Five Bipolar Mood Swings in One Day!

I wrote this post four years ago…..  It’s hard to read something from that long ago and realize it still happens today! But that is the nature of bipolar disorder. My mood swings are managed daily.  I’ve made a  lot of lifestyle changes- such as not dating or partying at night, etc that have helped. (Boring, but more stable.) But I know that though the illness may stay, I can always be a step ahead and keep myself well.

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Here is the post from 2008…..

Five mood swings in one day!

I doubt that is a record, but it sure wears me out. In that past week, I’ve had at least 20 mood swings. They are mild, but certainly strong enough to chart. Yesterday I had three distinct upswings. The day before that, I had a few upswings and an intense hour long downswing where I immediately started crying. I’ve also been twitching a lot which means there is something not right with my Lamictal dose.

What is causing this rapid cycling? Though I’m glad it’s on the manic side instead of being constant depression, I know it’s not good for me. I can feel my adrenaline pumping and I feel like jumping out of my skin.  The chemicals are racing through my brain much faster than they normally do. I feel like talking to strangers.

So, what’s going on?  I have to be a detective to figure this out. Here are my ideas:

- The fall weather here in Portland, Oregon has been exceptionally beautiful and sunny. We had a dark summer, so this is fantastic. But it’s mania inducing.

-  Maybe my Lamictal isn’t working correctly.

I’m sure it’s a combination, but I’m leaning towards the Lamictal problem. This has happened to me in the past. I took some extra Lamictal last night to see if I could calm down and stop the Lamictal twitching. I may have missed a dose.

(2012- It turned out to be the Lamictal. When we don’t know what’s going on- detective work on our mood swings helps.)

Julie

We have to keep going no matter what!

PS: Please excuse the picture.  I was having a bad hair day.

Related posts:
Monitor Your Bipolar Disorder Mood Swings
Bipolar Rapid Cycling: A mood swing record?
bipolar mood swings and the beauty of a rose