[ozzy1313]

Been having severe depression "attacks" for a few months now. I will be mildly depressed or somewhat stable and then get really down for a few days that lead to me totally falling apart. Hysterical crying non-functioning falling apart. This is a somewhat new symptom within the past 6-8 months. I feel like each time it happens my brain is weakening against the depression. Similar to a house that keeps getting hit with high winds- eventually it is going to blow away.

So, is there any truth in this or is it just a feeling I have?

[Moogieotter]

Hello ozzy,

Sorry you are struggling right now. What kind of thought patterns are you feeling in your head - are you consistently worrying about the same thing or is it worry or empty feelings? I deal with worry and feelings of emptiness and hopelessness about my life and the future when I am down in the depression.

For me it has not gotten worse with time and each episode. It has been a very low and slow baby step journey learning very very small to look at the tiniest things in my life with a positive twist. I had to take each little step and practice each day to crawl out of my last depression.

I hope you get to feeling better soon.

moogs

[ozzy1313]

I feel empty

I am not unhappy with my life- my situation in life is pretty good and stress free

It's just me

[Moogieotter]

If you would like a good book to help with depression "The Feeling Good Handbook" by Dr. Burns is the cognitive therapy go to guide for helping manage depression. I abstracted some of the recommendations, and it has helped.

For me, the procrastination and guilt cycles it explains were something I work daily to overcome. There's also a good bit about leaning positive thinking. I know it sounds a little hokey, especially when you are down in it. The meds got me stable, but I've had to stay on top of my thoughts to get free of the depression.

moogs

[LastQuestion]

There is and isn't. The theory of kindling exists, but it's still only theory. It could be that avoiding a kindling effect can he done by getting enough sleep, taking a medication, not taking certain medications, not taking certain medications together, or merely by learning how to stop worrying so much about theories, causes, and even something as important as whether or not you put on clean underwear - out of thought out of mind, though the nose might know if you give it the chance.

In seriousness though, I have found that dwelling too deeply on symptoms and causes of symptoms does itself contribute to and cause additional symptoms. I am not suggesting that studying these things is in any way harmful, but that without an intended application in which to proactively use this information ones mind can easily get carried away on avenues of thought which are not beneficial.

Rapid cycling into depression wears away at resiliance. It's a wearisome experience. The most effective thing I know to get through it is to distract my mind as best I can. I would use video games, reading, or focusing on solving a specific problem as the effort required to overcome the demotivational aspect of the depression made it very difficult to focus on anything other than what I was trying to do. However, it is easy to get lost in such activities which is one reason I impose a daily routine on myself which I stick to regardless of mood, be it depression or mania.

[~Christina]

When you basically walking in a circle form one episode bleeding into another, I think it just wears a person down mentally and physically... Does it make Bipolar worse ? As Last question spoke of "Kindling " it is a theory... It's something to read about and see how you feel about it.

When my Battle first began with Bipolar I felt worse and worse , wondered when it was ever going to get better, well eventually it did, takes huge amounts of effort , Meds will only do so much, Self care and life style changes are just as important.

[Justugh]

the mood swings do increase if u are not trying to control them

each time u swing from happy/anger to sad/ depressed it does increase as it cycles if u are not trying to stop it each one increase in str untill u hit maximum

u are so low u are looking up at virus and dirt or so high u feel like a god from olden times ....and those are the times we do crazy things that alter the life we lead

our job is to keep it in balance it never goes away but does get easier with practice ......until u are able to read yourself your friends to give u feed back on how u are if they see u happy then u know a downswing is coming and should do what takes to make it less if u are down the upswing will come and limit your access to money

[Crazy Hitch]

Sometimes, yes I have wondered this too. A few times, really.

It wasn't until 4/5 years later that I finally found the right med combos that my lows weren't / aren't as low as the lows I've had before. Touch wood. For now.