[CloserToTheMid]

Since last February, I've been struggling with afternoon/early evening mania. My pdoc gave me Seroquel to help and it does help some, but there's a gap in effectiveness starting at 3pm. It could also have to do with me not drinking anymore and not having that afternoon drink to chill me out. It was worse than it has been all year yesterday. I refused to drink. Instead, I bought a pack of cigarettes (which I haven't done also since february...hmmm...interesting). It was one of most glorious smokes ever. It calmed me right down.

I do not want to be a smoker again. It screws with my singing voice, makes my wife not went to be near me, and I have a family history of heart disease. Meditation, believe it or not, causes problems for me as well. That's a different story. Walking helps if I can break away from all of my household duties when I get home. Need a solution. Seeing pdoc again soon. I tried an extra dose of Seroquel in the morning yesterday to no avail.

[MickeyCheeky]

Wish you good luck!

How are you doing today? How long does the mania last during the day for you? I don't have mania, so don't exactly know the symptoms you're experiencing, but here's the rest of my message. In terms of yesterday, maybe you just had a "bad day." I find that when I get emotional and depressed, for instance, it's not something I plan for, so don't be hard on yourself. Glad you're going to talk to your pdoc soon. Also I'm glad you're looking for healthy ways to alleviate it. That's proactive. Good for you. I'm curious to know why meditation doesn't help you. But. It's really none of my business if you don't want to share. I just was having difficulty with it myself and am learning there are many different ways to meditate, and that was a relief to me. Have a good day.

[CloserToTheMid]

Originally Posted by starrysky

How are you doing today? How long does the mania last during the day for you? I don't have mania, so don't exactly know the symptoms you're experiencing, but here's the rest of my message. In terms of yesterday, maybe you just had a "bad day." I find that when I get emotional and depressed, for instance, it's not something I plan for, so don't be hard on yourself. Glad you're going to talk to your pdoc soon. Also I'm glad you're looking for healthy ways to alleviate it. That's proactive. Good for you. I'm curious to know why meditation doesn't help you. But. It's really none of my business if you don't want to share. I just was having difficulty with it myself and am learning there are many different ways to meditate, and that was a relief to me. Have a good day.

I'm ramping up gradually. I feel that I'm on a trajectory for a true episode. I don't think it was just a bad day in this case.

I have a whole other thread on my spiritual issues. To sum, when I'm manic I believe I have special powers when I meditate. I do have some spiritual gifts there, but some disturbing things happen. I don't think they are necessarily psychosis, but I don't like it. I researched it and many people have experienced this. If I meditate this evening, when I lay down to got to bed, I see strange faces through my eyelids....like, ocular images, not images stirring up in my imagination. I'm not saying it's not my imagination, but it's real enough to be alarming. There are all sorts of theories about the phenomenon, but it all sounds like it could be BS to me. I'm spiritually open minded, but I've never figured out any positive use for this experience. I'm afraid to talk to my pdoc about it. I don't want him to think that I'm crazy lol.

[CloserToTheMid]

As far as how I am doing. I'm generally doing just fine until 3pm. You must know that I quite alcohol last year and I quit smoking about the time my mania returned. I REALLY don't want to start smoking or drinking again. I smoked a cigarette last night and it cooled my jets quite a bit. UGH. Not good.

I wonder what type of seroquel you are taking? There are several kinds; one of which is an extended release tablet. These are what I take and I am stable throughout the day. There is another type that may be helpful in your situation. These are (small pink, 25mg) immediate release pills that are often prescribed as prn's (take as needed).

I also need to ask if depression is an issue and the reason you have specifically been prescribed seroquel instead of or along with a mood stabilizer.

[CloserToTheMid]

Originally Posted by justafriend306

I wonder what type of seroquel you are taking? There are several kinds; one of which is an extended release tablet. These are what I take and I am stable throughout the day. There is another type that may be helpful in your situation. These are (small pink, 25mg) immediate release pills that are often prescribed as prn's (take as needed).

I also need to ask if depression is an issue and the reason you have specifically been prescribed seroquel instead of or along with a mood stabilizer.

I was taking the extended release. Now I'm taking something else entirely: Saphris. Depression is mild with me. Mania is my primary struggle. I take other mood stabilizers. Lithium, geodon, Lamictal.

Things are looking up. I experienced little or no mania yesterday. I'm hoping for the same thing today.