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Close-up of a person's hand coloring on peaches

One of the hardest parts about dealing with Bipolar Disorder is the unpredictable mood swings. Originally I was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 Disorder, but recently was told by my doctor that I am probably dealing with Bipolar 2 Disorder because I do not have full-blown manic episodes. Either way, not knowing when a depressive episode or hypomanic/manic episode is going to present itself can be one of the most frustrating aspects of the illness.

Some days the depression catches up to me faster than I have time to catch it. Out of nowhere I am stuck in a cycle of negative thinking, mind racing, and paranoia. When I am depressed, I make myself the victim without even trying to. During times like these it is hard for anyone to convince me that my negative self-perceptions aren’t true. I isolate myself from everyone around me because I am convinced that no one can stand to be in my company. I feel too deeply or, even worse, I don’t feel anything at all.

During the days when I am on an upswing, otherwise known as hypomania, I feel quite the opposite. Most of the time, I don’t mind feeling this way because I am flooded with euphoria. My already creative mind is moving even faster than usual and I am extremely productive. I feel the need to engage with everyone around me, scrolling through my contact list to text anyone that will listen to me rant. The giddiness and unusual representation of happiness are accompanied by restlessness and irritability. Sometimes I cannot stop moving physically and cannot slow down the rapid thoughts. Hypomania usually catches up to me even quicker than depression does, but does not last nearly as long. Sometimes, I do not even realize I’m hypomanic until my mom and brother look at me wide-eyed because I am the only one laughing at my own jokes.

When my moods are rapidly changing from day to day, it is hard not to want to give up. Some days I am so fed up with this illness that I want nothing other than to lay in bed all day and sleep. On days like that, thoughts of harming myself or wanting to sleep for days on end are hard to talk myself out of, but through the ups and downs I constantly remind myself of one thing: all moods are temporary. Reminding myself of this gives me some peace of mind because I know that my mood swings are the product of Bipolar Disorder. It doesn’t have anything to do with me as a person and everything to do with the fact that I have a mental illness. Telling myself that my moods are temporary eases some of the extreme sadness that comes along with depression and calms some of the constant thoughts accompanied by hypomania.

One of the best ways to become more aware of your mood swings and what your triggers may be is to keep a mood journal. Use a mood journal to keep track of your mood during mornings, afternoons, and evenings, as well as everything you do during each day like food, sleep, and exercise. Next to each mood, whether it be depressed, irritable, anxious, or any other feeling you may encounter, write what you think may be linked to this mood. This could be something as simple as having caffeine or drinking alcohol the night before. Think about what may be going on in a situational sense as well, such as a fight with a loved one or trouble at school or work. Being aware of this information can really become helpful because it can give you some hints towards what may be making your mood better or worse.

Another tip is to make a daily schedule for yourself. Even if you do not have a regular weekly schedule, writing down what you plan to do each day can help to keep you motivated during times of depression and less likely to stray from your plan during hypomania/mania. Personally, I can’t stick to the same exact schedule every day, but I often make a list for myself of things I have to get done or things that I know will help improve my mood for each day. Having a rough outline of activities or small goals each day can really help to lessen your frequency of mood swings.

Not only does reminding myself of how temporary my moods can be help, but it teaches me to appreciate the periods of time that I feel somewhat stable and capable of enjoying the good moments in life. For those of you dealing with similar feelings, try telling yourself what I do during difficult times: Whatever the mood may be, it doesn’t last forever. Good luck.


Comments

9
  • Lisa

    Lisa Lisa

    Reply Author

    You are helping people by being so open. Even if it helps just 1 person, although I’m sure it will help many, no one should feel embarrassed by admitting they suffer from some form of mental illness. This topic needs to be spoken about so much more & not ignored. What you’re doing will help open up such discussions.

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  • Lisa

    Lisa Lisa

    Reply Author

    So proud at how she tries to reach others with all the information she’s learned over the years. We shouldn’t be embarrassed to have open conversations about mental illness.

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    • You Matter

      Hello Lisa, thank you for your message! Don’t hesitate to spread the word about our phone number. We are not only for people thinking about suicide but for anyone going through a tough time. The call is free and confidential! The Lifeline is here any time day or night at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

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  • tony harrison

    always be ready to talk and be prepaired

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    • You Matter

      Hello Tony, thank you for your message. Don’t hesitate to spread the word about our phone number. We are not only for people thinking about suicide but for anyone going through a tough time. The call is free and confidential! The Lifeline is here any time day or night at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

      Posted on

  • osd6

    osd6 osd6

    Reply Author

    i just found this website. reading your article reminds me of myself. I have been diagnosed with ADD but I think I have Bipolar disorder. thank you for sharing your story

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  • Heather

    Heather Heather

    Reply Author

    Omg Julie THANK You SOOO MUCH for your story and advise bc I can relate with EVERYTHING you mentioned and the advice you gave is totally PRICELESS and you just don’t know how much I appreciate the examples you gave with the helpful suggestions for staying on track and so forth bc I’ve read and continue to read so many articles and books on MDD, my diagnosis after spending 2 weeks in Aiken, and they recommend doing things like, the mood journal, for instance for finding triggers but not ever doing this I haven’t known what to do but thanks to you I do now and hope with the info I collect, and your article I can take to my doc and hopefully start getting out of this 3 year funk I’ve been in. Another thing being my inability to talk about the way I actually feel bc I lived my life being so happy that when my depression hit it’s been disabling and I’ve pushed EVERYONE away except my mom and daughter and I have to keep catching myself from doing it to them. I’m 36 and have worked full time for 1 company my hole life to being unemployed for the past year and a half and I’m so tired of living this way but don’t know how to get out of it and no insurance doesn’t help bc I’m unable to get the meds needed to balance my brain off and the thoughts of anger bc I wasn’t supposed to be here anymore and dealing with this makes it hard not to try again but thank god for my babies bc they’re the ONLY thing that keeps me going!!! THANKS AGAIN bc I have a Lil bit of hope now so you could def say you helped someone with your confidence!!!

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  • LISA RUIZ

    It is so hard to feel understood when one lives with mental illness. I am 26, diagnosed with Bipolar II at 21. I am in one of the deepest depressions I’ve ever experienced. I am beyond grateful to hear words that feel as if they are of my own thoughts. Both of your articles were extremely relatable and had REAL APPLICABLE advice, from one to another. Hang in there and other generic poster phrases are impossible to buy into, THIS, makes a difference, for me. Thank you Julia.

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    • You Matter

      We appreciate your comment and are glad that the articles posted resonate positively with you. Please know that any time you feel misunderstood, alone, depressed, or just need to talk, we are here for 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Call us anytime.

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