Hypomania can be considered a dangerous state of mind for someone with bipolar disorder. One reason is that the grieving person often finds it a good place to be. Another reason for this is that quite often it is the beginning of the bipolar cycle. Left alone, it often leads to more dangerous episodes of mania or depression. A different point of view is that hypomania can be an excellent place in the bipolar cycle to begin seeking treatment.
Can hypomania be your friend? Speaking entirely from personal experience, I know that this is definitely my case. Is the same generally true for all or most people with bipolar disorder? It can be argued that the answer is yes. I would like to examine that question.
Perhaps the first point to consider is your exact bipolar diagnosis, the normal pattern you go through, and the time you spend in a normal state between episodes. With bipolar, type 1 a very common pattern is an episode of hypomania followed by mania. With bipolar, type 2 a very common pattern is that the cycle begins with an episode of hypomania followed by depression. With cyclothymiac disorder, the common cycle is from a hypomanic episode to mild depression.
Given the number of affected people whose cycle begins with hypomania, the question “is this the best time to treat bipolar disorder?” takes on some meaning. If the answer to the question is yes, then hypomania provides a great opportunity to keep your bipolar disorder in order. In that case, all those whose cycle begins with a hypomanic episode would find that their bipolar cycle could be controlled at the same point it begins.
Many affected people feel that a hypomanic episode is “fun.” They refuse to believe they are hypomanic or refuse to seek treatment. They may be denying themselves the best chance to manage their bipolar disorder. In my opinion, a hypomanic episode offers an excellent opportunity to ensure that even worse problems are not experienced. This is especially true if help is sought as soon as possible.
I am not a health professional. However, I have considerable personal experience with bipolar disorder. I have also done considerable research on this. Even so, I will not dare to answer the question I have asked. For me, logic says that should be the case. However, instead of answering yes to the question, I suggest that you seriously consider it yourself. Why not, the next time you think you are going into a hypomanic episode, introduce yourself to your healthcare professional and seek treatment for yourself? That way, you can find the answer for yourself.
If the answer is yes, then you have gone a long way in learning how to manage your bipolar disorder. In turn, this will go a long way toward helping you regain control of your life.