[Chihuahua]

Or it boils down to that! Saw the T yesterday nice and insightful session.

1.What causes the moodswing?????? (What are you thinking of at that moment)

2.Need some time to reflect on my day and keep a journal.

3.Have to talk to hubby (not about work or kids)

It doesn't seem too hard a task, for now at least!
I'm feeling much better now that schhol has started but that's because now my head is busy again and I'm not thinking about the past things too much, when I'ts holiday I'm forced to visit that place where my issues are and I've not yet dealt with them. So journaling might help a bit better than a mood chart.
Holding thumbs!!!!

Yeah, I don't know how to deal with baggage either.

I keep hoping for a lieutenant dan moment, from forrest gump, where he's on the mast of that shrimping boat during hurricane carmen. I do not believe I will ever find peace. What did your dude tell you? Did he tell you how to confront it and overcome it?

[SmokeyPoole2012]

I am a huge advocate for reflection and keeping a journal. I have been trying to understand me and my condition while on and off the medication for the past 10 years. It's a slow process, unfortunately mainly because it's really hard to look at ourselves and except our deficiencies.

Maybe that's what you mean by facing your baggage.

In any case good luck and if it will help take a couple of thumbs up from me.

[Chihuahua]

Hi there, he just told me to start a journal and write down anything and everything I feel, it's a journey he said and it's gona take a long time. I need to find out what pushed me to become full blown Bipolar ( apparently everyone has traits but something triggers it and BAM ) so in the past 9 months things have been hectic had a baby moved 900km away had to change jobs, living in the bush. So it was quite a lot for me and I miss my old town but due to work circumstances we had to move ( I still blame hubby ) but hey he has to provide.

So journaling is step 2 and that will also be my ME time for now! It might just do the trick. First have to know what I'm thinking when I act out and then we can work on overcoming it. He thinks I'm scared, I don't know what I think. The hardest question was " So when last did you connect to ----- ( my name )" I was like WHAT???? Who's that???? And I answered I DON'T KNOW

You might not ever know what caused full blown bipolar. I've had bipolar symptoms since I was a child. I don't think most of us can pin point an exact cause.

I hope the journaling helps you figure stuff out. With myself I know there is no thought that triggers my mood shifts, I'm talking about acute episodes, not just normal moods tho. I'm not sure if that's what you are talking about? When I have either a depressive mood shift or a manic shift it's usually a combination of things.

I wish you luck with this, hope it helps.

[Chihuahua]

Thanks, yes he mentioned that we may never get the answer as to what caused it but we need to focus on the minor mood shifts and see what I feel when that happens. Thing is I don't know what I feel / think when my mood changes actually it's usually a combination of thing that has happened during the day (small things) and then a silly thing like the tv being too loud and my toddler shouting at the same time I think my brain gets a overload and then he just says ENOUGH!! ( Does it even make sense? )