just how long can one stay mixed?

So my pdoc tells me I'm mixed. According to him, I have been mixed since my first appointment with him in late March. Two weeks ago I asked him, and he said I was still mixed. I have a phone appt. with him on Wednesday. I'll ask again and probably still be mixed. Can mixed be pretty much your normal state? If I'm not mixed, I'm very depressed, so maybe mixed is slightly better?

How long does mixed last? Does it end and if so, how? I am so so tired of being mixed, but neither do I want to be depressed either.

What does your pdoc mean by mixed? Like mixed emotions? Mixed signals? Mixed communication? That is not a term I get. My dog is a mixed breed. That is the only way I have heard that term used before

Sounds like your pdoc is a little mixed

With the right meds and coping skills it’s possible to not be mixed.
I was mixed in 2017 from early Feb until early Dec. It took x2 hospitalisations and adding Epilim to my meds for me to normalise. I can not take antidepressants.
For me being depressed is safer than being mixed.

Pookyl's post made me wonder if you dont need to do the same: go inpatient to straighten things out.

Too much going on to go IP. H has to fly to Toranto next week. We would have no one to watch our daughter for 4 days if I am not here. And then her birthday, Christmas. I know my daughter. My not being here for her birthday would upset her a lot and make her feel she is not as important as my psych problems. And H only just gets back to Toronto on her birthday in the evening. Ugh. Wish we had better insurance, and I could do something in January, but it is what it is.

The diagnosis is actually bipolar I with mixed features, I think that’s the official way they write it. You get highs and lows pretty much all day, every day, sometimes even simultaneously. Rapid thinking, depressed about my weight, fast talking, low energy, high energy, usually in the same day, wish I had died with that ulcer, it was nice seeing my sister, but I am not going to book club. Then forgetful about every task, will be cooking, remember the laundry needs to go in the dryer, do that, the pasta boils over. And lose things again and again. My keys and my cellphone only have 2 places now I ever put them since I have lost them so much. I have thrown my keys in the trash at least 3 or 4 times and once put my cellphone in the refrigerator. Sometimes you have to laugh, or you will cry. Pretty much my day, every day. I am so sick of it.

I am also very careful about where I put my phone and keys, lest i lose them or put them in weird places. Bipolar is known for having 'up' and 'down' phases and behaviors associated with being up or down. Mixed is when there are features of both at the same time or within a very short time. I have finally recognized that my irritability while depressed and anxious is something that might be called mixed.

I think mixed phases can go on their own for a very long time, months possibly years if left untreated or unaddressed.

I am sorry you are still dealing with mixed symptoms, it's just terrible. Did your psychiatrist have any thoughts on how long they could last and what else you can try to end this one?

No, he did not say, but it is on my sheet of questions to ask him. He tends to be very efficient and thinks quickly as well, so if you don't have your stuff planned when you see or talk to him, you will have to call the clinic and have him call you back, which is annoying when you get the recorded voicemail line and just have to leave a message. He does have a cell you can call after hours, weekends, vacations, but you are only supposed to use it for urgent matters that are not 911 emergencies.

That's good you have a sheet of questions. I should do that. My psychiatrist never makes me feel rushed which I appreciate, but even then I still leave forgetting to ask questions. Like I didn't even think to clarify what was meant by the "unspecified" part of my diagnosis at the time.

Sorry to hear. I know how you feel, i was mixed for almost seven months a while back and it was by far the worst time in my life. Back and forth all day non-stop minute to minute. I was beyond wrecked after those seven months.
What nixed it was two things i believe, the start of summer( i dont do well in winter), and taking a lot of gabapentin for a while(no longer)

Hope you feel better

I think mixed episodes can last as long as they continue to be fed or until you totally crash into more pure depression, or less commonly, switch to pure hypomania or mania. When I refer to "being fed" that could be the wrong medication(s), not enough or too many medication(s), stress, physical factors, seasonal factors, and/or something else. I believe kindling can also play a role.

How much gabapentin, do you remember? I take it now for fibro pain but am not sure it's really doing anything though I just got the upped dosage (from 2 pills to 3) last week. Did it take awhile to help? I think the end of the holidays and New Year will help me a lot. This is my least favorite time of year despite my daughter's birthday and Christmas.

Never heard of kindling before, had to look that one up. That's not good news. But I do think the season (daughter's birthday, Christmas, New Years) does not help me. I hate this time of year. I suppose I'm a bit of a Grinch.

I'm so sorry you're struggling, Blueberrybook I do agree that the holidays may be bringing you more stress than usual. Please don't give up. Hopefully this phase will pass sooner or later. Perhaps you can ask for a change of meds? I'm so sorry you have to deal with this

I was at 900mg a dat for a while then 1200 a day towards the end. It did not take long at that dosage for me. In fact it only took as long as it took to titrate up to the 1200, about 8 weeks i believe. Again i cant say if it was the sole reason i flatened out but reardless it help a ton with anxiety

I'm already on gabapentin 900 (didn't update it in my signature up). I will mention to the pdoc and also ask him if I'm mixed and have been so long, how does he think he can get me out of it? Because I'm not going to be having much time with the T this month due to the holidays. Ugh!

In my book....till the meds get tweaked.

Hmm...maybe a change. Pdoc thinks I'm heading toward mania. He's upped the dose of Seroquel 100 mg and says if that doesn't help, he will up 100 mg more and once I'm stable, titrate down to 400 mg again or even 300 mg as I was on that dosage a long time and was more or less stable given all the stress in my life.