mental health – Just Mai 2 Cents

My old doctor warned me when I was getting out of the hospital for a manic episode “even if you take your medication, if you overstimulate yourself, you will end up severely manic and right back here.” I was intrigued by this whole notion of overstimulation. I’d never heard of it in university or in my work or from another doctor.

With mania it wants to feed itself so you get more elevated and severe. Some things that are completely safe and natural when you’re stable, can overstimulate you when you’re manic or cause a manic episode if you do them in excess. For me these things can include but are not limited to: loud music or concerts (especially gospel music) excessive exercising , sex, being in a brightly lit room, long stimulating conversations, playing my djembe drum. Friends and family can think they’re helping by engaging me in conversation but it has the opposite effect. I find being by myself in a dimly lit room can be very helpful. Not forever, just until the episode decreases. Not being aware of these things can cause you to relapse and end up back in the hospital. This has never happened to me and I really believe it’s because of my awareness of overstimulation .

If you think about it I’m sure you can distinguish some things that overstimulate you. Don’t try to figure it out while you’re in the episode. Sex is likely one for everyone and loud music, concerts and a brightly lit room . You can start there. Overstimulation can also cause an episode when you’re stable. For example if I start listening to loud music everyday and going to concerts , I could cause myself to have an episode. Also not sleeping and pulling all nighters is a definite way to cause an episode.

I hope this was helpful. It was not to cause fear but to empower.

Have a wonderful week my lovelies,

Naz

Sometimes there’s no avoiding a relapse but sometimes you can lessen the blow. I’m talking about mood disorders such as bipolar disorder (mania/depression) and depression. I’m also talking about my experience and the experience of others around me who have found this helpful.

Episodes generally don’t go from zero to 100 in a day. There are usually early warning signs. If you get treatment during this stage the outcome is sometimes better. One of my warning signs when I’m getting manic (but not necessarily noticeable yet), is I tend to go to a well known music story and by instruments, Even something as simple as drum sticks. Seems innocent enough, but then it tends to escalate.

How do you learn your early warning signs? When you are stable think about the emotions, thoughts and behaviours you had when you were unwell. If you have had multiple episodes you will see a pattern It’s also helpful to ask a close friend or loved one as they may have noticed things you are unaware of. The point is to get treatment quickly or have your health professional in the loop early on. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t but I find being aware is empowering. it’s also helpful for your psychotherapist to be aware if you have one.They can spend more time with you trying to figure things out and they can notify your doctor if they have concerns.

But that’s just mai 2 cents

Have a wonderful week my lovelies,

Naz

Category: mental health

Learn how overstimulation can cause a manic episode or make a current episode worse.

How to avoid a severe mental health relapse: early warning signs