[Chihuahua]

In a nutshell after years of depression (starting in high school) and being on countless antidepressants even when I was pregnant. I was finally diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder 2 in January this year. I have finally figured the whole thing out. I am hypo manic for at least 2-3 months. My house is clean, I talk A LOT, too fast. My husband is very happy with our sex life, my creativity is awesome etc. Then BAM all of a sudden like in a day or two I shift to anger, irritability. I shout, break things literally stomp around in the house. Don't care about anything or anyone, I want to sleep and when I'm awake I am the most miserable person on this earth even to my kids. About a week passes and it's a bit better another then I'm like normal where I feel guilty about my behaviour and I see the world normal again, Though this only lasts for about a few weeks and them I'm happy again (hypo). I've never had a full blown mania experience.

I am concerned about the dysphoric hypo mania as every time I go there it seems to be getting worse.

The doc put me on Epilim 300 and upped the dose to 500 morning and night then added Lamictal after about 4 months. My hair started falling out and I got boils under my one armpit like serious nasty things. I discontinued my meds in August. My hair is growing back (I looked like a clown) and since end of August have not had a boil.

I am currently in the throwing things and yelling mood and really want to unzip my skin and crawl out.(which is worse than before). It is starting to affect the people around me. I am not willing to lose my hair again and those nasty things. Any advice??? Please, I'm making an appointment at a new doc as we moved away .

[hamster-bamster]

I would not tolerate hair loss either. I think Epilim is what is called Depakote in America. I was on it and it did not cause hair loss, but it caused weight gain and severe hand tremor, so I discontinued. You will need to try other meds. Also, it sounds like in your current state vigorous cardiovascular exercise should be the first thing to try. Probably interval training if you can do it would be best.

[Chihuahua]

Thanx, will try the exercising.

[BlueInanna]

I can relate Chihuahua Did you try lithium? I know it's an old school one, but it seems to mellow me out.

So with the dysphoric ********, I hate that and think I'm having it recently. Now that I understand my mind is going wacky and I start being mean, I'm usually able to blurt out somewhere in there, "I'm sorry, it's not your fault, I'm in a horrible mood". For me, I think I'm getting better with age. Some things might be getting worse like memory, but control over my mean-ness when irritable has improved much.

Coping skills I've learned in therapy or life lessons, like reasoning through and talking myself through the feelings, avoiding catastrophic thinking, talking here, writing on paper and destroying it.

Another thing when I'm feeling agitated, jump up and down until out of breath, or jumping jacks. Or I will do some kickboxing in the air. I can kick high and like to imagine some bad guy's face. And sometimes I scream if no one is around.

I think I must sound horribly violent, lol. It's just passionate feelings, they need an outlet that doesn't hurt yourself or anyone else. I like you status, "Manage the Moment" that's excellent.

[Chihuahua]

Thanx a lot< seeing the doc at 6 tonight. But def taking up Taebo or Zumba (love the shaking thing hehe). The Manage the Moment reaaaally works. I just keep telling myself that time passes and I'm going to be okay again sooner or later.