Posted by IsoM on April 11, 2002, at 19:13:57
In reply to Re: Hypomania » Ron Hill, posted by 2sense on April 11, 2002, at 18:22:32
Sue, for me it's easy to tell that what I have is ADHD & not hypomania. I can feel euphoric with life & cheerful people but irritable as the same time with many people & everyday obstacles that arise in life. Because I generally have a sunny outlook on life (my natural state with depression treated & how I was as a little child), I can shrug off my irritation with people. I've learned that if I don't want them to be impatient & irritable with my weaknesses associated with ADHD, I should be patient with their weaknesses with whatever.
At work yesterday, I was dealing with an old guy - one of the type that invade your private space, & he was PAINFULLY slow! Poor guy, his hands & everything shook so much, he simply couldn't move any faster. No one would've guessed by my reactions - friendly, polite, helpful & courtesy of 'small talk' as I looked after things - but I was screaming inside & breathed a huge sigh of relief as he & his wife left. To me, that's one difference between ADHD & hypomania - the ability to train yourself & exercise self-control.
I, too, talk very quickly & process ideas at lightning speed, spitting them back out the same. But I can purposely slow down for others when needed. If I read blank looks, I know I'm not getting through. I'm good at 'dumbing' down info for others too. When I find someone who's highly intelligent, quick, & interested in the same things to talk with, I would appear perfectly manic to a disinterested onlooker. My mouth goes a mile-a-minute, my gesture wildly, my face practically glows & the interchange of ideas flash back & forth. But when they leave, although still exhilirated, I can revert to my "average/normal" mode & speech for others.
Another difference is (unless I'm asexual? - a joke), I've never felt these three that Ron's listed:
1. joy in spending (always have hating spending money - never had enough to),
2. interest in uncharacteristic flirting sexually (I've been told by others that I treat both men & women, beautiful or ugly, all with the same dignity),
3. expressing grandiose ideation (grand, complicated ideas maybe, but always knowing the difference between possible & impossible)"Another thing, when I've been very physically active for a couple of days, I'm physically & mentally exhausted the next day or so; I can sleep solid for long stretches & indeed, need to.
Today for example, after four intensely busy days, & a massive headache the last day too, I slept till 12:45 PM. But I had stuff to do & wanted to feel a little energetic so I took double my Dexedrine to perk up. Instead I returned to bed, sleeping another 3 hours. From what I've read & heard, hypomania doesn't have the ability to sleep as ADHD does. If anyone knows better, let me know.
I'm curious as to your age too. I'm 52 & I think years of practice have made me better at modifying my ADHD symptoms. I'm also better able to when I receive blank looks from others - a visual reminder. I have NO problems with ego OR self-esteem BUT I do feel frustrated with my limitations of ADHD (small working RAM, memory, you know the others).
Do you ever feel frustrated at slow speakers - jumping in to finish their sentences for them? I still do (the impulsiveness), but have to bite my lips to shut up at times. I end up avoiding slow thinkers too even if they're nice people - I can take them only in small doses.
Sue, have I missed something previously? What's with these brain lesions you mentioned & the seizures? WIlling to reiterate what you mentioned in an earlier thread to allow me to catch up?
poster:IsoM
thread:102236
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020408/msgs/102804.html