[saucygirl31]

Hi,

Historically this is when I go manic. Just wanted a spring time thread where we can say how the equinox is effecting us, for everyone else who cycles with the seasons.

Doing fine. Feel totally normal. But I'm keeping my eyes peeled..

I, too, tend to have a manic upswing in the spring. I'm at my most vulnerable between March and May, but sometimes it starts earlier. I've already experienced my upswing this year, and have already had a medication increase. That has calmed it quite a bit, as has "laying low" and having my husband working from home because of the pandemic. Knowing that I am vulnerable in the spring helps me plan accordingly. My tdoc, pdoc, hubby, and I can be more on the lookout knowing my tendency. That helps a lot. I won't say that my upswing is over, because it can start up again.

A while back, my husband had wanted to travel to Europe in May. I reminded him what happens during the spring, so we both decided to make the trip in the fall, when I'm less vulnerable. It's just as well, since a trip in the spring would've likely been cancelled, anyway. My psychiatrist had a spring trip to Europe planned, but I'm certain that's cancelled. I'm glad, because not having him available at a vulnerable period is scary. He usually takes a long summer trip, but by summer I'm usually OK. Plus, he has a backup in place in the summer and/or he is not abroad. He spends his summers in Martha's Vineyard.

Really, traveling in spring is a no-no for me, since traveling itself is a huge mania trigger. It's not just the time of year, but the stress involved with travel. The more triggers added on, the more out of control and severe my mania can get. Kind of like adding gasoline to a fire.

I tend to stay in an air conditioned house or building in the summer. I just hate extreme heat and humidity! I do get out again in the fall. Often my mood has a milder upswing in the fall than spring, but during the winter I'm usually quite blah feeling....until February or March.

I usually don't have a significant depressive episode unless it is triggered by something significant. Or, such depressive episodes are relatively mild and/or pass quickly.

[Rick7892]

I generally have hypomanic/manic seasonal upswings in spring to early summer.

This year, I had situational triggering hypomania in December, and I am now burning out.

In general, I like the seasonal (or situational) hypomania/mania too much and get swept up in it, even though being more balanced is much better for my mental and emotional well-being.

[Moose72]

I had an episode of Mania last April/May. It lasted about a month until pdoc upped my Seroquel to some high dose like 800. Whatever the number, I was flattened into the bed and couldn't move much. That stopped the mania. We will see what happens this year. Pdoc almost put me in the hospital. She said she was going to if the increased Seroquel didn't work.

[*Beth*]

I am immensely relieved that spring is here.

[saucygirl31]

I'm relieved too. I probably will get a small uplift but nothing crazy considering I'm on 400 lamictal.

Glad everyone's doing well.

Originally Posted by saucygirl31

Hi,

Historically this is when I go manic. Just wanted a spring time thread where we can say how the equinox is effecting us, for everyone else who cycles with the seasons.

Doing fine. Feel totally normal. But I'm keeping my eyes peeled..

the weather was lovely here today

makes a change from the rain and wind we've had this past week

not sure how long it will last but nice start to spring

[Shoe]

Here is an interesting article related to this thread. There are even a couple of graphs that you can click on.

Schizophrenia - sexual periodicity in humans

[fern46]

Originally Posted by Shoe

Here is an interesting article related to this thread. There are even a couple of graphs that you can click on.

Schizophrenia - sexual periodicity in humans

There are some cause and effect leaps here I'm not sure there is clear evidence to support. Other things, such as the temperature and exposure to sunlight change during these times as well. It is an interesting assertion though.

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by Shoe

Here is an interesting article related to this thread. There are even a couple of graphs that you can click on.

Schizophrenia - sexual periodicity in humans

Hmm.....

[bpcyclist]

Traditionally you could pretty well set a timer for my mania for late May/early Juneish. Very reproducible over the years. That said, 2019 was completely different. I am still to this very day dealing with a great big mania with psychosis that began in November or so. A totally different pattern for me. Usually, the big depression comes in October. Who knew?

So, things can change, even if there is historically a pattern, even a very long one. Like, decades. Or so has been my experience.

[BipolaRNurse]

I tend to be manic/hypomanic in the Spring and into the Summer, so much so that I call it Silly Season. Last year I had no mania at all, and so far I'm doing well this year too. But I'm aware of the fact that it could change and knock me down when I think I'm totally stable, so I don't take anything for granted.