[browneyed_wreck]

I'm fairly new to the bipolar diagnosis (along with schizophrenia). Anyway, about two weeks ago I was put on the abilify injection (more-so for psychosis symptoms) after being off meds for close to a year. My mood/s these past two weeks, oh my gosh.

So basically I've just been up and down with crazy high energy and then crashing for maybe an hour at the most (energy-wise). I sleep on average four hours a night, often less. My thoughts are racing all the time and when I talk it's so freakin' fast usually. I talk about whatever comes to my mind. I've spent almost my whole bank account (managed to pay rent thankfully). The thing that is weird about this is sometimes I get soo soo happy I start crying because I'm depressed and oh my, why am I doing all this? I'm so happy the earth could stop and I wouldn't care kind of feeling. I kinda feel like my adrenaline is just going and going kind of "racy" feeling.

Is this a mixed episode? Could someone further explain a mixed episode? Or how you know you are having one?

Oh, I should add that I am seeing my psychiatrist on Friday (I made a sooner appt because of this stuff going on).

[wildflowerchild25]

It could definitely be mixed. Abilify did that to me twice. And my pdoc at the time said that was "impossible" and refused to take me off of it. But I had never been mixed before (that I recognized).

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by browneyed_wreck

I'm fairly new to the bipolar diagnosis (along with schizophrenia). Anyway, about two weeks ago I was put on the abilify injection (more-so for psychosis symptoms) after being off meds for close to a year. My mood/s these past two weeks, oh my gosh.

So basically I've just been up and down with crazy high energy and then crashing for maybe an hour at the most (energy-wise). I sleep on average four hours a night, often less. My thoughts are racing all the time and when I talk it's so freakin' fast usually. I talk about whatever comes to my mind. I've spent almost my whole bank account (managed to pay rent thankfully). The thing that is weird about this is sometimes I get soo soo happy I start crying because I'm depressed and oh my, why am I doing all this? I'm so happy the earth could stop and I wouldn't care kind of feeling. I kinda feel like my adrenaline is just going and going kind of "racy" feeling.

Is this a mixed episode? Could someone further explain a mixed episode? Or how you know you are having one?

Oh, I should add that I am seeing my psychiatrist on Friday (I made a sooner appt because of this stuff going on).

You describe very well a lot of the intense symptoms I experience during some really awful mixed episodes....the impulsivity, crying, talking about everything that comes to mind without thinking it through, racing thoughts, insomnia, adrenaline....

The only thing is during mixed episodes, I never get a "happy" high. This occurs more if I am having some rapid cycling with mixed mood symptoms. My mixed manias are very dysphoric, dark, even with some psychosis involved when it is at its worst, but not with every mixed episode.

I really hope your symptoms are stabilized soon. These mixed moods are tricky when it comes to pharmacology, but they do eventually pass, especially with the help of getting dosage and combo of meds right. Monitoring is very important during these times, so I hope you have the help you need. You have support here. (((hugs)))

[browneyed_wreck]

Thank you both! You've been very helpful and insightful.

I'm definitely going to stress this at my appointment on Friday with my psychiatrist. I think perhaps I may need to start on a mood stabilizer again, on top of the abilify (or try another antipsychotic, perhaps? If that is what is causing this). I really hope this can be resolved sooner than later. Having both extremes at once is like being on a rollercoaster!

Thanks, again!

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by browneyed_wreck

Thank you both! You've been very helpful and insightful.

I'm definitely going to stress this at my appointment on Friday with my psychiatrist. I think perhaps I may need to start on a mood stabilizer again, on top of the abilify (or try another antipsychotic, perhaps? If that is what is causing this). I really hope this can be resolved sooner than later. Having both extremes at once is like being on a rollercoaster!

Thanks, again!

That's good that you are considering mood stabilizers/an antipsychotic. For me, usually I am temporarily on a fairly high dose of an antipsychotic....lately Seroquel works for me and helps me sleep too. It has been effective when it comes to bringing me back to baseline at a much faster pace than if I were to go without it. Usually, I begin to find some relief within about a week (keyword: some), and little by little, I'll start to come out of the episode. Now, as soon as I have "warning signs," my pdoc will increase the meds to prevent things from getting out of control again.

My AP is usually lowered after the episode subsides, and I just stay on it as a maintenance medication, where occasionally it needs to be increased when episodes arise. My mood stabilizer has also been helpful when in combo with my other meds.

Good luck at your appointment!

[browneyed_wreck]

Originally Posted by xRavenx

That's good that you are considering mood stabilizers/an antipsychotic. For me, usually I am temporarily on a fairly high dose of an antipsychotic....lately Seroquel works for me and helps me sleep too. It has been effective when it comes to bringing me back to baseline at a much faster pace than if I were to go without it. Usually, I begin to find some relief within about a week (keyword: some), and little by little, I'll start to come out of the episode. Now, as soon as I have "warning signs," my pdoc will increase the meds to prevent things from getting out of control again.

My AP is usually lowered after the episode subsides, and I just stay on it as a maintenance medication, where occasionally it needs to be increased when episodes arise. My mood stabilizer has also been helpful when in combo with my other meds.

Good luck at your appointment!

Thank you so much. You've been so helpful.