Perceptions Forum front page //// What we Think about The System //// site index

HYPOMANIA

by Ann Hughes

Manic Depression / Bi-Polar are a fear-motivated illness, procured over a period of time, which changes the chemistry balance in the brain. If left to manifest without constructive reassurance, mania will ensue.

Hypomania is a manifestation of pre-longed bouts of fear, often irrational, fear of the unknown, expectations or fearing fear it self. Often a subconscious reaction to a learned behaviour, acquired in childhood, hence it runs in families.

Due to the lack of childhood coping skills, this is often triggered in the early twenties, when life is very challenging.

As a human trait, we learn mannerisms, by nature we pick these up from our family, environment; these impacts on our social interaction/behaviour which affects our misplaced perceptions of the world.

We display a side of our personality when elated, which we keep hidden from the world, in our known state. I know people who when perceived well, are the nicest, most pleasant, friendly person you could ever meet. But when unwell, they, display behaviour very alien to their own world or beliefs. They are aggressive, verbally abusive, even violent, totally out of character. But this type of repression has to be expressed. Maybe if we are not true to our true being, it is exposed in Hypomania / Mania?

When you start displaying Hypo-manic symptoms, people run scared, not knowing how to help. All we need is reassurance that things are not so bad, and that control in life is attainable; enabling peace of mind, preventing mania. As being totally out of control of one's feelings/mind is one of the most frightening places on the planet.

This lose of control is often expressed in pressured speech, so frightened/listless, we cannot even speak in a controlled manner .Desperate to express our fear/problems, we cannot, as we are like rabbits caught in headlights, mentally stunted, incapable of a comprehensible conversation, desperate for reassurance , a hug, just told all will be ok.

This can only be obtained with positive engagement, which rarely happens with in-patient treatment, as they treat the symptoms not the cause. Hence we end up on long term medication, for a condition, which just needs life skills. Sedation only adds to our distress, as we are desperate for reassurance and guidance, blocking out our irrational thoughts and feelings only pre-longs our torment, leaving us even more distraught.

Our families are powerless to help, as they have instilled these behaviours, so are powerless to acknowledge or help. So we end up on Psychiatric wards helpless and vulnerable, just needing life skills denied in our youth, through no fault of our own.

We need emotional intelligent people, who are able to see through our displayed symptoms and respond in a positive reassuring manner. Counteracting our fear motivated behaviour, with positive in-put, allaying our fears, signposting us to self-help groups or supported developmental classes, which enable effective growth and development.

Once you have experienced Hypomania, engagement and talking therapies are vital to prevention, or a reoccurrence or cycles will develop.

At present, our outcomes are diminished, just by the label we carry for life.

© Ann Hughes 2006

Published at Perceptions Forum in the What We Think section.