[imnotreallyme]

How do you deal with the rapid cycling thing, its driving me insane...horrible depressedat this moment. ugh..*cries*

[BNLsMOM]

It's awful. I have been cycling just about weekly. I am just hanging on to my supports a little harder and will try a new mood stabilizer tomorrow when the pharmacy fills it.

[Moose72]

I'm not sure if this is rapid cycling but I cry for no reason then am fine then happy them cry fir no reason.

[imnotreallyme]

Im almost at a daily basis for cycling. Imnot sure if Ill be able to hang on much more with out the meds.

i was messing with my phone charger, and ended up wrapping it tight around my neck. I been with 3 different guys this week, etc. ugh this is horrible. just not sure what to do right now

[flawlessimperfectionsmft]

Moose72 I am the same way. I wonder what causes this. I think I'm just overly emotional.

[BNLsMOM]

Originally Posted by imnotreallyme

Im almost at a daily basis for cycling. Imnot sure if Ill be able to hang on much more with out the meds.

i was messing with my phone charger, and ended up wrapping it tight around my neck. I been with 3 different guys this week, etc. ugh this is horrible. just not sure what to do right now

Do you think your safety is in jeopardy? If so, you might want to go to the ER for an evaluation and stabilization.

[blueoctober]

imnotreallyme your post concerns me. Please go to the ER if you feel unsafe. If you have a Psychiatrist please call him or her and ask for an emergency appointment. You can also see a GP for meds.

[imnotreallyme]

I dont feel unsafe. NOt sure why I did it. I got an apppointment in a few weeks. Ill be ok I promise.

I was inquiring on rejoining the military, but Id have to get waviers, but that still wouldnt help because I have had an adjudication when I was 17 as mentally ill even though I feel im not. It sucks.

Try to do better and get kicked down everytime.

[blueoctober]

imnotreallyme; I hope you start feeling better soon.

[Moose72]

Flawless, I think it's bp and stress that brings it on.

[Ryask]

I used to be like that too, just crying for no reason then half hour later happy as a bird. Actually medication took it away completely. Unfortunately, i can't cry now? I mean..i dont have strong emotion...accept annoyance and anger...i wonder if thats how it's supposed to be?

[bpd2]

This is me, too--but I am far better now--like, another region of the country--but every once in awhile, I get booted back...

I am diagnosed as mixed state, rapid cycling.

The coping methods and skills and tricks I learned: Good meds--abilify helped the most with stability (but I had to give it up after about a year and a half because it caused a tremor); two people I could talk to sometime the day I called (my psychiatrist and my psychologist); DBT (and that added more people I could call--because you are supposed to call your trainer when you're doing things you think are out of your control, and because you can call other group members if you promise to do what they tell you to do in terms of grounding and soothing yourself); sick leave until I could stabilize...this was, obviously, lucky and a luxury that many don't have: I had a lot of sick leave built-in to my job and as a result of not taking it very often; I reminded myself/my doctors reminded me over and over not to escalate my anxiety by worrying about the anxiety, but to notice the sensations then try to attend to those sensations: if I was full of energy, go run or walk fast on the nearby college track; if I was creepy crawly, take a bath or a shower and use my nicest oils; if I was afraid, watch a candle flame while bundled up in my fluffliest sweatshirt and fluffiest wool socks and while tucked into a corner of the couch; only watch "fact" channels--no drama, and NO romance or anything that would make me weepy about my own life choices or situation--even cartoons can be tricky....Shrek is good, The Muppets productions are good....what else is safe? Not even Up...So, be careful about what's on TV. Same with music. Classical, dull as they may strike you, is safe. I have to avoid drumbeats--they just take me over! Also, I draw with a soft lead pencil--something that lets me feel the texture of the paper, feel the smoothness of the line, and I draw either leaves, etc, or I draw structural things--like doors, or bookshelves...things that are made and controlled, that have some sort of pattern to them...I have to stay away from bright colors, too.............what else?....I drink broths, or soups...I avoid high calorie foods because they really do jazz me up, and this avoidance is really hard, because: when you've been stressed and anxious, it makes you exhausted and you need recharged. Something sweet or high-carb would do that. BUT, it also sends your hormones swinging off on another high/low cycle, and there we go again.......Drink hot, sugar-free jello for a treat, munch tortilla chips--crunchy stuff helps when you're anxious....OH! Keep to a regular sleep schedule--and that means take Lunesta if you have to. And, maybe check with your doctor about a prescription for Nuvigil (not provigil...not the same thing) for a day when you can't even drag yourself to the window to stare out of it before you go rocketing off out the door in search of ....whatever.....

That's what I think of right now...if you need more, post again, and we'll see if more will come to mind for me....

[imnotreallyme]

Well the depressive part is gone for now!! Yay!!! Not really into much of a mania, just kind of riding the flat line which is pretty good so to speak. Just how flat will it remain.

[sugahorse1]

Rapid cycling is a nightmare; for you and those that love you. I'm still working on meds to keep me as stable as possible, and I also need to be aware of certain lifestyle changes that need to be made.
When I get stressed, I'm triggered too

[racee]

if your cycling many times during the day than you are ultradian cycling, wich is different than rapid cycling and a lot of times deffinatley need certain meds for it taken 3 to more times per day to keep it under control. i'm sure some of you know this but just a lil FYI for those who cycle many times in a 24hr period and wondering why nothing has helped yet. (lifesaver for me)

[sugahorse1]

Thanks Racee - possibly something for me to look into, as I only take my meds once a day.

[racee]

topamax works wonderful for it! helps control the rage too keeps you level. i was taking it 3 times a day than went to 4 times a day sometimes people will even take 25mg every hour if they are that bad..but i was up to 225mg spread out different dosages throught the day (wich i figuared out by myself no thanks to p-doc) and was perfect

[sugahorse1]

racee - a friend was on topomax and battled, as it made her very lethargic. I take Lamictin generic

[robw]

I rapid cycle as well... my are typically daily though .... rarely do I cycle within the same day, but it has happened. It sucks not knowing who I'm going to be when I wake up, or even when I get home from work, or ever.

My old p-doc has me on Lithium and Trileptal.. which aren't helping at all... but I go to a new p-doc in a few hours to get my meds re-evaled ... my primary care doc doesn't like the side effects i'm getting from the lithium (really low thyroid levels n stuff). So maybe this new p-doc will give me something to help the rapid cycling. *crosses fingers*

[sugahorse1]

Maybe discuss Lamictin with him as a mood-stabiliser option?

[CliveWild]

I have been suffering several mood changes each day. I am not sure if it is categorised as rapid cycling. It shifts between anxiety, blah, okay and brief bursts of cheerfulness. Whatever it is, it is very disabling. It is very cold outside and that is adding to my anxiety.

I take Carbamazepine and Seroquel for mood stabilizing. I also have seroquel to take as a prn. I have been taking a day time dose of seroquel lately and it seems to help. It takes the edge off without knocking me out.

I am tired of waking up in an anxious state. I spend part of the day just getting to okay, if I am lucky.

The traditional up and down moods seem a distant memory. These moods are equally disabling. I am not sure that the seroquel is doing me any favours. I have had a very bad year, mostly with anxiety. I have seen my pdoc a few times and my seroquel dosage has been adjusted. I think I need an alternative mood stabilizer. I see my pdoc next month.

Can anyone else relate to what I am saying? Do you have any coping mechanisms? Any help would be appreciated.

[sugahorse1]

Sometimes I cycle a few times throughout the day, but usually a mood lasts for about 3 days or so. I'm now on a mood stabiliser and an anti-dep and for 2.5 weeks have been "happy"/hypomanic/up
This is the longest I've stayed in an "up" mood - depression I've often been stuck in for long periods of time.

[Ryask]

seroquel did nothing for me..in fact it made things worse...Abilify was the magic ticket for me..also...is had nearly no nasty side affects if your worried about that. I totally feel ya on the anxiety...however..since adding abilify to my antidepressant...i have had 0 daily anxiety..and only two short bursts...but they were actually caused by a major stressor..but passed within the day.