[JourneyUpward]

Hi all, I'm currently sorting out 36 years of stuff, throwing out, giving away, and selling as much as possible. We're moving from NY to Florida the end of February. Many times I feel overwhelmed and almost paralyzed preventing me from getting much if anything done. When I finally convince myself to just do 15 minutes on one little section, I relax more and get more done, sometimes working for a couple of hours (on weekends--I work full-time.) So, I guess I'm handling this part okay. BUT I'm wondering about when we finally are down in Florida. It will be a new environment, new people, looking for a PT job once the house is set up. Most important, a new Pdoc. I'll have my psychiatric file to bring to him--my present Pdoc said he'd give me everything to take with me to give the new one. Hopefully, we'll work well together, but I'm a little apprehensive. I have a great relationship with my present Pdoc--we're a team and I have come so far with him in my corner. My husband likes and trusts him too--my hubby sometimes comes with me to ask questions and give some input from his perspective. It's been hard but a great learning experience. I'm wondering if the enormous change in lifestyle, environment, etc, etc... is likely to temporarily send me into big mood swings again. I've been doing very well the last 2 months and, frankly, I am just a little afraid but yet I'm looking forward to our new home. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks, Journey.

[sassypants]

Sorry I do not have any advice. What a change of weather! Good luck on your move and everything new.

[madisgram]

i just moved to florida from ga.(8 hours distance) i am bipolar too. i think what you are doing is right on with the packing. it worked for me doing it that way...so it allowed me to not get overwhelmed as much.
this is how it's going with me...there was so much adrenaline running thru my body plus the exchaustion of a move that when i got here i was still on auto-pilot. the second day of being here i woke up with a heavy feeling-depression-and anxiety. so yes, there may be mood swings. i haven't hooked up with a T or pdoc yet so i wrote to the anxiety forum here at pc. i got some warm and understanding replies. they made me smile. it felt so good to be able to get validation for how i felt. your hubby sounds like a really nice man. i'm glad you will have him there with you. it should make this a little less bothersome. i live alone but my son is about 30 minutes away. he has been so sweet to me. that has helped me with this transition. sunny florida will help our bipolar...the sunlight stimulates a sense of well-being if you are like me...suffer from light deprivation. so that is a great thing to look forward to.
i'm afraid to venture out but venture out i will cause i need to start feeling comfortable in my new surroundings. i've been in the house unpacking since monday. today i am going out in the community. it's scary but it's a start.
you can pm me if you feel jammed up cause we have the same dx and i can truly relate to how you feel and compliment you on anticipating what may occur. for you it may not cause mood swings but i just wanted to share with you what happened to me. it could have been a lot worse but it has been mangeable thus far.
have a safe journey and let us know how it's going.

[tracy33]

I'm making a move too, although not as far. I'm moving from Maryland to Pennsylvania. We bought an old Victorian home that we're remodeling. We're not moving up until it's all ready, maybe March, so I'm not getting nervous yet. With you, you are moving to nice, sunny weather. I'm moving to where it has been snowing everyday this winter! A big change for me. It's a rural area. I'm used to the city.

Are you afraid you will become depressed, manic, or both?
I am afaid I am going to go into a big depression when I get up there. Both me and my therapist worry about this.
Even though a few positives are that I'm alot closer to my family.

My therapist suggests that I find a new therapist right away and of course I'll need a new pdoc immediately for my meds. She also suggests a support group if there are any around. I was going to an Alcohol and Addictions group for 6 months. I quit drinking. She doesn't want me to start up. It's been 7 months.

The homework assignment my therapist gave me was to write down what I do now to avoid going into a depression. And what can I do when I get to Pa. to avoid getting depressed? It's something to think about.

I know it's scary to get a new pdoc. You say you really like the one you have now. Mine I could give or take, I've just gotten used to her. I just don't want a new pdoc to want to change meds on me. It seems like that's what they want to do when they take over.

I don't know what kind of advice I can give you. It sounds like an exciting move. I wish you lots of luck with everything.

[JourneyUpward]

Thanks Madisgram, I might take you up on pm-ing you. And thank you too Tracy. I'm a bit concerned that I may either get manic or depressed when I move into our new home. When I get hypomanic I become like the energizer bunny--going and going and going. I don't know when to stop working and I'm sure the excitement will trigger the hypomania. I'll wear myself out eventually and then, as always, take a nosedive into depression. I'm going to try to remember to pace myself but you know that it's hard to think about being sensible when in a hypomanic or manic state.

[multipixie9]

Journey is a good part of your name. they posted a couple articles on pc about mindfulness and recognizing certain incorrect mindsets people can get stuck on. and how to interrupt and adjust.

Even without your dx (am mpd/did and just living right now is a challenge) we can share that it is good to think of how it may be and prepare for that possibility BUT do not set it in stone. you may not swing either way. you may just get tired. you will feel a kind of grief - you lost a chunk of your past (physically only) and moved to a very different place. but relax it is much more loose in florida than new york.

plan for the worst, hope for the best and it will shake out probably close to the middle, for true!

leslie and her pixies

ps: moved 13 times in 11 years and have been in one home 21 years now. life is change be flexible. you WILL survive and THEN thrive. (i don't do mantras but that sounded sort of cool and really possible)