One of the most frustrating challenges in my life is the issue of productivity. I am fortunate that I do not suffer from frequent bouts of deep states of depression. I do count my blessings for this.
There, of course, is another side of the Bipolar spectrum. If I am productive, on task, feeling good, and the most frightening thought of all developing ideas...then I must stop and assess my situation.
I find this discouraging and it can sometimes halt my productivity completely; out of fear for what is around the corner.
The fear of,
is this a productive healthy person or a mania which will me followed up by a crash?So back to the old check list of what exactly is mania.
Symptoms of mania - the "highs" of bipolar disorder(From
DBSA )
Increased physical and mental activity and energy
Heightened mood, exaggerated optimism and self-confidence
Excessive irritability, aggressive behavior
Decreased need for sleep without experiencing fatigue
Grandiose delusions, inflated sense of self-importance
Racing speech, racing thoughts, flight of ideas
Impulsiveness, poor judgment, distractibility
Reckless behavior
In the most severe cases, delusions and hallucinations
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Well, some of those symptoms do overlap with a normally productive person.
So, then I need to look a little closer.
Hmm,
"Decreased need for sleep."
Check "Increased mental activity." Ideas, ideas, ideas. Dreams and ideas layered like a philo dough recipe; maybe Baklava.
Check"Exaggerated Optimism and self-confidence." Oh darn, I don't know, maybe Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison really does want to participate in a joint venture with me? I am expecting a returned letter any day;)
Check"Reckless Behavior" Not sleeping is not taking care of myself. For me, lost sleep is dangerously reckless behavior.
CheckOh darn, too many checks.
There, of course, is another side of the Bipolar spectrum. If I am productive, on task, feeling good, and the most frightening thought of all developing ideas...then I must stop and assess my situation.
I find this discouraging and it can sometimes halt my productivity completely; out of fear for what is around the corner.
The fear of, is this a productive healthy person or a mania which will me followed up by a crash?
So back to the old check list of what exactly is mania.
Symptoms of mania - the "highs" of bipolar disorder
(From DBSA )
Increased physical and mental activity and energy
Heightened mood, exaggerated optimism and self-confidence
Excessive irritability, aggressive behavior
Decreased need for sleep without experiencing fatigue
Grandiose delusions, inflated sense of self-importance
Racing speech, racing thoughts, flight of ideas
Impulsiveness, poor judgment, distractibility
Reckless behavior
In the most severe cases, delusions and hallucinations
----------------------------------------------------------------
Well, some of those symptoms do overlap with a normally productive person.
So, then I need to look a little closer.
Hmm,
"Decreased need for sleep." Check
"Increased mental activity." Ideas, ideas, ideas. Dreams and ideas layered like a philo dough recipe; maybe Baklava. Check
"Exaggerated Optimism and self-confidence." Oh darn, I don't know, maybe Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison really does want to participate in a joint venture with me? I am expecting a returned letter any day;)Check
"Reckless Behavior" Not sleeping is not taking care of myself. For me, lost sleep is dangerously reckless behavior. Check
Oh darn, too many checks.