Bipolar And Impulsive Behavior

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When I’m in a mixed state, I impulsively overspend. I have enough energy to shop, but enough depression to need fixing through impulsively buying things. This fall has been a bit odd: my husband has a major, kind of scary surgery coming up in two weeks; the socio-political climate is challenging for me; my creativity...

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Impulsive behavior occurs both during & outside of bipolar mania. But don’t fret: there are lots of tools to help you overcome bipolar impulsivity. While I have had no major mood swings or episodes in the last 12 years, I have and continue to have to self-monitor my impulse control. While I don’t struggle with...

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A manic episode can be destructive and even dangerous, but NOT being manic can sometimes feel like a loss. When a person who has bipolar disorder reaches recovery, it means that the spectrum between depression and mania has been shortened enough to allow for “normal” functioning. In other words, there is no more bouncing between...

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The compulsions associated with hypersexuality can be as damaging as addiction. So, what exactly is it? I’ve long said that society discusses human sexuality less than bipolar disorder. I don’t mean pop culture sex talk, but openly and frankly discussing sex. Despite using half-naked models to advertise pretty much anything, we seem remarkably unwilling to...

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Like the old saying goes, “Slow and steady wins the race.” But whoever came up with that one obviously doesn’t live with bipolar disorder. I like to think of myself as a reasonably patient person. There are times, however, when this quality is put to the test. For instance, I get impatient with others, especially...

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Using food to manage your bipolar moods is a short term fix at best. We’ve got ways to get emotional eating under control. Haris Mulaosmanovic/Getty Images Carl Davis first started comforting himself with food as a child. “I think whenever I felt stress, or whenever I felt unloved, which I often did, I would eat...

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If you’re feeling manic, get to know your pattern––like rapid speech or impulsive spending. Then use some tried-and-true coping strategies; here are nine: The end of August and beginning of September is the worst time of year for me mania-wise. I’m on spending lockdown, when all I want to do is shop on-line and plan...

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Those living with bipolar disorder often face challenges regarding our spending habits. Overdrawn accounts. Mountains of debt. Hiding purchases and receipts. Folks who live with bipolar disorder often face challenges regarding our spending habits. This is in part due to a decreased ability to weigh the longer term consequences of our financial decisions. But there...

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In the midst of a mood swing, emotions and anxiety can escalate a minor conflict into an all-out verbal war. Here are a few things to remember to help you keep your cool. Does this ever happen to you?  You’re in a conflict with a significant other or your child and they launch into “You...

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Mixed episodes combine the hopelessness of depression with the impulsivity of mania—resulting in a dangerous combination that needs to be properly and quickly managed. In last week’s post, I wrote from a present perspective––as opposed to my standard past one––in admitting that I was in the midst of a pretty nasty depressive episode. While the...

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Sex, as it relates to bipolar disorder, is an extremely important topic to discuss. Men sound off about their experiences with sex, sexual side effects, and mania. This week we’ll continue the discussion about the experience of Bipolar disorder in men. I posed the following question to several of my Bp buds: What impact has...

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Impulsivity is extremely common among people living with bipolar––which can wreak havoc on relationships and finances. Here’s a few tips to help you keep it in check: I struggle with impulsive decision making.  This is fairly common for many of us “beepers”.   For instance, there are times when I have found myself alarmed or otherwise...

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Before I was diagnosed, in my attempts to address impulsivity, I’d always thought of it as a character flaw. After I was diagnosed, I was afforded the clarity that impulsivity is simply a symptom of bipolar. Unless I’m depressed (at which point, the opposite applies), I generally do most things faster than most people. That...

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A bipolar mood swing can result in manic spending, but by keeping your symptoms in check, you can do the same for your finances. An antique armoire I didn’t need. A ridiculously overpriced (think two months’ rent) Roberto Cavalli gown. Over a dozen bags of Doritos in every disgusting flavor imaginable. What, you may ask,...

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Patience is a vital trait, whether you’re dealing with bipolar disorder or the annoyances of everyday life. I suppose some people are born with the poise and patience of long-practicing Buddhist monks. I wasn’t. In fact, by nature I’m about as patient as your standard spoiled celebrity. Several years ago, shortly after I was first diagnosed with bipolar...

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Don’t punish yourself by trying to squeeze into an awful diet. Eating right shouldn’t be torture! I’ve yet to meet anyone living with a mental illness who hasn’t, at one time or another, experienced some level of guilt about it. So many of us blame ourselves for having bipolar disorder, and I’m no exception. I...

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Symptoms of bipolar disorder can include impulsivity and anger, which can often lead to saying something you might regret. After nearly half a century living in New York, my in-laws recently decided to move to North Carolina, just a six-hour drive away from our home in Atlanta. Their move was a relief for my husband,...

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Glenn and Jessie Close are stigma-fighting sisters who want nothing more than to spark more conversations about what it means to be mentally ill.  By Nancy Tobin   The Close sisters are a compelling study in contrasts, relaxing at either end of a sofa, dangling their bare feet. Jessie Close’s small service dog, Snitz, is...