You’d be forgiven for concluding that I have a pretty jaundiced view of hypomania. I mean I’ve written a great deal about the wrecking ball that is hypomania on all your relationships – from work to play.
It’s not all bad though.
I say that with a caveat though: it’s not all that bad if you’re taking your medication (you’re not better – it’s the hypomania talking) and have a handle on the things you know are a trigger for you.
Right, so hypomania. It’s not “mania-lite” that’s a lazy way to describe something that is just as capable of totally screwing up your life as mania is. I’ll tell you for free that hypomania in Type II may have an increased frequency making the consequences comparable to that of mania.
OK – lets get to the good bits.
You’re the friendliest person on the planet
This is one of my favorites of hypomania. There is not a soul in the service industry that walks away feeling crap. You’ve rolled into what is usually a fairly lackluster shoe shop and everything glistens. The salesperson is lethargic AF and you’re probably their first customer. So it’s awkward vibes in the store.
You’re on it though: “Wow, you’ve got some really cool stuff in here, I should have popped in sooner. Let’s try on those Under-Armour sneakers (you can’t afford but will buy anyway next week). Oh wow, these are great! Do you think they’re great? Aww, thanks. You’ve been so helpful – I hope the boss knows what great work you’re doing. You know what? I’ll write a Yelp review. They have to know you’re awesome! I’ll see you next week after payday? OK weeee! It’s gonna be a good week for you. I can feel it!
By the time you leave the store the lights seem a little less gloomy and you’re pretty sure the sales person’s day has substantially improved.
You’ve got enough energy to run a marathon
This is one of those on the cusp ones – but managed properly can totally work to your fitness advantage. And exercise is good (we know it is please stop telling us this).
Put on those new Under-Armour sneakers and get moving!
I’ve got this thing I like to call “hitting the wall”. Basically how it works is that whatever exercise you’re doing is difficult and a mission to do in the beginning. Then… BAM! You can run for miles and miles without breaking a sweat. Pretty sure it’s a hormone endorphins vibe.
When you’re hypo there is no wall – you can go balls-to-the-wall from the very first stride.
You’re creative AF!
Brah. Brah! Everything looks different from the hypo-side.
The perspective changes, the light is a little brighter and you’re focused on tacking that task you put in the too-hard-basket last month. It’s as if the creative energy is shooting out your finger tips and the ideas are coming thick and fast.
What’s really cool about this one is that you are still capable of binning the crap ideas and keeping the ones that are actually feasible.
You’ve got excellent choice in music and it feeds your soul
This is a real thing also. It’s as if the music is speaking to your creative and energetic soul. Playlist after playlist they’re all bangers. Banger after banger. The tempo is up you’re gently tapping your foot as you work studiously at that thing you put off last month.
Here’s one (clearly I’m feeling confident).
I’ve actually graphed the average BPM against my mood-tracker. It’s quite astounding how they match up – in the up swing towards the destruction phase of a hypomanic episode the BMP is way up there.
What’s also cool about listening to music while hypo is that you’re open to other genres and tracks that you otherwise wouldn’t listen too. It totally screws up Spotify AI and you’ll be like WTF when you come back down but also subtly impressed at your choices.
Productive? No, you’re a friggin rock-star!
You’re convinced that sleep is for the dead and not sleeping is great way of catching up everything you’ve neglected and delving into the future and closing those out too. Truly it is a great feeling to be able to say after three days and nights of solid graft that you’ve achieved a whack of things.
So this one is tricky to get right though.
Despite a great rate of work watch out for the barbs on this one: setting yourself up for failure when this phase passes and you are left with a half constructed closet and code that is missing comments and makes no sense at all.
You look good and take care of yourself
I had to think long and hard about adding this one to the list.
I’ve included it because it is the polar opposite of a depressive episode, usually. You’ll find that you’ve become a total clean-freak. There’s not a speck of dust in your apartment, every dish and utensil is cleaned immediately after use. You’ll find yourself taking the third load of washing to the laundry.
And you take pride in yourself – chin up and chest forward walking with a pep in your step and a confidence of someone who’s ready to take on the world.
