Over the last couple of weeks I've been very slowly coming out of a depression. This past weekend I felt fairly good, though. I had energy, motivation, and was enjoying activities with my husband and things I did alone. And yet on Saturday, my husband said something that initially irritated me, but now kind of worries me. We were at the dining room table and I was playing a favorite classical music piece. I had lit a candle and a lovely dinner was on the table. Hubby said something to me, but I was concentrating on the beauty of the music and general situation. I heard him, but wasn't really paying full attention to him.

Hubby seemed a combination of annoyed and concerned when I didn't respond to his question...at least not right away. He said something like "Did you even hear me? I'm getting concerned about you and your ability to listen." I then got angry and told him that HE interrupted my enjoyment of the music and ambiance. He argued with me saying I do that a LOT, and I told him that I did eventually respond. We ate and it was not talked about again.

So today I am on my way to the grocery store. En route, I start thinking that something seems weird, but I couldn't immediately put my finger on it. Then I realized that I couldn't see very well. I forgot to put on my glasses. That never happens, since I'm pretty near-sighted and under normal circumstances would figure it out immediately. I didn't turn back, but managed to get to the store. I found a pair of prescription sun glasses in my purse and put them on before I entered the store.

Entering the store I was just walking forward. My cart bumped into a grocery worker's metal work cart. I quickly apologized, but then she gave me a nasty look. Quickly I scolded her that there are always carts blocking customers' ways, and that I can't see very well. It was true that she was blocking the way. She was just standing there doing nothing with an empty worker cart. The cart could have been pushed further to the side, but the woman left it in the middle of the path. I felt happy that I scolded her because she was inconsiderate.I was almost happy I rammed into her stupid cart, though I didn't do it deliberately.

Though I had a shopping list, during my shopping I kept forgetting things and had to totally go back to the beginning of my shopping route for stuff. I was getting frustrated and started to sweat. At the end, I went to the cashier that I knew and liked, because I was afraid I'd end up having some uncomfortable experience with someone else.

I got home and was unloading the groceries. I put mouthwash in the refrigerator at one point. Then I was taking the garbage to the garage and totally passed the garbage can heading as if I was going to go to my car trunk.

I decided to go to bed with my computer. I'm glad to hide away.

Last night I went to bed at a fairly early time. Maybe 9:30 pm, which probably still felt like 8:30 pm given the time change. But I did wake up a lot throughout the night, at one point thinking I might start baking something, but I was smart and didn't and managed to get back to sleep.

Does anyone else have periods of being spacey and very distracted even though you're not really feeling depressed or elevated in any way? I wonder if this is a sign of something to come.

I do not have ADHD.

[franz kafka]

This happens to me, usually at the start of a mixed episode. I hope that's not the case for you and it's all just a fluke.

That’s how I get when I’m really distracted by something kind of big, whether it is something upsetting or something really good.

I hope things are OK with you.

[Wild Coyote]

I can become distracted if/when life is too hectic and/or if something very emotional is going on.

WC

Thank you! I hope this passes. Actually, I've suddenly grown so tired. I don't want to do anything. I'm so happy that I see my psychiatrist tomorrow.

[SparkySmart]

I was easily distracted and unable to concentrate when my AP (Geodon/ziprasidone) dose was too high. Trying to follow the simplest instructions, even my own to-do list, was overwhelmingly difficult. I was pretty much unable to function reliably for three months but was too confused to be irritable or angry. Reducing the dosage eliminated the symptoms.

I'm glad you're seeing your pdoc tomorrow! Hopefully the two of you can figure things out.

[Disorder7]

I’ve always been known as scatterbrained. Now that I’m 51, (yikes) it is really, really bad. I’ve had brain MRIs, and my brain measured for shrinkage. It’s all normal so I guess it’s just me. If anyone has a cure, let me know!

[Moose72]

I get this too. Its as if my brain goes numb or blank. A bit worse than "numb". Once it happened at my drs office and I just lay there immobile as she checked on everything.

Disorder7, I'm sorry it's been like that for you for so long. This issue just comes and goes for me. In my case I am 99.9% sure it is not related to my medication. Something is just brewing upstairs that is off. I've actually had a number of odd things happen psychologically to me over the last 14 years, beyond just typical depressive or hypo/manic symptoms.

[Nammu]

I get like that at times. There was a weird period where I was putting stuff that belonged in the refrigerator in the bathroom. And stuff from my bedroom in the refrigerator....and the time I had my stove disconnected cause I kept burning things, I'd leave them untended. That time I was over medicated but the other times I wasn't on any meds, it was just me not getting enough deep sleeep.

[Northchild]

This happens to me every now and then, but not for the last couple of years. Since I'm married to technology, I've always likened it to a processor that is working on executing a really big program and doesn't have time for silly everyday things like opening a web browser window quickly.

That could be a really stupid analogy - I know enough about human behavior to get into trouble, but I know even less about what's going on with the brain when it does crap like this.

Good luck!

[~Christina]

I have had this numerous times but it almost always heads me straight Ip within a week.

Hope your appt goes well and things like this get resolved quickly.

[Unrigged64072835]

I've had this for the last few months. It wasn't because of my MH meds, it was a med that I had been taking for acid reflux for too long. I'm now taking large amounts of B12 until I can see my regular doc. That seemed to help.

It may not be your case, but it helps to rule physical causes too.

I saw my psychiatrist today and let him know what's been going on. He just said that my moods have obviously been labile and they have included irritability. I told him my story above about the spaciness. He had little to say when I asked him what was going on with that. I told him I felt spooked by it in the end and he asked me what I meant by spooked. I got so angry that I asked him if he even knew what the word means. English is his first language, and he's a friggin psychiatrist. Can't he get it.

I adore my pdoc, but not today. He told me to keep my medications as is. I'll see him in two weeks. Hopefully I'll be doing a bit better then.

[SparkySmart]

Frustrating. Sorry he had no answers for you, but I'm glad you won't have to wait long to see him again.

I'm no diagnostician, but in an earlier post above, "Nammu" asked about your sleep. I think it's been well documented that a shortage of REM sleep can dramatically affect brain function. I have no idea how one might lengthen that particular stage of sleep, but I'm curious to know if your symptoms could be sleep-related.

As an aside, I recently started taking melatonin, and my dreams have turned into Hollywood-scale full-color cinematic productions with complex and interesting plots. I think I may have been REM-deficient for possibly decades due to self medicating, sleeping pills, and alcohol, and I'm making up for years of insufficient sleep. I can hardly wait to crawl into bed at night to see what will happen. Coincidentally, I'm calmer and less anxious.

I'm not making light of your symptoms, though. I would be spooked by them, too.

I don't think I have any deficiencies of any kind, but I am now scratching my head about the sleep issue that Nammu and SparkySmart mentioned. I have been sleeping, but it's been a little crazy. One night I fell asleep at 7 pm and then woke up four times after midnight. Then the next night I fell asleep at a normal time (9:30/10 pm) and woke up at 3 am thinking I wanted to bake a cake, but I stopped myself. Then last night I slept a lot and had a very hard time waking up at all until much later than usual.

[Nammu]

Sounds very frustrating.