Thank you, all!

Yes, all my episodes cycle throughout the day and they don't last for more than a couple of hours. Typically, they are mixed episodes; although, I do have the occasional simply depression (this can last for days) or simply manic (never lasts for more than a few hours and is usually hypo-mania) episodes. I also suffer from really bad anxiety and rarely my PTSD pops up.

I started seeing a Nurse Practitioner of Psychiatry almost a month ago after years and years of only treating my anxiety and it's been frustrating. I don't have any other options because I won't have insurance until late August when I start my PhD. 100mg of Seroquel XR (50 was too little and 150 made me feel like a zombie) helped with some Lamictal and BuSpar. However, she was giving me samples and said that she couldn't give me more Seroquel. She switched me to Trazodone to help me sleep and I feel absolutely awful! Honestly, I don't care if I don't sleep 8 hours a night (I sleep about 6 on weekdays and crash on the weekends to sleep 8-10 hours) because I am an academic and my body clock naturally keeps weird hours. Plus, Trazodone is not approved for Bipolar! My Mom, who is a nurse, is mad that I am on three things and told me to stop taking the Trazodone since it makes me feel so sick and depressed.

I simply want something to control my mind from racing, especially when I am depressed AND manic. Controlling the depression is also a major key goal for me. If I can control my flashes of inspiration to be able to write as fast as my mind or think at a normal speed (my brain is a machine and sometimes kicks into overdrive); then I will be satisfied.

Thanks again for listening and sharing.