Bipolar question for the Bipolars?!
Question: Bipolar question for the Bipolars!?
Hi All,
I was diagnosed Bipolar when I was 17 and I'm now 30!. Anyway, I was feeling OK this morning and then all of the sudden my mood changed and I'm feeling a little depressed!. Not anything bad but like I just don't want to do anything!. I'm a functioning Bipolar and I work full-time and have a good relationship w/ my live-in boyfriend of 4 years!. Do you have days when one moment you're quite perky and then maybe half an hour later your moood changes!? I don't know why I feel like this!. I'm on Prozac 20mg because I suffer with more depression then highs and I'm on Amitriptilyne 20mg at night to help me sleep!. Some days I'm high and then other days I'm completely depressed and then other days I swing both ways -(Www@Answer-Health@Com
I was diagnosed Bipolar when I was 17 and I'm now 30!. Anyway, I was feeling OK this morning and then all of the sudden my mood changed and I'm feeling a little depressed!. Not anything bad but like I just don't want to do anything!. I'm a functioning Bipolar and I work full-time and have a good relationship w/ my live-in boyfriend of 4 years!. Do you have days when one moment you're quite perky and then maybe half an hour later your moood changes!? I don't know why I feel like this!. I'm on Prozac 20mg because I suffer with more depression then highs and I'm on Amitriptilyne 20mg at night to help me sleep!. Some days I'm high and then other days I'm completely depressed and then other days I swing both ways -(Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
There is far more to mood changes than meets the eye!. I am on the bipolar spectrum, and like you, am high functioning!. I also work in mental health where I come into contact with a lot of people diagnosed with bipolar!. From my experience of dealing with my own mood swings and from the mood swings of other people I would propose that when your mood changes that quickly, it is almost certainly due to your thought processes immediately prior to the change in mood!. Most people don't notice what they are thinking in these situations, they just notice that there is an immediate dip in mood for apparently no reason!.
I will give you an example of what causes instant mood changes in me:
I wake up feeling fine, get out of bed with plans to sort out my paperwork before I leave the house!. I grab a cup of tea and before doing the paperwork I log onto the internet (telling myself it's only for 5 minutes) and then fart about for an hour (bad habit of mine) instead of doing the paperwork!. I then berate myself along the following lines: "You've gone and done it again you lazy git - you are always doing that when you should have got your work done, you'll never get your life sorted out!." This thought has a harsh, condemning quality and instantly makes me feel like shite!. I then feel like not doing anything for the rest of the day - UNLESS I challenge my thought processes and realise I have been unnecessarily harsh on myself!. I learnt to think this way from interacting with my father - these were the kinds of things he used to say to me which then resulted in me shutting myself in my room and doing bugger all!.
Most people with bipolar disorder have a tendency to think in fairly rigid, all or nothing ways and this is often what leads to the mood swings!. For sure, there is evidence that those with bipolar have problems with serotonin and dopamine in their brains, particularly in severe cases - however, no one is sure whether it is these imbalances which CAUSE bipolar disorder or whether thought processes/belief structures/activities of the individual lead to fluctuating levels of these neurotransmitters!. It's likely to be a combination of the two: You probably have an inherent tendency towards mood swings and have LEARNT to think in ways which aren't always helpful!. I know I have!
There's plenty you can do to even out these mood swings so that they don't affect you so much!. Activity scheduling and challenging negative automatic thoughts will help - these are techniques taught by cognitive behavioural therapists and if you haven't already had a course of CBT, then ask your doctor or psychiatrist to refer you to a psychologist who has expertise in delivering CBT!. Don't be fobbed off if they tell you that it won't help you; it will!. Medication alone is not enough!. I am fortunate that I haven't had to take any medication for the past seven years and manage myself by being very careful with diet, exercise and activity levels and by using the techniques I have learnt over the years!. However, you should not stop taking or reduce your medication without the advice of your doctor/psychiatrist!.
With regard to accessing CBT, If you live in the UK most areas have a hideously long waiting list; so consider starting the ball rolling with some self-help CBT!. You may find the following links useful:
http://moodgym!.anu!.edu!.au/welcome
http://www!.justgreatadvice!.com/bipolar/c!.!.!.
All the best!Www@Answer-Health@Com
I will give you an example of what causes instant mood changes in me:
I wake up feeling fine, get out of bed with plans to sort out my paperwork before I leave the house!. I grab a cup of tea and before doing the paperwork I log onto the internet (telling myself it's only for 5 minutes) and then fart about for an hour (bad habit of mine) instead of doing the paperwork!. I then berate myself along the following lines: "You've gone and done it again you lazy git - you are always doing that when you should have got your work done, you'll never get your life sorted out!." This thought has a harsh, condemning quality and instantly makes me feel like shite!. I then feel like not doing anything for the rest of the day - UNLESS I challenge my thought processes and realise I have been unnecessarily harsh on myself!. I learnt to think this way from interacting with my father - these were the kinds of things he used to say to me which then resulted in me shutting myself in my room and doing bugger all!.
Most people with bipolar disorder have a tendency to think in fairly rigid, all or nothing ways and this is often what leads to the mood swings!. For sure, there is evidence that those with bipolar have problems with serotonin and dopamine in their brains, particularly in severe cases - however, no one is sure whether it is these imbalances which CAUSE bipolar disorder or whether thought processes/belief structures/activities of the individual lead to fluctuating levels of these neurotransmitters!. It's likely to be a combination of the two: You probably have an inherent tendency towards mood swings and have LEARNT to think in ways which aren't always helpful!. I know I have!
There's plenty you can do to even out these mood swings so that they don't affect you so much!. Activity scheduling and challenging negative automatic thoughts will help - these are techniques taught by cognitive behavioural therapists and if you haven't already had a course of CBT, then ask your doctor or psychiatrist to refer you to a psychologist who has expertise in delivering CBT!. Don't be fobbed off if they tell you that it won't help you; it will!. Medication alone is not enough!. I am fortunate that I haven't had to take any medication for the past seven years and manage myself by being very careful with diet, exercise and activity levels and by using the techniques I have learnt over the years!. However, you should not stop taking or reduce your medication without the advice of your doctor/psychiatrist!.
With regard to accessing CBT, If you live in the UK most areas have a hideously long waiting list; so consider starting the ball rolling with some self-help CBT!. You may find the following links useful:
http://moodgym!.anu!.edu!.au/welcome
http://www!.justgreatadvice!.com/bipolar/c!.!.!.
All the best!Www@Answer-Health@Com
My husband is bipolar!. He has ultra-rapid-cycling bipolar and it sounds like that's what you have!. "Typical" bipolar means that you'd have mood swings over the course of a year or so!. Ultra rapid cycling means that you can have mood swings, up and down, through the course of the day!.
Make sure that you ask your psychiatrist or doctor about a mood stabilizer (i!.e!., lithium, lamictal, depakote, whatever)!. If you're only on antidepressants, then it can cause an increase in the number and speed of mood swings!.
Hang in there and good luck!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Make sure that you ask your psychiatrist or doctor about a mood stabilizer (i!.e!., lithium, lamictal, depakote, whatever)!. If you're only on antidepressants, then it can cause an increase in the number and speed of mood swings!.
Hang in there and good luck!Www@Answer-Health@Com
my daughter in law has the same problems, she has bipolar all i can really suggest is keep trying different medicines she does, all what you have said ,happens to her to , she is married with two children , its not easy, i have seen the mood swings but dont you give up, there are new medicines all the time find one that suits you dont be afraid to tell the doctor the tablets your on are not that good for you can you have something else to try!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Thats completley normal trust me,
im constantly having mood swings when im on medicationWww@Answer-Health@Com
im constantly having mood swings when im on medicationWww@Answer-Health@Com
Mood swings are absolutely normal!. (My Uncle has bipolar)Www@Answer-Health@Com
if your mood swing change that fast you "MAY" be ultradian rapid cycling!. i am bipolar II ultradian rapid cycling and have been for over 25 years!. i am 37 now!. i cycle about every hour!. but with the help of my medication i can barely feel the mood swings!. (cycling) i know you sad you dont trust pdoc's but maybe after all of these years that have past you should consider seeing one!. get another assessment to see which bipolar you have!. here is some info on ultradian rapid cycling!. hope this is of some help!
ultradian rapid cycling is where moods change in a single day!. ultradian mood cycling is characterized by cycles shorter than 24 hours!. the time of onset and duration of these ultradian affective fluctuations are highly variable and they are observed in bipolar patients with or without evidence of personality disorder!.
please feel free to email me anytime! i wish you nothing less than the best! you will be in my thoughts!. take care!
hugs,
Lesli
btw!.!.!.keep in mind this is ONLY my opinion, i am NOT a doctor!Www@Answer-Health@Com
ultradian rapid cycling is where moods change in a single day!. ultradian mood cycling is characterized by cycles shorter than 24 hours!. the time of onset and duration of these ultradian affective fluctuations are highly variable and they are observed in bipolar patients with or without evidence of personality disorder!.
please feel free to email me anytime! i wish you nothing less than the best! you will be in my thoughts!. take care!
hugs,
Lesli
btw!.!.!.keep in mind this is ONLY my opinion, i am NOT a doctor!Www@Answer-Health@Com