Archive for the ‘Mood Swings’ Category

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Get It Done When You’re Depressed

Thursday, January 10th, 2008

Dear Miss Fast,

I want to say “thank you.” 

I have read every textbook, self help book, etc. and was still beating my head against a wall until I read your book.  I can tell you that chapter 11, Expect Brain Chatter, was the answer to prayer.  I don’t know what it was about this specific chapter, but it opened up serious dialogue after 14 years of marriage.  This chapter gave me a simple way to explain the on-going dialogue and loop of music in my head and why it is so painful.

Thank you again.

Sincerely,

B. G.

Posted in Depression, Get It Done When You're Depressed, Mood Swings, Testimonals | Comments Off

Mania Gets Me Once Again

Friday, December 7th, 2007

As you may have read in an earlier blog- you can find my last posting under the weight loss newsletter- I have had a lot of trouble with hypomania in the past few weeks. 

I got a cortisone shot in my right hand – I knew it could cause depression and I was ready for it, but I honestly had NO idea it could cause such bad hypomania.  I truly missed the mania when it started. I have very euphoric mania- in other words I feel exceptionally good. The problem is that I have zero judgment and zero pain when I get like this. Usually I control it very well with the Health Cards, but it’s so sneaky. I hate it even though I love how it feels.

Once I go up, I always come down super hard. In the middle of the mania I always think- maybe it will be different this time! It never is. I used to have manic episodes for weeks- now I catch it within a few days even when they are super strong. It’s all about having a plan ready when the first signs start. My family and friends have to keep learning with me as the illness morphs over time.

I have to be so diligent- every day- and I get tired of it which is why the mania feels so real. I’m learning what the milder mania feels like and looks like so I won’t get fooled again- I will have to watch this for the rest of my life. 

Julie

Posted in About Julie, Finding Stability with bipolar disorder, Mania, Mood Swings | Comments Off

The Difference Between Bipolar 1(one) and Bipolar II (two)

Friday, November 16th, 2007

Bipolar disorder is an illness that affects a person’s ability to regulate their own moods.

There are two types of bipolar disorder: Bipolar 1(one) and Bipolar II (two).  People with bipolar I experience full blown mania while people with bipolar II have a milder form of mania called hypomania. This is the main difference between the two types of bipolar disorder.  All people with bipolar disorder have similar depression symptoms, though people with bipolar II tend to spend more time in depression. Both types of the illness can have a complication called rapid cycling. This is where a person has more than four mood swing a year. I have to laugh at this one sometimes as I have such severe rapid cycling, I can have four mood swings in a few hours! It’s very important that you know if you have bipolar I or II and if you have rapid cycling. Your diagnosis strongly affects treatment choices.  

No matter what type of bipolar disorder you have, it’s a serious illness that has to be treated with a comprehensive plan.  

Julie

Posted in Friends & Family, Mania, Medications, Mood Swings, Rapid Cycling, Reader Questions | Comments Off

Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder

Monday, September 24th, 2007

The term rapid cycling can be very confusing. I recently asked my co-author Dr. John Preston for a clear explanation:

Rapid cycling is at least four discrete episodes during a 12 month period (these can be mania, hypomania, or depression). The term ultra-rapid cycling is not precisely defined but many refer to this as having possibly monthly cycles (e.g. 12 per year)….untradian cycling is where there are not really discrete manic or depressive episodes, but the person is extremely emotionally labile, with chaotic and intense mood changes that occur every day or several times during a day. One way to describe it is that they experience intense emotional instability….some mood shifts are in response to stressful events (e.g. an argument with a friend), but some are unprovoked (seem to come out of the blue and not associated with a specific trigger)

**

Do you have rapid cycling? If you’re not sure, talk to your doctor. This is important information as it can affect the drugs you take and how you deal with triggers. My book Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder talks about the different types of bipolar disorder diagnoses and how they relate to rapid cycling. I have ultradian rapid cycling, which is why I have to be so very careful with triggers. I do have very distinct depression and mania episodes. This shows you how the terms can describe part of your diagnosis, but not see the whole picture. Ultradian is a new term that isn’t used much. The term ultra-rapid cycling is more common. It’s very important that you know if you have bipolar one or bipolar two and if rapid cycling is part of your diagnosis.

Julie
www.bipolarhappens.com

Posted in Finding Stability with bipolar disorder, Mood Swings, Rapid Cycling, Reader Questions | Comments Off

Relationship Disappointment

Monday, August 20th, 2007

On the list of the worst triggers for bipolar disorder mood swings- relationship troubles are right at the top for me. I know I have to be careful – really careful in my choices, but a person just sometimes has to do something that they know may feel right even though it will end badly. I always think, oh well, if I do get depressed, I can just handle it. Then when it happens I wonder how I could have been so DUMB. Nothing is worth terrible depression. Nothing. We all have to protect ourselves from bipolar disorder by watching who we let into our lives. It makes me so mad that I have to be so careful. There are a lot of fun people out there who add excitement to life, but if they add depression as well, it’s just not worth it! Oh well, I have my friends, my lamictal and other medications, my family, my Health Cards, my strength. I will get through this depression as I always do!

Julie

Posted in Medications, Mood Swings, Relationships, Triggers | Comments Off

Examining Every Word

Wednesday, August 8th, 2007

When I have certain mood swings, I find myself getting really picky about each word a person says. I will look at a sentence from an email, or remember what a person said and then examine it way too closely. Did they mean this- or did they mean that? Are they mad at me? Have I done something wrong?

This kind of examination is destructive for relationships- especially when it happens over email.

I have found that if someone is upset they will usually tell me. If I have done something to offend them, they will usually tell me. If I never hear from someone again, that is their choice. I now remind myself that I am only responsible for my own behaviors. What is said to me or what is sent to me in email is not in my control.

I still have the same worries and tendencies when I’m sick to break apart everything that happens to me, but I resist the impulse of telling others about it and just focus on my own health.

Julie

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Posted in Mood Swings, Relationships | No Comments »

Comedy Movies

Wednesday, August 8th, 2007

I’ve recently been re-watching my favorite comedies. These help on the dark days. I was watching a lot of drama (like the TV show ‘24’) and it was just getting me down. Here are a few comedies I like:

  • Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion
  • The Castle
  • Bowfinger
  • There’s Something About Mary

These are laugh out loud movies. There are not many good comedies in the theaters these days! It’s hard to do an adult comedy.

A friend of mine watching a lot of afternoon TV – really junky stuff and it really gets her down. It makes no sense to do this when you have bipolar disorder. It just makes the illness worse. I’m not trying to sound like a mother, but I know that watching comedies makes a difference! I do sound like my grandmother.

Julie

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Posted in Depression, Mood Swings | No Comments »

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