[Wander]

Early this year I was in a very deep depression so I concented to ECT. It certainly brought me out of the depression but a week later upon reintroducing Lithium I went into a hypomanic phase, which was a fun one but then I was normal for two weeks then depressed for a week then back to normal. I think the ECT reduced the severity of my depression but didn't touch the rapid cycling. At the moment I am feeling really off, like another episode is brewing and I'm despairing as I rarely stay normal for longer than a few weeks. I am really over it but will keep fighting to find a life worth living. I just had to have a winge. My current mood state is dark and intense and I feel really weird, it is hard to explain. I have just been taking extra Olanzapine(zyprexa) and clonazepam(klonpin) to manage and it is working well enough for the moment. I just know somethings off when my thoughts gets weird.

To the rapid cyclers out there, how do you cope with the constant mood shifts? Did anything help to stop them?

[Love&Toil]

I'm not a rapid cycler but wanted you to know I read your post and hope you get some answers you are looking for.

[~Christina]

Rapid cycling Ugh ! They are exhausting ! What does your Pdoc say about them ? I do know sometimes the rapid cycling turns into a mixed episode.

I guess the only thing I can think of is use every coping skill you have.. But your already doing that im sure .

I hope things level out for you soon .

[Trippin2.0]

I remind myself that its better than the time I had my very own Personal Great Depression, which lasted for 14 months straight. No good days, no rays of sunshine, just utter darkness that seemed to go on forever....

"Atleast it will be over soon"
"This too shall pass"
"The tide will change"
These are my silverlining mantras...

No it doesn't fix it, but clinging to a healthy perspective is the point for me.

Its exhausting, its discouraging, its mentally, physically and emotionally draining, but atleast I get a breather soon, unlike the folks who stay on one end of the pendulum for months on end.

I don't actually have advice on how to combat them or slow them down, (idk if that's even possible tbh) but I do recommend working healthy hedonism into your schedule as it atleast helps to counter the effects of rapid cycling.

Whether its an hour a day, or 1 day per week, use the time to decompress, regroup, and do something to sooth your soul. Something that's just for you, could be a favourite treat, going to relax at your favourite spot, a scenic drive, a bubble bath that ONLY ends when YOU decide, or even just using the time for doing absolutely nothing and commit to simply being, if you're one of the humandoing types... ( I used to be a humandoing but I have devolved back to my natural state and am now succesfully a humanbeing again) ...

Incorporating this into my lifestyle has helped much in being able to bounce back from the toll BP takes on my mind and body.

[Wander]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

Rapid cycling Ugh ! They are exhausting ! What does your Pdoc say about them ? I do know sometimes the rapid cycling turns into a mixed episode.

I guess the only thing I can think of is use every coping skill you have.. But your already doing that im sure .

I hope things level out for you soon .

Thanks. My pdoc wants me to try a new anti-psychotic called Saphris as it has shown promise with rapid cycling. I was hesitant to make any changes during semester at university as I tend to switch when my meds are messed with. I am also concerned about this turning into a mixed episode as some of the symptoms indicate that. Mixed episodes are truly awful so I am doing my best to avoid that, although sometime the brain just does what it wants. I am taking extra zyprexa to combat the symptoms and so far at the moment they remain manageable, although still a little disressing.

[~Christina]

I tried Saphris in the past .... I only stayed on it for maybe a week .. Its caused breathing problems for me. I will tell you the taste is HORRID ! Ugh black cherry flavor my azz!

Best of luck

[Wander]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

I remind myself that its better than the time I had my very own Personal Great Depression, which lasted for 14 months straight. No good days, no rays of sunshine, just utter darkness that seemed to go on forever....

"Atleast it will be over soon"
"This too shall pass"
"The tide will change"
These are my silverlining mantras...

No it doesn't fix it, but clinging to a healthy perspective is the point for me.

Its exhausting, its discouraging, its mentally, physically and emotionally draining, but atleast I get a breather soon, unlike the folks who stay on one end of the pendulum for months on end.

I don't actually have advice on how to combat them or slow them down, (idk if that's even possible tbh) but I do recommend working healthy hedonism into your schedule as it atleast helps to counter the effects of rapid cycling.

Whether its an hour a day, or 1 day per week, use the time to decompress, regroup, and do something to sooth your soul. Something that's just for you, could be a favourite treat, going to relax at your favourite spot, a scenic drive, a bubble bath that ONLY ends when YOU decide, or even just using the time for doing absolutely nothing and commit to simply being, if you're one of the humandoing types... ( I used to be a humandoing but I have devolved back to my natural state and am now succesfully a humanbeing again) ...

Incorporating this into my lifestyle has helped much in being able to bounce back from the toll BP takes on my mind and body.

Thanks! It is good to be reminded that this is better than a long depression or devastating mania. I just came out of a long depression with episodes of dysphoric mania (mixed) and it was hell. ECT got me out of that hell. This is much milder so I am grateful for that. Thanks for the reminder to put this in perspective. I guess I am afraid of going back into that hell so the mood swings make me anxious. To soothe my soul I play guitar or walk along the beach. These things really help center me. Mindfulness is really helpful too. Today, at least so far (it is 10.30am), I feel relatively ok. Yesterday I felt mixed so I was scared but now I am hopeful I will stabilise to at least only minor mood shifts.

[Wander]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

I tried Saphris in the past .... I only stayed on it for maybe a week .. Its caused breathing problems for me. I will tell you the taste is HORRID ! Ugh black cherry flavor my azz!

Best of luck

Thanks. I have tried it before and it seemed to only increase my agitation but my pdoc says that I was in a bad mixed state at the time so it is difficult to know if it was the drug or just my mood state. He said Saphris is ''in vogue' at the moment for rapid cycling so he wants me to give it another go...and yes it tastes FOUL!

[HALLIEBETH87]

I have rapid cycling as well! Noooo fun! And yes...the taste of Saphris is horrible.