The Crash

How do you guys handle the awful crash after being manic/hypomanic? I mean, being on medications that ACTUALLY help must do something, but I am currently not on anything at the moment.

The past few days have been absolute hell. They truly have been. I've had a bag packed with clothes and toiletries and have actually gotten ready to leave and go to the ER because I knew I was a danger to myself. I managed to get through the past few nights (with a LOT of support and supervision from my family). I'm also currently tapering off Prozac after being on it for 3 years, but I didn't think it could have THIS bad of an effect. Is it possible that this is also part of that?

If I ever get to that point again, should I just seek help? How much does medication make a difference? What do you guys do to get through the bad depressive episodes?

Thanks guys.

Since you love anything creative, maybe try creating? Draw something or paint your room aqua like I did one time when I was angry. It looks awesome! Don't give up. Get some sleep, too.

I'm pretty sure I have a massive canvas somewhere that could use some colour. I think you are definitely right in that I should be using my creativity as an outlet, for better or for worse. And yes. Oh man sleep is a biggie haha. Thank you

Go for it, Lilacsmoke! I would love to see your painting when you finish it. Contact me. I'm pretty creative, too. I haven't been creating much lately, though. I don't have time, but if you do, you're lucky! Feel better

Try listening to music, be it uplifting or depressing. I usually binge on music when I'm in a really bad depressive state.

The Prozac might have something to do with it, you bet. If you can manage to find level ground without medication, that's great, but that deep dive can be hard to pull out of. I have never been able to do it without meds, but I also let it go a long time (months/year) so that makes it harder to pull out. If this goes on longer, please see a different pdoc about trying other meds.

Get professional help. You are a danger to your self right now. There is help out there. Go to the ER. You are a uniqe, irreplaceable person, and do not deprive the world of the wonderful presence of YOU! If it is meds you need, then take them. Take some supplements also, vit D, Bs and maybe some iron. And drink water, or whatever beverage you prefer. Stay hydrated. Helps me when I crash . It is hard to eat properly, and a body deprived of nutrients and water will make matters far worse.

Did your Pdoc want you to get off your prozac? or did you want to? Right now might now might not be a good time to do so.. Winter is prime time for SAD to hit anyway.

Consult with your Pdoc tomorrow and try to stop this downward spiral now .

Take care

Agree with the previus replies. The prozac might have a lot to do with it. Truly hope you feel better soon!

I hope you feel better soon. Go visit your doc, even just for advice. Thinking of you

I remember when I was first switching medication. (Prozac made me suicidal) It was HELL!!!!!!! You should definitely seek help whenever you feel like you can't deal with it. The "elastic" trick (snapping your wrist with an elastic for pain) helped me until it became a danger and I would snap it so often I'd bleed. I suggest if you try your "healthy" options and they still aren't working, then go sit in the ER for a while just to be around people. If you still aren't feeling OK then ask to speak to someone. I'm on Zoloft now and it's made a huge difference (on other meds too...) but as for medication, it REALLY makes a difference, whether it's a positive (Zoloft for me) or negative (Prozac for me) reaction. To get out of a depressive moment I talk a lot and seek suggestion. I also make PLANS. Planning helps SOO much. (Don't plan suicide or anything...) Plan how you want your life and it'll make you happy and determined to do anything to make this plan work!

Thank you so much everyone for the kind and insightful replies to this. I REALLY appreciate it. To answer some of the questions, yes my pdoc has been in the process of tapering me off Prozac, and I completely agree that it's kind of bad timing for it. However I will be starting on a new medication soon. Taking vitamins isn't something I considered, but that's actually a brilliant idea. Especially with the lack of vitamin D we're going to be getting now (I should just move somewhere warm and tropical haha)

At the moment I am feeling OK, but without a doubt, I am going to go to the ER if I feel this bad ever again. The combination of being in the "crash" AND being tapered off of my antidepressant...oh man.

I guess when you're in that state though, you're just not thinking as clearly. Like you don't FEEL like you need to go, because you don't want to make a big deal out of it, even though you clearly need help RIGHT NOW because you're a danger to yourself. So. Mark my words, guys, I will definitely take that step if/when it ever gets that bad again.

In the meantime, I think that taking up your suggestions and keeping busy and making sure I am eating well/hydrated is probably the best thing I can do, and I am hoping to meet with my psychiatrist asap. I'll give him a call tomorrow and see what he thinks about everything.

Thank you so much for the love and kind thoughts, everyone. You're all amazing.

Hi! Hope you are doing better today! Just a thought; have you had bloodtests done to chech if you are low on any nutrients? Ask to have them done, and find out. If you have vitamin-deficiencies, that might mask as depression some times.

What they said - YES CHANGING MEDS DOSAGES CAN TRIGGER.

Its comforting for me to understand that sometimes my decisions are caused by my illness rather then if they were choices I would make on another day. This greatly helps me to like myself during the extremes. It sounds like you handled the dramatic mood with remembering it might have a cause rather then letting the illness decide the response. You owned!

Haha thank you so much! It can be kind of a viscous cycle you get into, where you KNOW that some of your feelings and actions can be caused by your illness (especially when depressed or manic/hypomanic), but there absolutely ARE other reasons for mood changes (like others have said, vitamin deficiency being a big one, hormones, and/or in my case, being tapered off of another medication.) UGH it sucks when it all happens at the same time though. As if depression wasn't bad enough without needing to be intensified!

Take care! I hope you are well

Again, thank you so much everyone for all the warmth and concern and advice I have been given. This is just a little update: I've been scheduled to see my pdoc tomorrow morning, and he said that I'm going to be started on something new, so *fingers crossed* that things will be a little more stable (maybe not initially, haha we all know how that goes.) But. It is a step in the right direction, and I am thankful that I have the support and resources I do.

Take care everyone! Hope you've had a good day/night.