Hello everyone. I am waiting for my computer to complete its update so I figured I could make a quick post while I wait.

About two weeks ago I realized my depression was getting out of hand. I decided to start my trileptal again, slowly. I made it up to 900mg. I feel much better. This past week I have noticed that I wake up completely jazzed; ready to go, confident, motivated, happy to be alive. I'm excited and fun to be around, I'm loud, I talk a lot. All signs of hypo for me. But the difference is that by mid afternoon (around the end of the school day), my energy is GONE. I mean like so much that I'm afraid I'm going to fall asleep in my commute home. And when I get home, I just lay on the couch and doze while my son plays.

I don't get it! My mood doesn't change so it's not like I'm gettin depressed, I'm just exhausted! This happens to me a few times a year - I realize that I am completely beat Even though I've gotten eight to ten hours of sleep. I mean, my job is mentally draining - I work with really tough students. But I'm so much more tired than usual, especially since I'm not in a depression.

I hate being so tired. That was ALWAYS my mom's excuse for not paying any attention to us and I don't want to do that to my son! I've been pushing through and playing with him on the floor anyway but it's hard.

On Monday (not today, Super Bowl and all) I'm starting to eat healthier - I definitely got more into carbs and sugar in January because it's been so dreary and cold. Eating more protein and less heavy foods might help me. I am also going to start my iron supplement again. I do tend to get anemic sometimes. So that migh help too.

But the good news is that I am doing very well mood-wise - I can tell from the energy in the morning that I would be hypo but the trileptal is capping it, so I can just stay baseline. Thankfully I recently reread a post I made in august detailing the absolute insanity that is me without medication in a manic state sooooo while I am tempted to access the full power of hypo without meds I know it will turn ugly on me so I will stay obedient on trileptal for now.

If anyone has experienced exhaustion not connected to moods, tell me if any lifestyle changes helped please!