[Prism Bunny]

What do you normally eat and drink during each episode? Depressive, Manic, and Mixed.

Years ago I noticed when in a depressive episode, I would reach for anything quick to cook or buyout. All of what I ate were stuffed with salts and sugars due to my cravings. Nowadays, I manage to keep most of the cravings at bay for as long as possible, but thanks to my hormones being mixed in with my depression, I will munch on unhealthy foods sometimes. I will eat fried foods, sweets such as cake, and heavier cuts of meat all for the sake of being full enough. During this time, I drink anything that seems sweet to my tastebuds, so over the years, I have switched from unhealthy beverages to substitutes such as Crystal Light and Mio. Though I still enjoy different tea flavors and hot chocolate when I am cold.

In my manic episodes, I am cooking more elaborate meals for other people and myself. The meals are lighter and are more vegetable based due to the fact someone in my family is a vegetarian. Though I still enjoy eating meats such as fish and chicken. I have trouble balancing between overeating and barely eating during the day. I crave drinks that taste fruity, so buying smoothies or even shakes make me one happy person.

My mixed episodes are difficult to handle, and I have someone watching over me during it. It is about survival for me, even with my medications. With the high anxiety and racing thoughts, I often stay up for around twenty-four hours. So, I am energetic, but I have zero energy. When that happens, those that care about me will bring over something to eat such prepared meals at the store down the road. And for some reason, I have a hard time finishing anything. So I appreciate when they bring over soups and sandwiches because they are easier to swallow. My drink intake is the same, but any flavor outside of plain water for some reason irks me.

So what do you normally go for and why?

On a side note: When I mean 'full enough' I do not mean when my stomach feels bloated. I dislike when that happens, and I avoid it.

[Coconutzo]

I binge when depressed, usually carbs
If I drink it's only to blackout, whiskey.

When I'm manic, I don't really eat. I roll with cold brew coffee with protein powder or bites of food here and there. I depise the feeling of food in my body when my sensations are heightened. I like to feel clean and empty.

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[wildflowerchild25]

When I'm depressed it is too much effort to cook or go out so I eat fast food and junk at home. I also indulge in high fat high sugar foods in the hopes that it will make me feel better (it doesn't). When I'm severely depressed it's too much effort to eat at all so I might just have cereal.

I'm not sure how I eat when manic. I've never paid attention to it. I know when hypomanic I get on health kicks and start eating more whole foods and stuff like that. I also exercise a lot more.

[Prism Bunny]

Thank you for the responses so far!

Yeah, there is a negativity feeling attached to some of the foods I munch on as well. And cereal and a bagel always help me through the day if I am too lethargic to make anything. Both in my mixed state and depressive episode.

I binge when depressed, usually carbs
If I drink it's only to blackout, whiskey.

When I'm manic, I don't really eat. I roll with cold brew coffee with protein powder or bites of food here and there. I depise the feeling of food in my body when my sensations are heightened. I like to feel clean and empty.

I am not much of an alcohol consumer but I can see why someone would be if they were going through a mental illness such as BP. Wanting to feel clean and empty while manic was something brought up often in group therapies I had to attend while in mental facilities. So you are not alone on that.

^ ADD kicks in for me when manic.

[Raindropvampire]

depressed or manic rage or meh I eat the same stuff just a little less when I'm manic and the rage is on.

I used to binge drink because I just wanted to get obliterated and feel anything but so freaking depressed. Then I realized my baseline is soul crushing depression and I could drink myself to death or just accept it so I don't really drink much anymore.

[Prism Bunny]

I am glad that you are doing better Raindropvampire, and you are not binge-drinking anymore, but I am sorry you went through that. We all have been destructive to ourselves at some point but overcoming it takes patience and strength.

[BastetsMuse]

When I'm depressed, it's carbs and sweets. When manic, it's amazing that I eat at all.

I don't have a big appetite in general, but I hardly eat when (hypo)manic

When depressed, I like lots of candy... gummy worms, caramel, etc. I don't eat regular food, as I'm usually too depressed/fatigued to make something decent

[psykei]

I hardly eat when I'm down. No appetite.

[Isaiah712]

I keep a strict diet so whatever phase I go through I basically eat the same thing. I have become a health nut over the years so even when I am down or up my diet doesn't change much. Not sure if this information is helpful...

[Prism Bunny]

Your post is fine. It is a thread about what you eat and drink personally. It is nice to hear that someone eats healthy no matter what episode they are in, really.