edpisode question

So I was thinking back at my last episode and how I went from feeling normal to down in seconds. One moment happy and content then the next moment in such a deep depression all I could do is cry and I had no idea why. Work sent me home. This is the third time it has happened in a year. I love my job and I dont want to lose it.

What do you do when you feel an episode coming on? Either a high or a low? I try to rearrange my thinking, but I cant. I feel as though my co-worker think I am faking it and blaming it on bipolar to get attention. Im not! I cant control this.

Im working out now (which I started last week) and seeing therapist on top of my medication.

I need your advise on what you do when you feel it coming on?

the way I handled what you are describing was imagining a wave coming over me. im terrified of the ocean. I almost drown once. so I am sitting there enjoying life and suddenly the wave comes in and hits me and I am no longer having fun. I am sad, depressed, filled with anxiety and panic. who knows how long that wave is going to be covering me. but I know from my history, that my bad times only last so long, just like the good times do. so just like the waves come and go, so do my moods. so that wave covering me, causing all that distress, is going to ebb back into the ocean. I know this as a fact. that is what waves do, so do my cycles. so I focus on that instead of getting caught up in the distressing mood. if I focus on it going away, I don't get more distressed. it is like holding my breathe and relaxing so I don't panic while I am under water. then the mood doesn't get so bad. and then it goes away, just as waves do. I hope this helps you. drop me a pm or vm and let me know. take care.

I hold on for dear life. I'm still not able to relax myself to go with it,even when I know it's coming. I've only had one experience with rapid cycling/mixed episode and it freaked me out.
Normally my moods go from one to another within weeks. I panic but maybe with experience I will learn to handle it better if it happens again because I will be more aware and wont be so caught off guard.

Your body is more than likely telling you what it needs. It is overloaded and needs to escape. So withdraw from whatever stressful situation you are in and make yourself the priority. Don't feel like you have to justify yourself before you withdraw, or let things get that bad that others see you need to withdraw. To other people, episodes are like trying to describe color to the blind, its almost impossible.

Learn your triggers, that way you can have more advanced warning, avoid them when possible. When you feel those waves of emotion come flooding over you, remember your self protection and presevation are paramount, and if you were literally drowning others would come to your rescue, so don't be shy about rescuing yourself or asking others (work) for time out or help. And when you can, write down what happened so you can talk about it with your therapist and pdoc. Perhaps start logging your moods with a mood app for your phone/computer - most therapists and pdocs like those as it gives a better picture of what is going on inbetween the highs and lows.

Most of all - don't give up and dont despair. You sound like you are in the process of getting up a good support network, and you are in a great place on this forum. Feel free to PM if you want to talk more.

Hang in there and

Thank you so much

Thanks so much. This is a drop so fast when it happens. I will try to relax

Oh the wave is such an awesome idea. I really like it alot

I am a rapid cycler and I feel your pain. Yesterday I was cycling like crazy. If I think about it I was cycling like crazy this whole past week but I was uber busy helping with my son's end-of-school activities which were all outside so I didn't notice as much. For me, that's what helps. Being outdoors, keeping busy-not locked inside where I can't get away from my confusing moods.

And I totally agree with Blitter. Remove yourself from the situation. I was at a wedding last Saturday and my social anxiety plus rapid cycling made the whole thing torture but I stuck it out for 4 hours (although I must admit I did a lot of hiding). I finally begged my husband to leave without saying goodbye to ANYBODY because I had to remove myself from that situation PRONTO. But it was too late, I had already cycled into full blown depression.

If I had a dollar for every time I left a party/wedding/funeral/family get together without saying goodbye...If someone calls and gives you crap about it just tell them you had explosive diarrhea and had to go NOW.

Thank you