[heartsong31]

I have always had mental health issues. I've suffered from severe anxiety since I was in elementary school. I am one of those people with elevated anxiety levels. When I was 15/16 years old I was first diagnosed with depression, but I'd been experiencing it at least a year or two before. I was able to go antidepressants after high school. About half way through my sophomore year of college (3 years ago), I went through some stuff which triggered a severe anxiety episode. This went into developing some pretty nasty paranoia due to bed bug issues at my apartment complex. By the start of my junior year I was showing signs of depression. Over the following summer I had a severe depression bout where in the middle of an anxiety attack I decided I wanted to hurt myself. Luckily, I want something sharp and in my mind craft scissors didn't count. I was living in a house at this point and the sharps were on a different level. I basically had another anxiety attack when I realized what I was doing.
I went back to a psychiatrist and was tentatively rediagnosed with bipolar disorder. This was based on a number of factors including that I was showing signs of having depression episodes. There is also evidence of it on one side of the family with one uncle being diagnosed. As I have been responding better to treatment for bipolar disorder than treatment for severe depression this diagnoses is pretty much confirmed. The doctor said she believes that I have severe depression with hypomania.

I was wondering what other people have found works with managing their bipolar especially in depressive episodes. Also any suggestions to deal with moodiness around periods. I've felt like crying for no reason on and off for the last week. I never had this even when I used to PMS bad in high school

[RisuNeko]

I always have a mini mood cycle around my cycle. I don't know what to do about it other than avoid people when possible and try to keep myself relaxed and distracted usually with video games and tv. But full time work and school make that difficult.