Going through a mixed episode

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum. I have just been recently diagnosed with BP I with rapid cycling episodes, and I'm still struggling to identify which are my feelings and which are related to my disorder.

For three weeks now, I have been going through a mixed episode that I first thought was just another manic episode. I take prozac 40mg, lamictal 25mg (just recently increased to twice daily) and saphris (started with 5mg at night and now it's 10mg at night). The doctor has also prescribed Valium 5mg three times daily, which I'm afraid of getting addicted to.

I've come here for support. I'm exhausted. My body cannot keep up with me anymore. I'm extremely desperate and sad, and extremely restless at the same time. My anxiety is at its highest, and I'm emotional all the time. I cannot perform any tasks without feeling stressed out, but at the same time I'm afraid of the times when I'm alone or not working because my restlessness kicks in. I'm exhausted!

When this is going to end? Any advises?

as a long time sufferer and going on two months now trying to stabilize all i can say is that it will end............i know that..........once you do find the right meds it can be very good....i have had long periods of stability..........i now know what triggers the cycle and it was also because i had to go off a med so it is just a matter of finding another...........and i assume ALL the feelings are not mine and try to stay as detached as possible from them so i dont get too lost in them. hang in there. hopefully the meds kick in.

Maybe ask your Pdoc if the prozac could be part of the problem. Lots of people with BP I have problems taking an AD. I have Bp I and any AD slings me into a hellish Mixed with in 2 days. So I will never ever take another one.

Just a thought.

Until then fling every coping skill you have until something hopefully sticks. I really feel for you , mixed is pure hell on earth !

Stay safe

I have had some of the mixed episodes initiated by change of AD. Some AD work very well. Seeing therapist, learning coping methods has helped me a lot to go through that crap of mixed episodes. I take ativan more often once I'm mixed. I do exercising lot more. I go for long walks. I try to avoid trigering situations. And remember, that bipolar is all about changing moods, so this is not to stay, it will pass.

I am having a mixed episode now. It is second manic episode in 3 yrs. It shell. Anger than energetic crying. UG

Mixed episodes are worse than anything else. I figure that you can't trust ANY of the emotions during such times. What worked for me was getting the mood stabilizer nailed down tight; but that was ME - something else might work for you. Work with your T or you pdoc and be honest with him/her during this difficult time.

Thank you guys for all the responses. Just got back from the doctor's office. Hubby was with me this time, and said something that I was unaware I was displaying. He said that I was also avoiding our children. I think I overlooked that one; my anxiety levels get so high that everytime I look at my children; my worries and fears for them get worse, so I just avoid it all together. There's nothing worse than losing your loved ones a dozen of times a day (in my head of course).
My PD has also asked me to stop Prozac, double my dose my Lactamil and Saphris, and got me on 10mg of Valium/ 3 times a day or as needed. I was also put on Strattera to help with my ADHD and help me focus.
The part that concerns me about my treatment plan is the Valium. I am so afraid of getting addicted to it. I've heard so many horror stories.

Again, thank you guys for your support!

I take benzos when I'm mixed, otherwise I'm burden to myself and others around. Once you are over the episode, you can ask to slowly decrease the dose. And you don't have to take it for very long periods, just that time of manic which hopefully doesn't last longer than 2-3 weeks.

Short answer, it never ends, but does take intermissions. A better question is when did it begin. I am constantly amazed at people recently diagnosed with BP and suddenly they are questioning themselves and everything. Nothing has changed except now you got a label. I went thru it too, as if one morning I woke up and became BP. It doesn't happen like that. Chances are it existed long before you were diagnosed. In my case I can not even say when it began because it seems my whole life including my childhood, was always a bit off. Try to relax, there will be good times and bad times, and boring times. Nothing has really changed except now we know why.

Hi there --

I am also going through a mixed episode right now. The restlessness is just about unbearable. I feel like I want to crawl out of my skin yet I have no energy or patience to do anything. Right now I'm just staying home a lot of the time and waiting for it to pass. Tired of making bad decisions and getting myself in trouble.

Hi there --

I am also going through a mixed episode right now. The restlessness is just about unbearable. I feel like I want to crawl out of my skin yet I have no energy or patience to do anything. Right now I'm just staying home a lot of the time and waiting for it to pass. Tired of making bad decisions and getting myself in trouble.----


I agree! The restlessness is just unbearable! I feel like my body can't keep up with me anymore...

I'm sorry that you're going through a mixed episode as well.

I feel like I'm a burden to myself and others as well. I thought that it was just a feeling, since I cannot really trust what I feel these days; but I think it's true.

I couldn't agree more. I have even started a thread about the feeling that we're a burden to others: http://forums.psychcentral.com/bipol...en-others.html