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Many bipolars are extremely intelligent, capable, and creative. They take on leadership roles with the skill and ease of a general leading an army of troops. These people earn awards for their performance and promote quickly at any tasks they are assigned. Their imaginations and ability to wade throught the muck and mire of life is amazing at times. Difficulties for which they have no formal training to solve are managed with originality and flair. They are fun, full of laughter and their outlook on life is contagious. Nothing can get in their way when they are at their best. This time of hypomania or mania is often when bipolars feel that they are fine and often quit taking their medications.

Then the crash. All of a sudden, getting out of bed and taking a shower is a daunting task. The bipolar cannot even figure out how to make phone calls to coordinate their care without help. The simplest of instructions causes a great deal of confusion and frustration. A customer with a simple problem can bring out an irrational rise from the bipolar person. Their wonderful outlook on life turns into a death sentence at the snap of a finger. It seems that no consoling or assistance from loved ones can possibly help, and seldom seems to be appreciated. The bipolar, who used to be the life of the party, has zero tolerance for all mankind and everyone is against them. The laughter has died and they often feel that life is completely hopeless. This is often a dangerous time of self-medicating either by adjusting one's own meds or through substance abuse. Any kind of relief is sought.

To further complicate matters, there is something called a "mixed state" where depression and mania collide in devastation for the bipolar patient. This is an absolutely out of control roller coaster ride internally, and frequently externally, that is a mass of confusion and agitation. Psychosis can be a part of mixed states which is when the bipolar cannot differentiate the true from the false. Exasperated loved ones may try to point out that the bipolar needs help only to be met with a firm, "I'm fine!" or, "It's not ME! You did.........." There is always a reason or an excuse. It is a tough blow to the self-esteem to go from a stellar state of mind to a depressive or mixed state, nearly incapable of doing simple tasks.

Take all of those symptoms and add "rapid cycling" to the mix and there are even more complications. The bipolar who does not rapid cycle may cycle a couple of times a year whereas

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