Mixed State, PMDD, Poor Social Skills...Oh My!

Hello Everyone

I always try and search forums first for what I'm looking for so I don't bother anyone too much with my posts. However, it can be hard to search so many posts for something as common as what I would like to ask about today.

Mixed episodes are somewhat new to me and because no one has ever mentioned it to me until now (the nurse I see said I have agitated depression which when I looked it up said mixed states/mixed episodes). So, I'm going describe what I can and hopefully get some feedback specific to what I'm asking or talking about.

I was briefly hospitalized for psychosis and anxiety. I'm now seeing a psychiatrist and psych nurse to get my treatment under control. Since this happening I don't ever remember a time where I was literally up and down in the same day. As part of my treatment plan, I started Latuda 5 days ago in place of Seroquel and I almost feel like it's bringing me even more down. Today, I was feeling good, did a little shopping, was super nice to everyone I encountered (I'll get to why I'm mentioning that), and then got on the bus to go home, not thinking of anything in particular and boom...started crying like I'd lost my best friend.

Lately, I've had to come to terms with a few things I think are happening and can't do anything about or at least it feels that way. For instance, being "nice" to people is VERY hard to do because I don't want to do it and when I do I truly want to throw up because I was so fake it makes me feel physically sick. I don't like to socialize, even when I'm manic (my mania is usually angry, aggressive, arrogant). In other words, I truly don't like people. The other thing I'm wondering about is that I may have PMDD. Before, during, and for a week after my hospitalization I was SUPER crazy for lack of better word. Now, that it's actually here I feel a little better. Not so out of mind.

Does anyone experience PMDD along with being Bipolar?
How long can mixed states last? Feel like forever.
Does anyone have the socialization issues I have? It has actually ruined my working life. I almost think I should be on disability for that alone. At my age I believe I can learn some new coping skills but I can't fake what I don't feel it's too demeaning to myself.

Really look forward to your answers, info, or anything you've got to say good or bad. Thanks in advance!

Cheers, Coco

I've wondered if I have pmdd as a lot of my hospitalizations have happened right before my period starts (like it will start a couple of days into the stay). But then I have months where I'm fine, so I don't think that's it. But maybe! You can definitely have both, I know a couple of people on here do.

A mixed state can last for months. It's the worst state to be in, I feel. I hope yours doesn't last that long.

I have no advice on the being nice thing.

I'm sorry my reply wasn't the best, I'm really tired lol.

The only thing I can say is that the week of my period for the past two months my moods have been ridiculously out of control. So it's possible. I don't really like being around people most times either, so you're not alone with that. I like my current job, so I'm really social there, but outside of work I don't talk much. I don't think this helps much, but you're not alone in the fight.

Your reply was just fine. Anything even identifying with me helps. Thanks!

I can tell you that menopause has been the best thing that ever happened to my bipolar. It's still bad and still treatment resistant and severe and ugly in various ways but it is not the way it used to be. So there is hope, eventually. I was very fortunate to go into menopause early and then to have a hysterectomy which further sped up the process. If I'm not through it then I'm very close and even this episode from hell is apparently better than my really bad ones in the past and that's the major difference (I have no good memory to compare to but my therapist swears I've been worse and I believe him).

I have PMDD and Bipolar.

I can relate to feeling CRAZY the week before and that is the best way I can describe it. I am screaming, crying, actively suicidal and in a lot of physical pain. Its the only time I "lose it" and I feel tremendous guilt for that for months after.

I cannot relate to not liking being nice, or being repulsed by it. But I have done damage in my work life at that time of the month.

When I am hospitalised for my PMDD, I am admitted as having mixed features. It lasts exactly 9 days a month for me.

The longest mixed episode I had was over 18 months, it wasnt always severe but looking back I was always mixed.

Believe it or not I can't wait for menopause either. It's not the first time someone has told me that they were definitely better once that part of their life was over. I think I'm perimenopause because what I get is infinitely less than it used to be. I think I'll bug my GP to do the blood test to check the marker(s) that let you know where you are on the menopause scale. It's so bad I sometimes think I should request a hysterectomy...lol!