Explaining mood swings to therapist?

Hi, people!

Just wanted to hear some thoughts on this.

I experienced rapid cycling mood swings, as well social anxiety (life-long); the reason that made me seek therapy. I've had about 4 sessions now. After my last session (which is about 2 months ago, due vacation, etc..):

I had a quite long hypomanic episode June/July, and now I'm dealing with a depression and suicidal ideation. As I lately experienced more disruptive mood changes, I got to thinking how I actually had similar symptoms in my childhood, and so I get more insight into the bigger picture.

I'm seeing my thereapist this week.

Might sound dumb to ask, but how do I go about explaining my mood swings? I do find it a little hard to explain what I experience, because sometimes I feel as even I don't know what is happening to me. I don't want her to think that I'm lying or making stuff up because I say something out of nowhere; I don't want to make her think anything that is not true. Sometimes it feels as if I just want to get out of therapy, but on another occasion I need it more than ever. Arrrghh, I'm lost.

lol, I realise I'm not actually asking a question here, but do you have any thoughts on this? Should I just say it straight out?

(It's actually a psychologist, not therapist, if it makes any difference right now.)

how was your hypo mania this summer? Was a happy one or angry one? If it was a happy one id start with I've had an awesome summer I did XYZ ABC and then tell her that you're depressed again. If you had an irritable one tell her how ****** this summer made you but now your depressed again. Are you Dx with bipolar, if so just ask how do you control you hypo next time. T's seem to like seeing the symptoms so if you have a thought journal or mood chart it may help

Have you considered mood charting?

As Chris suggested, I think it would be a good idea to chart your moods: what triggers them, how long they last, what they feel like, if any other 'symptoms' accompany them (i.e. insomnia). I think bringing that in might give you a good springboard to discussing them. It's okay if you can't identify/describe how you feel all the time, therapy itself should help with that!

Whether you see a psychologist (ph.d. Or psyc. d) or a therapist (ma or ms), your counselor studied bipolar, mania/hypomania, depression, etc., and I'm certain she's seen clients who experience that before. She won't doubt u or judge u. Just tell her. Don't worry, she's there to support u not judge u.

The above sounds like a great place to start! It made sense and was helpful and orienting to me.

Thank you, everyone, very good adice. I actually started tracking my mood not long ago.

@Perna Makes sense when you put it that way.

Edit: I've not been diagnosed with anything yet. She said that this next time we would put everything together, and possibly getting to a diagnosis.

hi sacredsnow, i hope you do share all of this with your psychologist it will help them in knowing what is going on with you a lot more than not knowing would. It's ok that you don't know how to explain it all, or understand all that you are feeling; one reason for sharing it with them is so that together the two of you can make more sense of things not sure why they would think you would make anything up, have they given you reason to think they might think this before?

Hi, tigergirl, thanks!

Not really, it's probably just something I imagined...

I can imagine how that must feel, like you can't really trust yourself to present yourself in a consistent manner! That's what is important to explain to your T I think, so you can regulate your thoughts better, knowing "it's just the mood swing talking" and thus your presentation of yourself. It is all right to feel one way and think/act another! We're supposed to use all of our "resources" (feelings, thoughts, experience/background) in our day-to-day living and if one is having difficulties (mood swings) then that is good to know so it can be taken into account!