Bipolar Hypomania Also As Physical Illness

Originally posted by Neal Reid on his Facebook account on December 13, 2025. Shared here with his permission.

Bipolar hypomania is generally thought to be a mental illness, and rightly so, but it's also a very physical illness. Anthony and I have had the same illness, a chesty and lingering virus. He was more or less laid up for two weeks, with a hacking cough, no energy and brain fog. He's himself again, but it was a horrible couple of weeks for him.

By comparison, until now, I had one day off work more than two weeks ago. I've had days here and there where I felt worse, but I've largely felt energetic and cheerful. This is an illusion. I've had a hacking cough most days, but I don't even feel that as I should. There's no lingering pain in my chest, as there should be, it's just been annoying.

I still don't feel that bad, but I'm pretty ill and need to rest and recover. My brain says otherwise, but I have to listen to my body. Psychiatrists and other mental health professionals tell bipolar patients this all the time, but it often doesn't get through the veil of hypomanic pleasure you experience, in my case for months on end.

I'm physically exhausted, I now realise, as the hypomania won't let the illness run its course. I have to force my body to slow down as best it can because my brain just isn't working as it should. It wants to party all the time, have no sleep, jump from this to that with no regard for what my body needs. It might sound trivial, but it's symptomatic of hypomania in general. Pain or discomfort signals from the body just don't get through to my bouncing brain.

Other post on bipolar by Neal Reid on The Listening Room HQ:

Remembering Like Memento: Living With Bipolar From the Inside

Tracking the Cycle: Understanding Bipolar Mood Ranges

[image:Vincent van Gogh - Souvenir de Mauve,1888]

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