First off, by diagnosis, I bear the label 'Unipolar Affective Disorder (Hypomania)', with pride. No stigma for me, no ma'am!

I'll introduce my world view with a short message, sent to a gal-pal enjoying the early stages of mania, but worried that she was 'too happy' and worried about the fall in to depression that would follow. (Her peaks of the high - falling off the mountain, to her lows - the foothills).

I will paraphrase slightly, to preserve anonymity.

"Fear of happiness is the most insidious trap of all, don't fall for it amiga.

We are highlanders, we touch the sky, to grasp the horizon.

The foothills are the pay-off, don't begrudge yourself the view."

This seemed to help her to continue enjoying her increased creativity (she is an artist) and she allowed herself the happiness.

As a result - no peak, no depression, just (if I may extend the mountaneering metaphor) some nice hill walking, with some fell running thrown in, for good measure.

Back to my point, because I am immune to depression (I've never cried, even as a baby and throughout my life, my only tears have been of joy or rage), I am unafraid of scaling that mountain, knowing that I won't fall, I'll climb back down myself, with a little help from my meds, both for prophylaxis and for short-term, acute stabilisation.

I don't intend the above to be helpful, because I know pure manics are as rare as hen's teeth, rather I hope to offer a little insight for those (beautiful) bipolar people who have wondered what pure mania would be like.

I'm happy to answer any questions if you'd like to know more...

Stay safe.

Duma

A Moodscope member.