[starshinelady]

Sorry I've been absent. I went through a pretty rough depressive episode.

My pdoc has amended my diagnosis from bipolar-NOS to rapid cycling bipolar-NOS. This change makes way more sense because I never have long periods of normalcy. I'm up and down like a rollercoaster and I'm so very tired from it.

Does anyone else experience Rapid Cycling Bipolar? Has anything helped you (besides taking your meds)? I'm just really miserable like this and need it to settle down.

[FriendlyJoe]

I'm 38 and still trying to find happiness. Fell in love with another bipolar person but she put me in the friend zone. Dumb because we actually had fun together and now last few weeks I've been angry and depressed. I go back and forth from anger to depression and it sucks. Signed up for match, bumble, and zoosk trying to find someone to fill the void.

[eye2797]

I rapid cycle, currently in a depressed state. I hate the ups and downs so fast. I have two meds that have helped the most. Cant find the third to level it all out. Last year I was pretty level at this time , this year not so much.

[starshinelady]

Originally Posted by eye2797

I rapid cycle, currently in a depressed state. I hate the ups and downs so fast. I have two meds that have helped the most. Cant find the third to level it all out. Last year I was pretty level at this time , this year not so much.

IF you don't mind my asking, which meds helped the most? Right now, even with meds, it doesn't seem to make much difference. The hypomania is a little lower, but the depression is the same if not worse.

[FriendlyJoe]

I'm going back to working out 3hrs a day and give meditation a shot. Working out helps a lot or it has for me.

[xRavenx]

I have Bipolar 1, but I sometimes get rapid cycling. In fact, it's something I've been struggling with a lot lately. My meds require a lot of "tweaking" when it comes to my doses. I go up on one thing, down on another, add this, add that. It's tiring and hard to find that balance. I hate how rapid cycling makes everything so unpredictable.

That being said, one thing that I find is somewhat helpful is trying to develop a routine. It helps me stay better organized, as opposed to out of control and "all over the place." As part of my routine, I try to identify some self-care tasks, which varies. For instance, I try to do yoga and writing. But also, don't push yourself too far too soon. That's how mania gets worse, when I become overzealous when it comes to certain things.

Some days will be better than others, and it's always a battle, but for what it's worth, these are some things I can think of.

[Pookyl]

I have rapid cycling bipolar 1. Mixed mood is the most common mood I experience.

[Anrea]

I am seriously struggling with rapid cycling today. I want so badly to go to impatient, but with my husband, and dogs, and the holiday, I need to be dependable. I feel like my mind is screaming, and it is on the edge. I keep seeing things, but am ignoring them. Hoping my meds start working better. Don't have another Dr. appt til Feb. People have NO idea what this is like, unless they've experienced it.

[downandlonely]

Anrea, if you need to go inpatient, I think you should go. You need to take care of your mental health before you can take care of other people. You also need to stay safe.