I just read your post on your rapid cycling. I didn’t even know what it was a few years ago. My doctors said I was rapid cycling- but I thought that was what happened with all people with bipolar. I didn’t know it’s not that common. Things have been tough lately. I’m Going Up Again.. and Again. And then going way down again and again.
Bipolar is wearing me out. I have had over 10 mood swings in the past three weeks. I know this because I write about my moods in my journal. This has helped a lot since I often just thought I was being bitchy or wimpy or something personal and I can now clearly see it’s a mood swing.
I have been so depressed in the past week I couldn’t stop crying. I always keep going, but it has been hard. I read Get it Done [ Read More ]
Hi, I just received a question from Sandra asking if it’s normal that her depression seems to show up every two months- oh, yes it is normal! Here is my answer:
hi Julie,
I have a question. Looking back at about eight months of journaling, I noticed that every two months or so, my entries suggest that I was depressed. It would appear that this is cycling every two months. Could this be accurate? Anything I can do to correct it? Yes, I will bring it up with my psychiatrist at the next appointment.
Thanks!
Hi Sandra,
Bipolar disorder is an episode illness- as compared to psychotic or personality disorders which are more stable over time. This means a person can have a few severe episodes and then none for a few years- or someone, like myself can have mood swings [ Read More ]
Wow, I had a wild hypomanic episode a few months ago. I wrote about it at the time. If you go to the mania link to the right, you can read all about mania and my experiences. It’s a very, very dangerous mood swings as it feels good- absolutely no one wants to be depressed, but people who experience euphoric mania often welcome it and never want it to end. (Agitated mania is called dysphoric mania- it’s also explained on the mania link to the right.)
We really are moving into the mania season. Sunlight affects our sleep as we get more sun through the eyes – which affects the brain. So, yes- keeping out of the sun helps. But who wants to do that if they have been depressed?
This is a complicated illness- and we have to know [ Read More ]
Oh man, I had a terrible up swing yesterday! The problem with mania- well, there are so many problems with mania it would take a year to write them all down. The problem is that there are so many forms and they are all so sneaky. I’m an expert on mania treatment now- I have done everything possible to notice the signs of mania and get the mania to stop. And it still sneaks up on me.
I had a strong hypomanic episode yesterday. It started out fun and then felt like I was on a way too fast merry go round. I could feel my brain warping. I got so excited about my work I was giddy. It was a bit scary. I actually couldn’t tell if I truly was excited or if it was a mood swing. Looking back, it was 100% mania. People don’t go that wild when things [ Read More ]
I turned in a large, important and wonderful project on Sunday night. It’s now Tuesday. The project is a proposal for my new book. This is a big undertaking, so I know I have to be extra careful about my health. I was careful! Early to bed early to rise! No late nights- decided to put a hold on a daily phone call I often have with a very stressed and negative friend, etc. I am really working hard to stay stable.
This certainly helped me finish the proposal. I was so elated to have it done! Real pleasure.
Then I went up.. .and down.. and up.. then WAY down and finally back up. That was just on Sunday!
The same thing happened all day yesterday. Finally, but 11 that night, I was worn out, but up again. I took an Ativan and then another [ Read More ]
I just went through two weeks of constant rapid cycling. It sure was tough! I had five distinct mood swings in one day last week. Three were hypomanic, one was mild depression and the other was a severe crying suicidal depression. They all lasted a few hours. I’m doing a lot better today, but I’m tired.
I wrote other blogs about how I handled the mood swings and was able to keep working and do my regular routines. Then I had about three days of terrible OCD. I told my therapist it was a bipolar perfect storm. I had a tight work deadline, my mom went out of town, a guy at a party started flirting with me and that freaked me out ( I keep away from flirting these days!), my brother forgot about a concert we were supposed to go to – the tickets were not cheap!- and then I got some [ Read More ]
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A Reader Question for Julie Fast