I'm BP2. For a week now, I've become unusually sensitive to (i) noise (e.g. environmental, group situations, music, etc.) and (ii) artificial light (including fairly dim lights and lamps in rooms). I'm also more irritable/intolerant toward people. Maybe this is a result of the aforementioned sensitivities.

There are no noticeable (internal) changes in my energy level, appetite, mood. I'm just drained by the presence of multiple co-existing sounds and/or artificial light. Even at low levels. For example, I get a headache when there is more than one source of sound at a given time. Conversations exhaust me and wash over me. I "absorb" less than I'm usually capable of.

I talked to my psychiatrist, and she told me not to worry because my symptoms are not debilitating. Since I'm very sensitive to changes in medication, she wants to wait another month before tweaking my drugs (right now, we're waiting for the side effects of my Trileptal to taper out. Which is happening, slowly). She suggests that my irritability is more likely a symptom of BP than a side-effect of meds.

Socially I'm pretty bubbly, optimistic, and extroverted (even when I'm feeling "down"). Now I've become more antisocial, quiet, and limp. The stimuli in group situations give me headaches, and friends have commended that I seem "harried". I went to the campus dining hall this evening, and felt like a deer caught in headlights -- I couldn't focus my eyes and ears. Chaotic din. Colors more vivid than usual. My boyfriend was concerned, and he took me on a walk out in the snow. This calmed me down somewhat.

Still, I can't keep avoiding social situations -- I need to cope, and my friends are concerned. Over the past month, I've been particularly diligent about self-care: exercise, medication, sleep, showering, meditation, practising mindfulness and gratitude, maintaining connections with my core support team (professional support, family, close friends), etc. So what's going on?

Has anyone had similar experiences? What coping skills would you suggest? I'm not in a crisis. However, I don't want to be abrasive to others or give the impression that they're annoying me. Thanks!

[AnxietyGirl916]

A hypomanic episode maybe?

[FaithlessCat]

maybe pop headphones on and listen to soothing music, most people don't interrupt if they think you are listening to music and even if you aren't listening to anything they can help to block out some of the Din and help you to remain focused and relaxed. Wear sunglasses too if the lights are affecting you ATM.... thou sunglasses in the snow ... might be a LOL

You have to look after yourself and not worry about others. Do what you need to do to get through this.

[wildflowerchild25]

I was going to make a post until I remembered yours. I am going through this too. Not the sensitivity part - I always have that and it's no worse than usual. But I have found that even though I am feeling great, I am irritable as hell and being very nasty to my husband and my son.

I don't feel like I am hypomanic either. I feel like I would definitely be if trileptal wasn't keeping it in check. But my energy really isn't different. My thoughts are not racing. I jut feel confident, productive, and positive about my life. But the irritability piece is so frustrating' I don't want to be a nasty ***** to my husband. He's a nice guy! And I HATE being short with my son. My mother never gave me the time of day, and when she did it was always with annoyance. I don't want to be like that! I feel so guilty when I'm trying to sleep at night when I replay the day in my head.

I dunno what the problem is. I don't have a pdoc right now (I have refills on my meds from my last doc so I've been dragging my feet about finding a new one) and I don't have any either because I'm sick of therapy honestly. So I'm kinda on my own here.

I have found that IF I can take a half second before I respond, I can take a deep breath and think about what I'm going to say. But most of the time I just blurt out the *****y response before I even have a Chance to think.

I have found that listening to quiet music (my choice is fem folk like Paula cole or Tori Amos) does reduce the overwhelming feeling I get from too much noise. It is my choice to decompress from work, which is a very chaotic environment.

Thank you for the responses, everyone. I am trying to keep stressful situations to a minimum. Socializing in quiet(er) spaces in groups of 1-2 other people (max), over non-stressful activities like cooking, etc. Hopefully this episode will pass soon.

@FaithlessCat: Natural light doesn't bother me, so I don't think I'll need sunglasses. I'm just irritated by artificial light (primarily indoors). Thank you for responding though

@Wildflowerchild25: I can relate to what you have described. Why did you let go of your old pdoc if you are still sticking to the med regimen that he/she prescribed? And yes, I'm quite tired of therapy too, which is part of the reason why I haven't been looking for a new tdoc for the past 1/2 year. What were your reasons for quitting therapy?

Quiet music might be a good idea when I've calmed down a bit, but right now, all music irritates me.

[wildflowerchild25]

Well I was in an IOP for three months following a hospitalization. They discharged me from the program, so I didn't have a pdoc or therapist anymore. I was supposed to find one on my own but I've been running into problems of no one taking my insurance or not taking new patients. I can go back to my old mental health place from before the IOP but I don't like the pdoc there.

I don't want to be in therapy because I was in a partial or IOP for five months (July - beginning of dec.) so I got intense therapy for a long time. I feel as though I overcame most Of the things holding me back. As long as I am on my med (went off for a brief time in dec/jan) I feel great, so I see no need for therapy.

I should be covered with scrips until the end of April. So I guess I should check around again for a new pdoc soon.

@wildflowerchild25: I think I understand. You seem to be self-aware about what's going on regarding your BP, and how you might tackle it (e.g. the irritability toward your family). Of course, taking action, and sticking to it persistently, is always the hard part. You have my best wishes. Feel free to message me if you want to talk about anything.

[ChaoticSymphony]

I'm not aware of your back ground so please disregard if it doesn't apply. I often feel the same sensations you are examining. I was told it could possibly be a hyper vigilance of some sort. Meaning you are feeling triggered and your body goes into search and prevent mode, constantly looking for danger.