My ex spent a good part of the day here today. He had brought our daughter home from her visit with him.

He could barely sit still for 5 minutes and he was into everything. Not that I'm complaining about having my computer fixed, or stuff like that... but he was everywhere. In the attic, the garage, the back yard, even went and inspected my closet (he said he just wanted to see how I had rearranged everything now that his things were out) Just has a hard time sitting and relaxing.

Very very hyper. When we were alone for a minute I asked him if he was really ok. He hesitated and I think it is because he doesn't even know what is going on with himself. He said he misses me but he is ok.

It is like he tries to keep his life FILLED with busy work because he doesn't want to feel his own emotions. It seems like there are a thousand thoughts flying around his head all at once, and it definitely creates a kind of energy in the air (not necessarily good thing) Sometimes I wonder if that is why he has had such enormous compulsive collecting problems. If he has his mind focused on the thousands of collectibles and things and comics and cards, etc, he keeps track of, his mind is occupied- self medicating with ocd and drinking beer to keep it all together??? He is driven to excesses with everything he does, like Gypsie described above, going on a wing ding.

We hugged and I told him I hope he is ok and I missed him to and I still love him and want him to be happy.

When he left a calmness and peacefullness came over the house. It was almost tangible.

That is what his mask can't hide.

In my experience, every bipolar is different, even though we all share the same traits.

I've been bipolar all of my life, and yet managed to operate my own businesses very successfully. But during all those years, I was going through mild manic episodes most of the time. Of course at that period, I hadn't heard about manic/depression. I just accepted that I was crazy, because I couldn't come up with any other reasons for my behavior.

For instance there was a night when I thought that I could change traffic lights at will, because every time I approached a red light, it magically turned green. I suspect that the people closest to me, thought that I was very eccentric, if not a little crazy, but I was always accepted by my peers and respected by my employees, if they wanted to keep their jobs. Now about your girlfriend.

Is she aware that she's bipolar, and if so, does she take any medications? And how severe was her episode? It wasn't until I was 64, that I had a manic episode so severe, that I had to be put into the local psych clinic. That was when I was first diagnosed, so I suppose you could say that I had been able to hide it for all those years.

As we know, there is no cure for bipolar disorder, although it can be more easily managed than any other mental disorder, given the correct medication. What works for one, doesn't always work for the other.

Be supportive, and keep your sense of humor. Life is basically a learning experience, and everything happens for a reason, whether or not we ever know the reason. Good luck!

rcjneon

i guess we all have our coping skills we develop prior to diagnosis and treatment.

so scotty-i'd have to say that depending on who you are, i think it's possible to hide manic episodes until psychotic features start and the people around you can't write you off as eccentric or "high energy".

My soon-to-be ex was "the life of the party". He was fun, funny, full of energy. He was good looking and just the guy everybody liked to be around. Right before he hit forty everything just went crazy. He has recently admitted to having several addictions that I never even knew about. He wore his masks so well that I, his spouse, the mother of his children, his best friend, the "one who knew him better than anybody" didn't have a clue in the world who he really was. When the masks fell off and broke, I figured out that the man he is today is nothing at all like the man I fell in love with 21 years ago. He is nothing like the man I lived with or created a family with. Now, when he tries to wear the mask he wore for me all those years, it is all cracked and he can only keep in on for a short time before it falls apart. Does anyone know what I mean by that? It's like he gets tired of trying to hold all the pieces in place and just kind of gives up. Maybe I am just saying that because this was our third attempt at reconciliation and it ended the same way; he returned to his girlfriend, who is a narcissist. He comes home about once a month and wants to work things out.

This time he told the kids he was coming home to stay, so the kids are angry and sad now that he is gone. I am sad because I broke it off this time. I caught him lying about communicating with the girlfriend that he supposedly dumped and told him I wouldn't put up with anymore lies. I know I'm done now and so the hurt is different than before - more final. I wish I could have helped him, but I think he might be lost.