Human Child

I have a question I’m hoping to get insight on. I’ve posted it on bipolar boards because I have the probable dxs of both OCD and BP. But I can’t tell if this is an OCD thing or a BP thing.

I have these episodes where I get totally obsessive with a goal, a subject, a person, a project – something–and it’s all I can do, plan or think about to the exclusion of everything else.

Examples:

I go on writing binges (and work on my novel) where all day long, all I do is write. If I’m not writing, I’m on the net researching info about what I am writing, or writing about what I am writing, or downloading pictures of my characters and making slide shows and photo albums. I become totally obsessed with it as my mission. I have all kinds of ideas and plans about it at the time.

The house doesn’t get cleaned, dishes don’t get done, sometimes, I don’t get dressed. My husband gets PO! I also have to buy everything that pertains to my obsession at the time. I don’t think about the money I’m spending. I spent over 500 dollars on DVDs because the actors I’ve chosen to represent my characters are in them. Bought a 1700 dollar lap top because as I writer, I need one (even though I have a desktop). I know the buying most likely stems form BP. Or, do OCD’ers do this as well. I am convinced at the time that I am supposed to write this novel and start looking for and finding signs to prove it (guess this is sort of delusional – do OCD’ers do this)?

One time, I got obsessed with Native American Shamanism and thought it was my calling. I bought everything I could find on the subject – books, audio tapes, rocks, crystals, medicine cards. Started burning sage around my house, conducted midnight ceramonies, gave colors meaning, hunted for my animal spirit, did medicine cards. I would spend hours outside in one spot listening for the universe to speak to me or show me direction. I would sometimes make up excuses at work so I could leave to go home and do the medicine cards. I started believing the trees were communicating with me.

So, there is a little delusion that goes along with it. Also, it doesn’t feel bad when it’s happening. In fact, I don’t want it to stop. It feels great. I think I am doing what I was called and meant to do. I am filled with ideas and energy. Of course, I also have this underlying feel that I could drive myself to the point of exhaustion and collapse, but this doesn’t stop me. What ever I am doing is worth the risk.

Interfers with my sleep at night, enters my dreams and keeps me awake planning, thinking, or doing whatever is my mission at the time.

This actually helped me in nursing school because I became obsessed with studying and knowing every morsel of information on the lecture guides they gave us. I used to memorize them word for word – I’m not kidding. My husband told me I was abnormal – that no one studied that much. It’s all I did. I’d studied from the time I got home until I went to bed, then, got up at 3:00 in the morning and study until I went in. But I graduated top of my class.

Sorry to ramble. But, this is bugging me. Does OCD manifest this way. Or, is it part of BP.
Thanks for any insight.