Okay I told you about my "hypomanic" symptoms the other day (Issue #9 June 23). But again John McManamy (see previous post to this one) has something interesting to say about hypomania. Do we need to worry about hypomanic symptoms ... or is it simply EXUBERANCE?
According to the DSM, he points out, "The episode is not severe enough to cause marked impairment in social or occupational functioning, or to necessitate hospitalization, and there are no psychotic features." But, McManamy says, "here's the catch".... "The episode is associated with an unequivocal change in functioning that is uncharacteristic of the person when not symptomatic."
He mentions a book written by Dr Kay Jamison called "Exuberance: The Passion for Life". "In her book, Dr Jamison makes it clear that exuberance is a temperament, a legitimate and beneficial part of one's personality, not part of a disease state."
Further on McManamy writes "Dr Jamison cautions that there is the danger of crossing the line into being too exuberant for one's own good. Moreover, as much as society benefits from exuberant people, the world is also wary of them."
Okay, one more point here which I have been wondering about for many years. I have known many people with bipolar disorder and I have noticed that some of their personality traits seemed to be very similar to some symptoms of the disorder. In this article "Hagop Akiskal of UCSD favors the term 'hyperthymic.' Thus, upbeat may be your baseline personality 'trait', which is a very different proposition than being in a temporarily hypomanic 'state.' But Dr Akiskal sees personality traits and mood states as occupying the same spectrum, in effect bleeding into one another. Thus hyperthymic may morph into hypomanic." Oh thank you Dr Akiskal. That answers a few questions for me at least.
"Hyperthymic". I like it. Or "exuberant". That will do too.
Caer Weber
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