[Hydrophobic1212]

Lately things have been pretty good! My new medication has completely eliminated my psychosis, save for some paranoid thoughts here and there... School is going great! I might even have a boyfriend soon...

So that is why my moods have been shocking me a bit... Seemingly out of nowhere, I'll go from happy to thinking about self harm. The thing is, I'd never DO any of the thoughts that come to mind, but they scare me and make me feel depressed. They're just not fun to have.

Is this normal, then, to have this without some sort of trigger? Yes, I know Bipolar is known for the fact that moods change for seemingly no reason, however, that's not been the case with me. Usually, my moods only shift if there's a reason for it. So I find it a little strange that now they're suddenly shifting without something causing it, unless there's an underlying trigger that I'm just not noticing?

And when I get into moods like these, does anyone have any good coping methods?

Any help you could offer would be great!

And this is why I've been gone for awhile...

[Gus1234U]

the brain is unimaginably complex. i found out that my suicidal thoughts were simply chemical dumps, or mini-seizures in that part of my brain. it didn't make it go away, but i no longer shredded myself for having them. wish you the best, Gus

[sillyfab]

I call them "involuntary thoughts." I have them all the time. Usually, I start in the mornings when I first wake up. After I've had a cup or two of coffeee, I'm able to control them. Then I take my antidepressant and things get better for the rest of the day. So yes, there's no trigger with my morning involuntary thoughts. Just hang in there and try to see yourself through them. Trust me: it gets better.

[sillyfab]

And Gus1234U I LOVE your pic! Kwan Yin is my fave! She's been with me for years!

[Tosspot]

Yes moods happen for no reason. try tracking them though- write down the time of day/drugs/caffiene/sleep etc. you might find a pattern. i'm always depressed in the morning until i do something.

Sometimes self-harming thoughts come with increased energy. I used to want to hurt myself but didnt have the energy, then i would get the energy and actaully do it. this went on for years before my dx. now that i'm "stable" on meds, just having energy triggers thoughts of self harm. I just acknowledge them and let them go.

[ladyjrnlist]

My pdoc said it is quite common for bipolars to get these random violent thoughts that we don't plan on acting out.