and how to control them so I won't do anything stupid again. I am still getting use to my illness and learning how to control it, but it surprises me every time I get manic.

[Serenity]

We all get into a lot of trouble when manic.

[dymphna]

yup.

[Daisy]

I think that a lot of what I do when I'm hypo-manic is stupid. Some of it funny when you look back on it later. A few years ago I needed to replace the drains from the gutters in the yard and decided to dig up the old ones. Everyday I went out and dug a hole at least 3 - 4 ft wide and at least 3 ft deep. At the end of the day I filled it in and the next day I dug another one. I think that I dug holes for about a week. Never found any drains but I dug a lot of holes in the yard. I did dig up one really big rock that a neighbor is using for landscaping so there was some good from it. I got to know all of my neighbors that summer.

[Jim Buchanan]

That reminds me of the time that I decided that I could repair my septic system myself. The surprise (to me looking back) is that I got it done before the mania ended. What wasn't surprising was that it was one of the more disgusting jobs I've ever done. All in all it was a pretty stupid way to save money, as I had at best 50-50 odds of it working out, and just got lucky that it did.

Not everything I've done while manic works out, in fact most don't, I was just reminded of that one because of the week of hole-digging...

[withavengeance]

Oh, Lord, I don't have the time and you all don't have the time to read about all the stupid things I've done while hypomanic!!

Yes, Martha, your therapist is quite right...this is a hallmark symptom of mania. Have your meds been readjusted yet?

Also, get a lawyer regarding this legal issue and get your pdoc and therapist to at least write letters explaining your condition to take to court with you.

There but for the grace of God.....(((((((Martha)))))))

[Annie Jones-Pehleman]

I once bought a one-way ticket to England and packed up to go. Told my boss to f-off. Said goodbye to my friends and family. Planned on skipping out on the rent. The whole burning bridges thing. At the last minute got a call from the only place I could stay for free in England saying they didn't want me and my craziness there. Not fun trying to fix that mess. Only just got forgiven by my cousin and uncle in England and that was almost 2 years ago. Stupid stuff while manic? That's how I live. I could write a whole book on my bipolar alone. Add recovering from crack cocaine and it's a bigger book. I am trying to write that book but keep running out of steam. That sound familiar?

[My idol]

Yes, it does sound familiar. I've also started and stopped a book. I get really excited about it and then the excitement fizzles out. I have 2 things that have gotten me into deep trouble when manic- hypersexuality and shopping. I've already gone thru a couple thousand dollars in a very short time with online clothes shopping. Now, with the last hypersexuality episode, I turned toward my husband. I told him what was happening to me and he was very supportive (tired but supportive!). Even with that working out well, I still spent $300 on lingerie.

I'm now very aware of my triggers and indicators- a lot more than before. So I'm praying that I can ward off my following episodes. The ramifications are not worth the immediate pleasures.
Best to all,
Linda

[Daisy]

When I went onto disability, and I really needed to save money because I'll be unemployed when I go off, I ripped out most of the fireplace planning to rebuild it myself. I made such a mess I had to hire someone to fix it and then I decided to remodel, and replace all of the windows and replace all of the outdoor drainage system and relandscape the yard and fill the garage with tools, etc. $30,000 - $40,000 later I'd gone through all of my savings and gotten a line of credit on the house. Since then everytime I've saved any money I've had a hypo-manic episode and spent it. Usually on craft stuff for crafts that I don't do. This last time I bought computers off of craigslist and gave them away to friends who couldn't afford them. Plus I bought my niece a new computer for her birthday because her's broke, Then I bought my nephew a used computer because his broke. I bought 10 computers off of craigslist this summer. And I paid a friend's COBRA cause she couldn't afford it.

[Donna]

I have shoplifted more times than I care to mention when manic. Another thing I do, is switch price tags. I pay for something, but it just is a much lower price. dumb . Next time you have the urge to shop, try to do something else and I'm really sorry that you got arrested. Hang in there

[Heather Alger]

I have bipolar II and my mania mostly consists of hypersexuality. I sleep with men I don't know and put my life at risk everytime I do it. I was good for about a month but last night it happened again. I used to think I was just a slut but now I know its just a symptom. My pdoc is changing my meds so hopefully this will stop happing so much. I wouldn't be to hard on yourself. One you hadn't slept in days and you were probably partly out of ur mind and second it is a symptom of the disease. just like I'm not a slut you arn't a criminal.

[My idol]

You're right, Heather, you're not a slut. Hypersexuality is like a monster invades your body. It's a very difficullt thing to control. Now that you've recognnized it, though, you'll have a better chance of taming the monster. My first episode was uncontrolable in 2002 because I had no idea what was going on. It got me into deep doodoo. I never want to relive that again. My second episode happened in 2007 and I could see and feel the signs. I was then in so much more control. I went to my husband and told him about my impending hypersexuality. We discussed how I promised to keep it between the two of us. And I did. It lasted a little more than a month.
Good luck to you, Heather. I know you'll be okay, now.
Best wishes
Linda

[withavengeance]

Hypersexuality (right now, I have NO sexuality at all) has caused me so much pain in the past. I cheated on my beloved husband several times (he never found out, thank God) and I had to carry that guilt. The cheating began when I was only 19 and we weren't married yet, but it carried over into the marriage, unfortunately.

Now I'm almost glad I have no sexual feelings (probably due to meds), but it's hurt my current long-term relationship immensely. Men take it as a rejection of them personally and that's just how they are, no matter how much you try to reassure them that it's NOT them.

Right now, I could have the best-looking hunk in the world standing right in front of me and I wouldn't give a rat's patoot. No desire, nothing, nada. The meds have made that part of me dead. My long-term relationship is ending because of that, but also because of other things. I will not be dating or anything even remotely resembling that for a very long time, I know.

I miss the intimacy terribly.