[lawrenman]

I assume I am not alone on this. But I am starting to believe the below:

When manic its best to take downers.
When depressed its best to take uppers.

When manic its best to do things relaxing.
When depressed its best to do things that burn energy.

When manic its best to sleep if possible long hours -if possible.
When depressed its best to sleep no more than 8 hours a night.

So IF you go both directions (like me) its best to know what to do when you are too high or too low.

Thoughts?

[catsrhelm]

Could be that you are in a mixed state, which is both depression and mania at the same time. The last time I had once of those, I just rode the roller coaster for about three hours. (That is how long my mixed state lasted.) I wasn't medicated right like I am now.

[Phoenix_1]

You haven't mentioned your dx and what meds you're on, if any.
I would advise against self-medicating with uppers and downers, especially if you're on any psych meds.
I speak from experience. Before my dx, I self-medicated with alcohol for 30 years. Alcohol is a downer. I used to it sleep, I used it to cope with social situations, with a bad marriage, with work problems, and so on and so on. I never was addicted, and very luckily, I am not an alcoholic, but I probably delayed my diagnosis and the chance of getting any real help by 40 years.
Self medicating is never good.

[A Red Panda]

Don't take "uppers" or "downers". Don't mess with your body chemistry (says the hypocrite who enjoys drinking).

The others make sense though and are good habits.

[Trippin2.0]

AP's and MS 〓 Downers to counter mania
AD's 〓 Uppers to counter depression
So yes, you are correct uppers and downers are used to treat bp even when you go the medical route and don't self medicate.

[sewerrats]

mood stabiliser for manic ,( Downers, ) AD,S for depression ( uppers ) BENZOS injections when in hospital freaking out.

[lawrenman]

I am currently only on Zyprexa (big time downer-very effective)
But I do take fish oil, vitamin b50, and Xarelto a blood thinner (which I consider all uppers)

Overall I think I found a decent balance. But I still am slightly hypomanic without way too many drawbacks. Only thing is I wonder if I will have to put on something more effective than Zyprexa at some point. I wonder if my mind will learn to get around how Zyprexa works.

[gayleggg]

I wouldn't consider Xarelto an upper. If anything, I would say it gives you less energy. I take due to a blood clot I have and have not found it to raise my mood level at all. I'm not sure about the other two.

Of course, none of my meds seem to be working except for the Klonopin.

Originally Posted by lawrenman

I assume I am not alone on this. But I am starting to believe the below:

When manic its best to take downers.
When depressed its best to take uppers.

When manic its best to do things relaxing.
When depressed its best to do things that burn energy.

When manic its best to sleep if possible long hours -if possible.
When depressed its best to sleep no more than 8 hours a night.

So IF you go both directions (like me) its best to know what to do when you are too high or too low.

Thoughts?

Yep I agree with this stuff for me. Especially the sleep, sleep is just so important for me to stay stable, since I have been sleeping properly I have had very very minor mood disruptions related to bipolar. (Also been on good meds which is a help!)

I find it hard to burn energy when I am depressed, I tend to do more relaxation when I am down because my thoughts go wild. But exercise is a great technique for most.

I also need to make sure I am eating right, when I am up I dont eat as much, catching things on the run just to keep the energy up and not being healthy, also tend to drink more beer cos that fills up my empty tummy and makes things awesome . When I am slightly low I eat too much chocolate and too many carbs, which makes me feel blugh. When Im mixed or really low I dont eat again and then end up very weak physically. So food is another one I would add to my list.

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by Supanova

Yep I agree with this stuff for me. Especially the sleep, sleep is just so important for me to stay stable, since I have been sleeping properly I have had very very minor mood disruptions related to bipolar. (Also been on good meds which is a help!)

I find it hard to burn energy when I am depressed, I tend to do more relaxation when I am down because my thoughts go wild. But exercise is a great technique for most.

I also need to make sure I am eating right, when I am up I dont eat as much, catching things on the run just to keep the energy up and not being healthy, also tend to drink more beer cos that fills up my empty tummy and makes things awesome . When I am slightly low I eat too much chocolate and too many carbs, which makes me feel blugh. When Im mixed or really low I dont eat again and then end up very weak physically. So food is another one I would add to my list.

MORE BEER MORE DEPRESSED ITS A BUMMER. a 3 hour hit, for a 4 day downer , not for me anymore

Yeah I havent had a drink for about 2 months now, I'd like to think I wont next time I go up or down but it is doubtful.

[IndieVisible]

Originally Posted by lawrenman

I assume I am not alone on this. But I am starting to believe the below:

When manic its best to take downers.
When depressed its best to take uppers.

When manic its best to do things relaxing.
When depressed its best to do things that burn energy.

When manic its best to sleep if possible long hours -if possible.
When depressed its best to sleep no more than 8 hours a night.

So IF you go both directions (like me) its best to know what to do when you are too high or too low.

Thoughts?

Just one thing to consider. Not everyone reacts to each med the same way. For example it's possible to go manic with benzos (downers), and possible to get depressed with amphetamines (uppers). But yes, theoretically what you said is suppose to happen. But not always.

Actually mood stabilizers are suppose to work better for manic depression. Like lithium. And benzos as needed.

[lawrenman]

Good thoughts Indie.

I would agree that in those situations its probably tolerance of over-use that would cause the reaction to opposite of its intention.

I don't believe anything you put into your body is a "stabilizer" per se. That's why bipolar is so hard to manage in the long-term. IMO lithium is a downer overall, not that its ineffective--there's plenty of studies out showing its effectiveness. Just IMO that's how it reacts in the body and mind.

Also as a side-note I believe blood thinners helped me get out of bipolar depression. I also believe they helped push me over the edge in my latest mania. I am pretty sure the effect of pushing more oxygen flow to your brain as your blood thins speeds your mind up. Since I have to be on blood thinner long-term, I assume I need to counteract with Zyprexa to slow my mind down and make sure my dopamine levels do not get out of control.

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by IndieVisible

Just one thing to consider. Not everyone reacts to each med the same way. For example it's possible to go manic with benzos (downers), and possible to get depressed with amphetamines (uppers). But yes, theoretically what you said is suppose to happen. But not always.

Actually mood stabilizers are suppose to work better for manic depression. Like lithium. And benzos as needed.

manic depression is bipolar ,??????????//

[Phoenix_1]

I had total knee replacement surgery Sept 12, and was put on Xarelto. I'm still taking it, and will be for one more week. I've noted that it's strange that nothing seems to bother me much since my surgery. My car's getting repossessed - no problem, etc. I wonder...

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by Phoenix_1

I had total knee replacement surgery Sept 12, and was put on Xarelto. I'm still taking it, and will be for one more week. I've noted that it's strange that nothing seems to bother me much since my surgery. My car's getting repossessed - no problem, etc. I wonder...

Interaction with your meds, I had the same with tramadol but that was like a bad acid trip.

[Amelie10]

Originally Posted by Phoenix_1

You haven't mentioned your dx and what meds you're on, if any.
I would advise against self-medicating with uppers and downers, especially if you're on any psych meds.
I speak from experience. Before my dx, I self-medicated with alcohol for 30 years. Alcohol is a downer. I used to it sleep, I used it to cope with social situations, with a bad marriage, with work problems, and so on and so on. I never was addicted, and very luckily, I am not an alcoholic, but I probably delayed my diagnosis and the chance of getting any real help by 40 years.
Self medicating is never good.

Phoenix, I feel like I managed my BP with alcohol alone for years before my official diagnosis. When I was manic, I drank to settle down and take the edge off. When I was depressed I drank to make the day pass faster and help me pass out.

When I finally surrendered to the diagnosis and meds I was better, but alcohol was still a problem for me. In March of 2010 I quit drinking completely. I really believed that if I took my meds exactly as prescribed and stayed sober I would never have another crippling depression again. Sadly I was wrong.

Sometimes I miss alcohol, especially when I am depressed, but now I say that a "bad day sober is better than a good day drinking."

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by Amelie10

Phoenix, I feel like I managed my BP with alcohol alone for years before my official diagnosis. When I was manic, I drank to settle down and take the edge off. When I was depressed I drank to make the day pass faster and help me pass out.

When I finally surrendered to the diagnosis and meds I was better, but alcohol was still a problem for me. In March of 2010 I quit drinking completely. I really believed that if I took my meds exactly as prescribed and stayed sober I would never have another crippling depression again. Sadly I was wrong.

Sometimes I miss alcohol, especially when I am depressed, but now I say that a "bad day sober is better than a good day drinking."

I did exactly the same has you, but I wasn't so lucky the years of booze . left me hospitalised with pancreitis . I had major ops to repair bile track and had gall bladder removal, so you quite the drink just in time. I still drink a beer now and then but not in volume. I have better meds now than then. IM a lot fatter but sanity before vanity

[choocha]

Hi. Yes, I'm mixed state, rapid cycling; so I'm constantly having to adjust what I'm doing to suit the day/time. My doc trusts me to adjust my meds depending on the day. You just need a high level of self-awareness ie your triggers and warning signs, so you can react quickly if you're going too far one way. To address both my mania and depression the right way I just try to keep a balanced and flexible treatment plan in place. Does this help? Is that even what you asked hehe? good luck, take care. keep us posted on your progress.