[Jai1993]

So I'm new here. I'm diagnosed with bipolar and I take a lot of medications. I'm on low doses of everything, but I'm on lamictal, depakote, geodon, effexor, and revia. I feel that I'm on too much but actually I think I need my doses upped. My depression is coming back and I'm self harming again. I'm actually very mixed the last few days, and I cut on two different occasions. The episodes don't last more than a few days then they flip. Is that normal for bipolar that the moods only last a few days? Also, what do you guys consider hypomanic vs a good mood.

[Guiness187055]

Yes it is normal that the episodes last a few days. The difference between hypomanic and a good mood for me is when I am hypo things become an obsession. Things like being hypo sexual, lack of sleep, obsessing over different things, spending to much money.

[~Christina]

I would vote mood shift especially with your self harm. med adjustment sounds like a good idea.

Stay safe

[Jester's Rags]

I usually self-harm when in a mixed state. Lots of energy, agitated, ruminating on the past. That doesn't sound like what you're going through.

Mood changes lasting a few days is pretty common in bp. It seems to me that your current med regimen needs re-evaluated.

As for hypomanic vs good mood; When hypomanic, I obsess over things, get extremely talkative, joke telling at inappropriate times, grandiose idea of what I can do (nothing can stop me. I can raise a mountain, or tear down a house with my bare hands). A good mood for me is typically when I don't have any depressive symptoms and am not flying off the rails with excess energy.

FWIW, I think it would be a good idea to talk with your pdoc about your medications. Best of luck to you.

[Gabyunbound]

I'm sorry you're going through this; flipping around from one intense mood to the another must be exhausting and just plain horrific.

I am going to dissent here, though, and say that mood swings that last so short a period of time is not common. Not that it doesn't happen, it's just not common. Some would say it's rapid cycling, but then that's having around 4 episodes a year.

I would look into if there are any triggers for at least some of your moods. You could be experiencing a combination of a bipolar mood, along with changing moods based on environmental triggers. If these exist, at least you would have some control over how to respond to the triggers, especially if you've practiced coping mechanisms in therapy, rather than necessarily having to up meds. Or maybe you'll need a combination of upping meds and using coping mechanisms, who knows. Either way, I hope you feel better soon.