While our goal is to provide positive tools for bipolar people to improve their lives, it seems inevitable to mention behaviors to avoid during hypomania or mania. It's important to be aware of your behavior and avoid anything that could make your symptoms worse. This can help prevent or shorten episodes of mania and its recovery, or keep hypomania at a manageable level and maintain stability in your life until you return to euthymia. Here's a list of things to avoid.

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Making impulsive decisions or acting on reckless impulses

This can set off a domino of negative consequences that can cause physical, emotional, or professional problems.

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Engaging in risky behaviors, such as overspending or promiscuous behavior

This can lead to financial or personal problems. It's common for people in an elevated mood cycle to spend on things they don't need or make other regrettable financial decisions. It's also common to have an increased libido and the urge to engage in promiscuous behavior.

Staying up all night

This can worsen mania or hypomania and lead to exhaustion or physical injury. Try to maintain a regular sleep schedule, as it is one of the most important factors in managing symptoms of bipolar disorder. Try to keep your bedtime within a few hours from one day to the next, and get at least 7 hours of sleep each day.

Alcohol and drugs

These can worsen symptoms and interfere with medications. Avoid caffeine in the late afternoon and evening. Stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines are a terrible combination to hypomania or mania. An elevated mood cycle is like a natural high your body is giving you, you really don't need to take anything else.

Avoid triggering situations, such as stressful environments or confrontations

These can trigger mood swings and worsen symptoms. Stress of any kind will affect your mental health. During an elevated mood cycle, such as hypomania or mania, you may react differently to a stressful situation or confrontation than you would in a more relaxed and clear state of mind.

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