[Jenina]

Are mild rapid mood changes in bipolar III common or is it some sort of depression?
I can go from hyperactive really happy cheerful want to hug everyone mood ( but usually lasts a few hours or so)
to extreme hungry depression as if I have a huge empty hole in my stomach.
It can come on instantly and it doesn't really need any reason.
But then today I feel extremely content how I think a normal person would feel.
There is also irritability but I'm dealing with that well.
There have been other things as well just the above is a daily thing.

Is this common with bipolar III or is it depression?
I've been diagnosed with depression, SA and GAD a 5 years back.

[hamster-bamster]

What is Bipolar III? Something new I do not know about?

[newtus]

lol Bipolar III? psychotic mania 24/7. very rare.

I thought there was just BP I, BP II, BP NOS and Cyclothymia.

Sounds more like Ultra, ultra rapid cycling.

[Nessa213]

I don't know very much about rapid cycling, but I know it does occur and it is more likely to occur (supposedly) if the onset of bipolar was at a young age.

Can't diagnose, of course, as I'm no where NEAR paid enough to be a doctor. If you haven't been reevaluated in 5 years since your initial diagnosis, you might want to mention how your feeling to your doctor so you can get reevaluated.

And:

Originally Posted by newtus

psychotic mania 24/7. very rare.

That just sounds exhausting.
lol

[BeeKeeper]

Originally Posted by newtus

lol Bipolar III? psychotic mania 24/7. very rare.

Gah, that sounds terrifying! I'll stick with II, thank you very much.

OP, I have very rapid mood changes like you do and my diagnosis was depression and generalized anxiety for a long time. My pdoc made me officially Bipolar when I started having longer manic periods.

So, moral of the story, talk to a pdoc. If you don't have one, get one. If you don't like the one you have, get a new one. They're the best qualified to figure out what's really going on- MI is not very black and white- and mix you up the right med cocktail.

Take Care of yourself.
-Bee

[Jenina]

Originally Posted by BeeKeeper

Gah, that sounds terrifying! I'll stick with II, thank you very much.

OP, I have very rapid mood changes like you do and my diagnosis was depression and generalized anxiety for a long time. My pdoc made me officially Bipolar when I started having longer manic periods.

So, moral of the story, talk to a pdoc. If you don't have one, get one. If you don't like the one you have, get a new one. They're the best qualified to figure out what's really going on- MI is not very black and white- and mix you up the right med cocktail.

Take Care of yourself.
-Bee

Thank-you all, I think Bipolar III is cyclomythia? I don't know I'm kind of new to it all.
I had thought BPD but there is a lot wrong with that but I do sometimes feel abandoned but ONLY when I'm depressed.

I went through a couple of stressful periods then...
had a few days ( in a row ) where I've been hyped, and barely sleeping feeling as if I don't have enough to do. But that has only happened 3 times in two years.. It was then followed by a week of sleep ins.
I don't think irrationally during these times and its almost as if I'm fully functional like my mind finally works!

Edited... Maybe its stress as well but I can't think of anything I'm that stressed about.
I was hugging my partner, I felt happy 80% then I felt like a wave of sadness and felt 10%.

[ultramar]

Originally Posted by Jenina

Are mild rapid mood changes in bipolar III common or is it some sort of depression?
I can go from hyperactive really happy cheerful want to hug everyone mood ( but usually lasts a few hours or so)
to extreme hungry depression as if I have a huge empty hole in my stomach.
It can come on instantly and it doesn't really need any reason.
But then today I feel extremely content how I think a normal person would feel.
There is also irritability but I'm dealing with that well.
There have been other things as well just the above is a daily thing.

Is this common with bipolar III or is it depression?
I've been diagnosed with depression, SA and GAD a 5 years back.

Hi Jenina

Your moods sound intense and change rapidly. Maybe it would be useful if whenever you feel a strong emotion (elation, sadness, irritable, etc.) to stop yourself for just a moment and think about what just happened or what thought just came to mind that might have brought on that emotion. You might see that your emotions aren't coming out of nowhere or there's no reason for them -finding what triggers your emotions and understanding their meaning might make things less scary and make you better equipped to not get overwhelmed.

"I was hugging my partner, I felt happy 80% then I felt like a wave of sadness and felt 10%"

Bipolar disorder of any type doesn't usually involve changing moods from one moment to the next in the way you describe above, although it's a common misconception. It might be a good idea to see a doctor to get assessed and help you stabalize your moods. Best of luck.

[Jenina]

Originally Posted by ultramar

Hi Jenina

Your moods sound intense and change rapidly. Maybe it would be useful if whenever you feel a strong emotion (elation, sadness, irritable, etc.) to stop yourself for just a moment and think about what just happened or what thought just came to mind that might have brought on that emotion. You might see that your emotions aren't coming out of nowhere or there's no reason for them -finding what triggers your emotions and understanding their meaning might make things less scary and make you better equipped to not get overwhelmed.

"I was hugging my partner, I felt happy 80% then I felt like a wave of sadness and felt 10%"

Bipolar disorder of any type doesn't usually involve changing moods from one moment to the next in the way you describe above, although it's a common misconception. It might be a good idea to see a doctor to get assessed and help you stabalize your moods. Best of luck.

Thank-you, they aren't really intense I don't feel suicidal although I can get really low, and I don't feel like I could achieve anything as such like I don't feel "I'm on top of the world", just a really great mood most almost always followed by a really sad feeling.
I've thought and can't always figure out what it was almost always its like a wave sometimes there is a plateau mood like all today with "normal" emotions..
I've thought PMS and got some St johns wart.. But felt weird.. Not sure if it was in my head.. So
I tried evening primrose oil.. again felt weird and haven't tried again.
Doesn't seem to go with PMS I recall saying a year back "ARGH I feel so angry I feel I've had PMS for 3 months!"
I had bad experiences on Anti d's and kind of scared of going back on them.

[ultramar]

Originally Posted by Jenina

Thank-you, they aren't really intense I don't feel suicidal although I can get really low, and I don't feel like I could achieve anything as such like I don't feel "I'm on top of the world", just a really great mood most almost always followed by a really sad feeling.
I've thought and can't always figure out what it was almost always its like a wave sometimes there is a plateau mood like all today with "normal" emotions..
I've thought PMS and got some St johns wart.. But felt weird.. Not sure if it was in my head.. So
I tried evening primrose oil.. again felt weird and haven't tried again.
Doesn't seem to go with PMS I recall saying a year back "ARGH I feel so angry I feel I've had PMS for 3 months!"
I had bad experiences on Anti d's and kind of scared of going back on them.

Hi Jenina,

If you're willing to try medication again you could see a psychiatrist. In addition or instead you could see a therapist -it might help you to identify your emotions more specifically, figure out what they're about, and help you learn to cope (with the anger, sadness, etc.).

Best of luck.

[zeegoman]

Ultramar's last comment is inaccurate. Whilst not classic DSM or ICD symptoms rapid cycling BP2 is well recognised clinically and can be very rapid indeed, includingseveral times within the day (ultradian)

Bipolar 3 is a contentious diagnosis and is defined by a reaction to antidepressants or some other therapeutic intervention such as light therapy.

Your symptoms are obviously very uncomfortable for you and you need to get good clinical care. Are you in the USA? If so then there is a black box warning and bipolarity should be screened for before a diagnosis of depression is made. This can be difficult to do but you appear to have had poor reaction to antidepressants. The evidence that they can flip patients into mania/hypomania is also contentious however, I believe that I have experienced this.

You should discuss mood stabilizers with your clinician. Lamotrigine is believed to be the one of choice with BP2 and it has antidepressant effects. Be careful with self medication, St John's Wort is not side effect free and can react with other medications.

As well as medication there are a number of effective behavioural strategies you can use, such as Mindfulness and Social Rhythm Therapy. There are others.

Having experienced misdiagnosis and therefore, inappropriate treatment for depression for many years, I realise how important early diagnosis for BP and treatment is.