[learningtolive2013]

Does anyone else notice depression coming in cycles with just BPD? I have only been diagnosed with BPD and not bipolar. I don't seem to have extreme highs. I have noticed that i'll go a couple of months feeling "fine", and then about a 3 month cycle of depression. It's like 3 months I'm fine and then 3 months I'm depressed?

i can not say that i can relate to this. maybe you have better meds.?.?.?

Can i ask what you are taking?

[learningtolive2013]

I'm not taking any meds at all..

[Starling.]

Yes! I can be absolutely fine for months, and then low for months (or 'up' for weeks). I am diagnosed with BPD only, not depression.

Don't really have anything useful to say I'm afraid, but I can relate. I hope you're doing okay.

Yep I get this too, although the cycles aren't normally as long as 3 months.

[learningtolive2013]

I've just been tracking my mood for awhile and I see this pattern of depression. Unfortunately mine does last 3 months at a time and it's horrible. I feel myself coming up on my 3 months of depression, I've been fine for the last couple of months. I'm wondering if since I know about it if I can be proactive and take measures to try and catch it before it hits.. hmm.. I am going to start working out again and eating better, I do have an Rx for Welbutrin that I could start.. Glad to know the cycle might just be a part of BPD..

[Starling.]

^Agree. It is horrendous. My lows can last quite a long time, longest was a year. But then I can have a year of feeling okay if I'm lucky so I guess it balances out!

I do find that learning your 'warning signs' helps. It doesn't make stop it, but for me identifying early when things are slipping means that I can generally avoid getting to the point where I completely stop functioning. Exercise and healthy diet definitely help as well. Whether you start the Welbutrin is up to you but I would say it's worth a go. I actually find medication incredibly helpful.

[learningtolive2013]

Originally Posted by Starling.

^Agree. It is horrendous. My lows can last quite a long time, longest was a year. But then I can have a year of feeling okay if I'm lucky so I guess it balances out!

I do find that learning your 'warning signs' helps. It doesn't make stop it, but for me identifying early when things are slipping means that I can generally avoid getting to the point where I completely stop functioning. Exercise and healthy diet definitely help as well. Whether you start the Welbutrin is up to you but I would say it's worth a go. I actually find medication incredibly helpful.

Yea, I've tried meds in the past and they seem to work for awhile and then just stop working for me and then it's increases or adding other meds etc.. It was exhausting last time I went the med route so I just gave up. I did feel pretty good on Celexa but then it stopped working after about 1 year and I was maxed on my dose and then they added welbutrin and that did nothing.. I'll try the exercise and diet and go from there.. It is nice to see it coming though so maybe I can prevent from going too low.. We will see :-)

[waggiedog]

Yep, def understand exactly what you are saying. I can have severe depressions lasting from 2 months to at least six months or more. I can't say that I feel ''fine'' the rest of the time, I just kinda ''get by''. When depressed I completely isolate and hide under the duvet for up to 17 hours a day. My Psych Dr refuses to prescribe antidepressents saying I don't get depressed!!! How strange to state that when it completely cripples my life and renders me suicidal. I have been hospitalised a number of times over the last 30 years and officially diagnosed BPD 4 years ago.

[atomicc]

Yes, I can relate. I'm in a depressed cycle right now actually. I have fluctuating moods daily but when it comes to the depression it can be a steady cloud over me for a few months. Then I'll be alright for a while, not constantly sad, but I always know it'll come back again.
Makes me feel like just ending it all lately. It's a never ending cycle of unhappiness.

[doglover1979]

For me, my Bipolar II symptoms look a lot like that. Cycles of depression/normal.

I hit an occasional high that the full intensity lasts a while, but from the outside it looks like I'm just feeling good. There is a definite internal boiling feeling inside me, though.

Thank God for mood stabilizers!

[River11]

I'm more like you in this, atomic, in that I have short-term various (2-5 or so days) states - including depression bouts (as well as daily moods) - within longer-term cycling. I've not been diagnosed, but it gets more and more convincing (to my husband as well as me) that I'm BPD with moderate cyclothymia.

I haven't felt like ending it all for a little while, but I sure am hanging out to just feel some confidence and motivation again - so I can actually DO some interesting and worthwhile things!! (and feel like an interesting and worthwhile person)