That Time Of Month

I have a question for anyone who has to deal with their menstral cycle: Do you get/how bad does your depression get and how do you help yourself?
I have Bipolar and am struggling with this issue.
Thanks!

I am actually a man and I am not sure if this is relevant but
I have ulcerative colitis and when I bleed a whole lot I get
depressed. This may have nothing to do with menstrual cycles
though.

Yup, it gets much worse for me around that time. There is some info floating around the net about bipolar females and mestrual cycles. It can have a worsening effect. Your hormones getting all out of wack plus bipolar, doesn't really help much.

Do you get your iron tested for anemia? I am anemic and the fatigue and depression that comes with it doesn't help. Also there is PMDD, premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Worse than PMS and has a higher incident with women who have depression or mood disorders.

Honestly I have not found a better way to cope except to remind myself that it will pass when my cycle is over. I'm sorry, I know it's really awful.

The mood charts my pdoc had me doing also had a space for checking off your cycles, so that can be charted with your mood. It think it's pretty common to have problems with this.

I used to get suicidal mixed episodes before my period - omg, were those awful. Once I started taking Lamictal, the really bad pre-menstrual episodes went away. I still get a little irritable, but nothing more than what is probably considered "typical PMS".

I have some depression during that time of month, but with meds it's not severe. When I was not medicated, my whole mood cycle was influenced by my menstrual cycle, that and seasonal changes.

Before and after dx, I had no mood swings whatsoever while having my menstrual cycle, but women without mental disorders can feel depressed while on their period and they have every right, it's a beach to go through.

However, I felt like I was dying and having my insides ripped out every time I had my period. Birth control corrected that, it also lightened my period and now I feel unaffected by my periods.

Yea, since going on birth control I do a lot better. I consider it part of my mood stabilizers but! I can still have mood swings because of it. There was a few months where I'd switch with every period. I'd be kinda manic for a month, then depressed for a month, then up again!

Now, I feel more prone to hypomania and my period might sometimes have to do with that though it rarely effects my mood in a major way! My lamictal levels get higher that week off the pill so, maybe there's that too!

I am truly terrible at this time, Like right now, I am such a horrible person to be around A week or so before I am due I am so moody and get so depressed, I hate it.

I used to have mixed episodes/ suicidal before period. No end of times I would end up in hospital and then start my period! For me it has been going on Rispiridone that has saved me because I no longer have periods!! Yey!

Have you thought about going on the meridian coil or something like that which reduces your period to next to nothing?

Thanks so much - I did not think about birth control pills but that might be something to look into. I appreciate all of the feedback!