Mania/Hypomania and the Creative Process

Mania and hypomania are often referred to as the "up" side of bipolar disorder. Though either a manic or a hypomanic episode can be quite destructive, we as clinicians often hear concerns from patients about treating these kinds of mood episodes. The reality is that after a long struggle with depressive episodes, a manic or hypomanic episode can sometimes feel like a welcome break for our patients. It is during these episodes that patients oftentimes become non-compliant with their medicine and other on-going treatment modes (e.g. therapy) - perhaps because a part of them does not want to let go of the euphoria that mania and hypomania induce.

As clinicians it is our responsibility to negotiate this difficult and delicate dilemma in our patients' mood functioning. On one hand we want our patients to feel good, and on the other we know how precipitous the guise of euphoria can prove to be for the patient, his/her loved ones, and for the course of treatment.

In my own experience working with patients with bipolar illness I often hear people express fear that treating mood symptoms, especially hypomania, will negatively impact their creative process. On one hand I can easily empathize with their concerns, yet as a clinician I worry about the impact that these concerns will have on their treatment and progress. There are no easy answers to this dilemma.

In contemplating about all this I recently came across a very interesting article that poignantly discusses this very real and fairly common predicament.

You can read the article here:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181877/pdf/DialoguesClinNeurosci-10-251.pdf

If you have any thoughts or input on this topic - whether from a clinician's or patient's point of view - kindly share it with us. We would love to hear your thoughts.

What To Do When You Don't Want To Do Anything?!

When we’re not feeling well we often don’t feel like doing anything. However, a simple fact is that getting out to actually do something often makes us feel a bit better. Sounds like a catch 22, right? 

How do we get out to do anything if we don’t have the motivation to do it? 

We often hold the common misconception that we need motivation in order to actually do something. The truth is, it is often the opposite. We have to actually do something in order to ignite the motivation. The first step is often the most difficult.

 

Are you at a loss for what to do? Here is a link to a list of 279 Pleasant Activities: 

Let's Get Moving!

Look over the list and pick something new that you feel you can actually do in this moment. Whatever time frame you think you can do it for, scale it back (if you think you can do something for 20 minutes, plan for 15). 

Know that taking that first step is the hardest, but once you start the activity, you may realize your motivation has increased, along with increased positive thoughts, emotions and physical sensations!