[Myzen]

Hi folks,

I've put this thread in general because I think that people with all kinds of illnesses can get mood changes alongside the other symptoms. I want to know how people deal with the mood changes that happen to them.

I have done a lot of 'personal improvement' work on this part of my illness. Years ago I would act on a mood change, maybe do something very irrational, get verbal with someone, or blame them for my sudden anger, or break something. I've been known to drive all the way back from a holiday, with my long suffering passenger fuming in the car beside me.

The thing was, that acting out my anger, doing something, made me feel better about the mood change. It transferred the feeling inside me to something outside me. It somehow 'got rid' of it and I would then rationalise this in my head, saying that someone or something had upset me.

These days I don't do that. For years now I have been able to internalise a mood change. As soon as I hear myself getting 'snappy' I start work on it, and within maybe five minutes I can say to whoever I'm with, "Sorry, I have had a mood change, that was out of order, it happens to me - not your fault."

There is still a delay time between the change kicking in and me taking responsibility for it, but it's quite short. The problem is that I still feel as if I had acted upon it. I still have all the emotions as if I had trashed my apartment and run screaming through the streets, although I haven't done that of course.

The emotions are - sudden anger (the change kicking in) - shame (because I am still suffering these storms) - and then remorse (as if I had done something really bad, which I haven't).

I'm usually with my wife when the anger pops out, and I always ask her, "How was I? Did I shout just then?" She says, "No, it's alright, you were just like a regular person, it's no big deal."

Even after all these years, my strategy is still behavioural, and I am never 100% sure that I'm not going to throw a few pots and pans.

Of course, you folks here know my story so I won't go through it again. But how do you deal with it? How is it for you?

Cheers, M

good post as always myzen! i had to think about this awhile before answering...i've recently been dx'ed with bipolar so my doc must think my moods are pretty drastic.still not sure i agree..lol...i too used to take my moods out on the nearest victim...lol....my poor husband..it was usually him.....but like you .over the years i've been able to look at things differently......i now know that i alone "cause" my moods and i alone must deal with them......i use distraction......if i feel a mood coming on.whether it be depression, anger, etc....i make a consious choice to distract myself.....by doing something that i enjoy.its hard to do sometimes but it works for me.....also getting out in the fresh air.....taking a walk.....helps clear my mind....

[Myzen]

Hi Butterfly,

As always you make a perceptive and honest response. Yes, we are responsible for our moods, although I notice that you use some speech marks around 'caused' . In one sense I guess we cause them, but in another sense I think they happen to us.

I think that we don't consciously cause them, but we do have to consciously deal with them - that's a fact.

Good idea about the diversions. I just get myself out of the house for a while,and quickly recognise that I am caught in the mood it again. The good news is that the sooner we recognise we are there, the sooner we can deal with it.

I have noticed that regular people (the ones without a diagnosis) are usually pretty useless with their own moods, it's as if they don't think they have them! LOL - (to myself).

Cheers, M

[SeptemberMorn]

Hi, Myzen. I've been dealing with mood changes recently. If you've read any of my posts, I'm blaming it on the lack of medication.

The other day I snapped at my husband which caused him to "run away from home" over night. It's his MO. What can I say. He's without his meds, too. I'm hoping that he realizes that it's because of his lack of inaction, but I somehow doubt it.

When I snapped at him, I rationalized it to myself saying that he had it coming for several reasons. Now, if I feel myself losing patience or getting angry, I warn him to not push it too much because "remember I'm irrational from the lack of meds." Don't know if I'm right in doing so but at least it's better than snapping and cussing at him. He's been warned.

Sure will be glad to get back on my meds. I'm pretty darn good at keeping a civil tongue when I'm on them. LOL

I've also noticed that sometimes I feel "high." I gab a lot, everything is funny or at least there's something "good" in anything. It's nice to feel that way, but the fear that it's not "normal" behavior is there. It's also exhausting! I've told myself to relax and "shut up" a few times. LOL

[Myzen]

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SeptemberMorn said:
I've also noticed that sometimes I feel "high." I gab a lot, everything is funny or at least there's something "good" in anything. It's nice to feel that way, but the fear that it's not "normal" behavior is there. It's also exhausting! I've told myself to relax and "shut up" a few times. LOL

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Hi S,

That's a good perception. I've noticed that mood changes seem to come just when we are feeling brighter.

My father used to say that he didn't like enjoying himself in case it all went wrong. He felt that it was safer to be miserable. I'm doing better than that thank goodness.

Cheers, M