[Blueberrybook]

How long does mixed last? I've been mixed forever now (well since the end of March). I will think I am heading toward one end or the other, and the pdoc wil counter with the symptoms I have that are manicky and the depressed symptoms, so yes, sigh, he's still right about it.

Does this ever end? How? It is driving me crazy

[xRavenx]

That was the one question that I would constantly ask myself in a Mixed Episode as far as "how long is this going to last?" It really does feel like it's going to last forever! It's like agony, every minute of it.

At a time where the doctors had no clue which meds work for me, I've had mixed episodes last for months and months, but that was before doctors found any meds that worked. I still get mixed episodes on meds. Now on average, it tends to last for about a month or two, because they need time to taper me up on meds and get that straightened out. Now they have a ballpark idea as far as which meds I respond okay to on high doses, but it's never a slam dunk. I rapidly cycle lately, so it really varies for everyone.

When is your next pdoc visit? I hope they find a combo of meds that works for you soon. The whole process is very frustrating, and it seems like it will last forever, but you'll get through this.

[*Laurie*]

Seems to me that I've been in a mixed state for years. Sometimes briefly interrupted by a true depression due to environmental issues (grief). I don't see any hope of this ever going away, at least for myself.

[yellow_fleurs]

I don't know, I am sure it varies, but I am super sorry to hear you are still mixed. I really thought I was going to be stuck in it forever myself. I hope you find something to help, soon, or that it ends on its own.

[MsSchadenfreude]

It's hard to say. This may sound strange, but are there any positives you see from the suffering you endure? I ask because I may be weird, but I have had many times that I loved the contrast. The euphoria, and the passion, shocked, by being pulled down into an abyss, only to be lifted up again hours later or the next day. I find it fascinating when this happens...and it causes me to be really introspective. I read some articles about mixed states recently, and evidently they are more common than once thought.

The part I didn't like was the agitation and the outbursts in between states of high and low. I haven't experienced bad outbursts and high irritability very much at all since I've been on Lamictal for almost a year now.

Do you feel a lot of agitation during your mixed experiences?

[MJLouise]

Are you guys on mood stabilizers and still having mixed episodes? That's ruff- I see a lot of these threads people have signatures with extensive cocktails of the meds their on. Ca you go to your pdoc and keep going back and insisting adjustments until your stable and normal? Are their bipolar patients who don't respond to anything? I hope that's not me, last time i was totally functional and normal on lithium I hope that happens again. I hate medication I really hate it and don't know what I'd do if i have to take lots of them or if nothing worked=( I hope you guys can calm the mixed states down and get better Positive thoughts your way.

[Pookyl]

Originally Posted by MJLouise

Are you guys on mood stabilizers and still having mixed episodes? That's ruff- I see a lot of these threads people have signatures with extensive cocktails of the meds their on. Ca you go to your pdoc and keep going back and insisting adjustments until your stable and normal? Are their bipolar patients who don't respond to anything? I hope that's not me, last time i was totally functional and normal on lithium I hope that happens again. I hate medication I really hate it and don't know what I'd do if i have to take lots of them or if nothing worked=( I hope you guys can calm the mixed states down and get better Positive thoughts your way.

Yes I’m on mood stabilisers etc and I still have mixed episodes regularly and often.
I’m a ‘frequent flyer’ in the psych hospital.
I have to see my pdoc every 1-2 weeks just to stay as wobbly as I am.
My pdoc describes my bipolar as “brittle” in the same way as an unstable type 1 diabetic may be called “brittle”.

[Wild Coyote]

I am sure the severity and the length of mixed episodes varies.
I am so sorry you are going through this.
Continue taking care.


WC

[Blueberrybook]

Originally Posted by xRavenx

That was the one question that I would constantly ask myself in a Mixed Episode as far as "how long is this going to last?" It really does feel like it's going to last forever! It's like agony, every minute of it.

At a time where the doctors had no clue which meds work for me, I've had mixed episodes last for months and months, but that was before doctors found any meds that worked. I still get mixed episodes on meds. Now on average, it tends to last for about a month or two, because they need time to taper me up on meds and get that straightened out. Now they have a ballpark idea as far as which meds I respond okay to on high doses, but it's never a slam dunk. I rapidly cycle lately, so it really varies for everyone.

When is your next pdoc visit? I hope they find a combo of meds that works for you soon. The whole process is very frustrating, and it seems like it will last forever, but you'll get through this.

I see the pdoc in 2 weeks. I haven't asked him about it.

It has never crossed my mind to ask him how to get through this or how long mixed lasts or what we might try to help, if a med adjustment could help.

[Blueberrybook]

Originally Posted by MJLouise

Are you guys on mood stabilizers and still having mixed episodes? That's ruff- I see a lot of these threads people have signatures with extensive cocktails of the meds their on. Ca you go to your pdoc and keep going back and insisting adjustments until your stable and normal? Are their bipolar patients who don't respond to anything? I hope that's not me, last time i was totally functional and normal on lithium I hope that happens again. I hate medication I really hate it and don't know what I'd do if i have to take lots of them or if nothing worked=( I hope you guys can calm the mixed states down and get better Positive thoughts your way.

Yep, on mood stabilizers and have been for awhile now, especially Lamictal.

[Blueberrybook]

Originally Posted by MsSchadenfreude

It's hard to say. This may sound strange, but are there any positives you see from the suffering you endure? I ask because I may be weird, but I have had many times that I loved the contrast. The euphoria, and the passion, shocked, by being pulled down into an abyss, only to be lifted up again hours later or the next day. I find it fascinating when this happens...and it causes me to be really introspective. I read some articles about mixed states recently, and evidently they are more common than once thought.

The part I didn't like was the agitation and the outbursts in between states of high and low. I haven't experienced bad outbursts and high irritability very much at all since I've been on Lamictal for almost a year now.

Do you feel a lot of agitation during your mixed experiences?

Rarely, I get a good day or am nearly hypomanic, such as wanting to better my relationship with my daughter and getting a ton of ideas (and then forgetting them).

I anger easily and am agitated all the time.

I spend a lot of the time with mixed thoughts and racing thoughts but depressive thoughts too.

I feel like a ping-pong ball.

[unaluna]

Just having ONE LITTLE THING go right can help so much. This morning i called in my med refills, which i had been dreading doing, because the drs office tells you to have pharmacy call the drs office and pharmacy tells YOU to call the drs office so ive just been putting it off.

Apparently if you put it off long enough, they worry more about you showing up on their reports as being noncompliant, and boy do they refill you fast!

It feels like a weight lifted off my shoulders. Heres hoping you get a similar little-big win soon!

[luvyrself]

I’m going to think of this as a club, so we can celebrate our successes. Today I planned thanksgiving in San Diego where my son lives. I got a cheap rental on the beach close to zoo, museums. I will order the 5 yr old a bike for his bday. I will take 2 side dishes. I pushed up my h’s vascular procedure so it’s ok to drive.im going to a tea room here mon to celebrate my aunt and moms lives. Computer tech is coming to org my photos.
Last yr at this time I was coming out of a crash from going off awful latuda. I couldn’t even cook after h kept yelling at malfunctioning tech devices. Oh, ok, so maybe I don’t like to cook anyway LOL
You are doing all the right things, my sisters. We will prevail!

[unaluna]

Thats too many things!!!!

J/k! I read thru them, they are not all happening at once. And it seems like some of them involve dead people. So that also can be less stressful.

Just two side dishes, for next month, i can handle!

And i still remember my first bike. It was the best! And got passed down and refurbished for many years.

[Blueberrybook]

I really hate this. This morning, I was happy, wanted to do tons of stuff, did write down a list of activities to do with my pre-teen daughter (our bond is not good, I'm too volatile for her, unreliable). Took a normal 45 minute walk (with the ED, I'd struggled with overexercise), a normal amount of exercising, not overdoing it. I wanted to buy everything under the sun online.

Took an Epsom bath soak. Laid down, infused some essential oil mix, realized I was hurting all over (stupid fibro).

This afternoon, for no reason at all, I suddenly just want to start crying. Skipped lunch making up that list earlier. Had green grapes & Cheezits for lunch Tired, depressed, anxious now. Thinking about money & the petty HOA violation we have. Stupid surgery scar 4-5" belly button up is hurting together. It hasn't hurt for months. I'd planned to vacuum, and vaccuuming really bothered it during the healing process.

Self-esteem in the pit. Feel like I can't breathe & am panicky. God, when do things get better?

I see the T tomorrow at least. I just want to burst into tears, and I don't even know why.

[unaluna]

(((Blueberrybook))) thats all pretty good self care action.

So tomorrow you just have to get to your ts and back. That would be a full day for me. Its stressful.

[Blueberrybook]

Originally Posted by unaluna

(((Blueberrybook))) thats all pretty good self care action.

So tomorrow you just have to get to your ts and back. That would be a full day for me. Its stressful.

Well, get up in time to wake H for work and my daughter for school. I am the one who always wakes everyone in time, but I overslept Monday and Tuesday, getting both days off to a tough start.

So I need to actually get up on time to wake everyone, make lunches, etc. and get my daughter in the car and to school on time.

Then, the T, home again, get daughter from school.

H works late on Fridays, so hopefully I am in a better mood for my daughter.

I have no idea why my mood just suddenly tanked today.

[Pookyl]

Blueberrybook, is it possible to ask your husband to wake himself and/or to help with getting your daughter up? Early mornings are hard.

[Wild Coyote]

Mornings can be very challenging.

My H sets his alarm and gets himself up. If I hear his alarm and am up to it, I get up with him.

I understand someone having to awaken your daughter, yet an alarm might be helpful in getting her into learning to get herself up, along with parental guidance in the mornings.

I hope your mornings get easier.


WC

[Blueberrybook]

Originally Posted by Pookyl

Blueberrybook, is it possible to ask your husband to wake himself and/or to help with getting your daughter up? Early mornings are hard.

Ha! Hubby can sleep through anything. Apparently, this is why he only took afternoon & evening classes in college & grad school and would stay overnight working in the lab for his thesis topic.

My daughter wakes early when she doesn't need too and sleeps when she needs to wake. I have to wake my daughter. H leaves for work before she gets up. She is SO hard to wake unless it'a a special day like a birthday, school field trip, etc.

[Blueberrybook]

Well, I got productive this morning; dusted, vacuumed, washed covers & blankets on our futon. Lost a vacuum cleaner attachment. It has to be here somewhere, but I can't find it. I'm tired now though. Think I had a bit of hypomania there.

Getting ready to eat lunch. Don't want to eat lunch, but I have to (EDs just suck so much). I see the T at 1, but it is only a 5 minute drive.

[bewise93]

I've been mixed so many times although mine only last a week, 2 weeks max. Hope you feel better!

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by Blueberrybook

Well, I got productive this morning; dusted, vacuumed, washed covers & blankets on our futon. Lost a vacuum cleaner attachment. It has to be here somewhere, but I can't find it. I'm tired now though. Think I had a bit of hypomania there.


Getting ready to eat lunch. Don't want to eat lunch, but I have to (EDs just suck so much). I see the T at 1, but it is only a 5 minute drive.

Mixed isnt all bad if it prompts you getting things done around the house thb

You can easily fall into baseline tomorrow.

Does your daughter have an alarm clock ? She’s certainly old enough to have one , good idea to getting use to one.

[Faltering]

Mixed episodes are always the worst in terms of affecting my functioning. I had the same mixed episode going on for a year before I got my meds right. I was hospitalized twice during that time. I hope you can get some relief soon.

[Blueberrybook]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

Mixed isnt all bad if it prompts you getting things done around the house thb

You can easily fall into baseline tomorrow.

Does your daughter have an alarm clock ? She’s certainly old enough to have one , good idea to getting use to one.

Unfortunately, mixed rarely spurs me into getting much done except occasionally like today, but I do think I was on the cusp of hypomania this morning, even ramped up sexual appetite. I was amped up this morning, wanted & needed to do everything under the sun.

This afternoon I'm feeling OK, not great, not productive. Afternoons just get hard for me.

I wish my daughter would use an alarm clock. She is super smart (GT student), but has so many sensory issues, most especially with noise and with clothing fitting comfortably. I've asked her about an alarm periodically, and it always upsets her. She hates change, and we are already dealing with shaving, wearing a bra, and getting periods this year. It is a lot on top of the CPS case, my psych ER visit, if you go back to Feb./Mar. of 2018, all the ulcer stuff, financial stuff (still continuing), H stressed and depressed, possibly moving, possibly not. I have decided the issue of an alarm is not worth the upset right now.

I don't know when spring registration starts for college, but we have a 2 year college very near and a branch of a 4 year university close to my pdoc. I am considering the possibility of auditing a class, not sure what; I'd have to see what is on offer, then email the professor about it.

Unfortunately, my moods bounce back & forth a LOT now.