How have you handled the aftermath of manic episodes, if they affected friends and family? How to talk about it, experiences, etc.

A few articles / blog entries regarding rebuilding after such an episode:

http://ibpf.org/blog/rebuilding-after-episode

http://www.bphope.com/mending-relationships/

I find that a large difference in the reaction of others comes from whether or not they understand bipolar / manic moods. Those who understand that it's not "overdramatic" and that these feelings are intense and not always controllable are more able to forgive and also to empathize.

@paidir Having bipolar 2, it's easier to hide and my hypomanic episodes are so few and far apart that when I do make a big mistake it can easily be brushed off as a normal mistake if that makes sense. When I was younger, the times that I've done something I shouldn't have, I just disappear and find a new group of friends. So now that I'm 27 and pushed most people away, I don't have many friends and family so no one to really care or notice anyways. Another thing I've done is lied about it. So it answer your question, I've handled my life pretty poorly for the first 24 years or so. Can I make a note that I have done some drastic changes in my life, so I'm not that terrible anymore. Improving slowly but surely...

I am bp1 with schizophrenic tendencies.. I learned about it from keeping a journal, I was able to look back and I could tell when I was manic and when I'd be in a depressive swing. Not everyone in your life will understand but that's ok, just do your best to explain what happened and why. Sometimes others can see if we are up or down before we can.

I have had help processing some of my episodes with therapists. I had two mixed episodes which put me in the hospital in 2014 and 2015. I have PTSD comorbid with bipolar disorder, so basically my fight, flight, freeze response is on constant overdrive. I have made a lot of split second decisions in which the decision was the right one but I acted on it like I was escaping a burning building, or a fire fight or something. I found this really difficult. It keeps me from repairing things because I want the other person to understand why I made my choice and why I enacted it differently than they would.

I realize this is vague, but my moms step mom made several comments about having my child live with her over time that were racist and pretty inappropriate. I was staying with her for a while because all of my plumbing froze and broke. She made an especially threatening comment over text from her job, so I grabbed all of my things, including my wet laundry and got out of her house as quickly as possible. I have been criticized a lot about it by her and others. My therapist at the time suggested that I really focus on how I left and not why I left, because the reason I left was justified but the way I left was probably unhealthy.

I have been trying to strike a good balance with repairing relationships as well. I do not feel like I need to fully disclose myself to everyone. Some people really do not understand. I feel that I have been ridiculously open in the past, made myself vulnerable, and opened myself to manipulation and verbal abuse. So I tend to be very discerning. If I am having trouble making a choice about whom and how to repair anything, I almost always consult with a therapist or a trusted friend who also has bipolar disorder. Sometimes after manic episodes, a lot of people including me tend to be super hard on themselves. Accountability is important but so is loving and forgiving yourself. I hope things work out, good luck on this journey. You are awesome for understanding yourself and being responsible to people you care for.