frequency of swings... - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

fiesty_leo · 06-07-2005, 01:37 AM

Hi all,

How big is the spectrum, as far as time etc between mood-swings goes? And is it usual for them to occur in a pattern? I couldn't sleep last night, and was thinking...and it occured to me that since 2001 I've had an episode of sufficient length and severity to severely screw up/put a halt to my life (ie losing jobs, quitting study, moving back with family, needing extended time off, ruining my finances) precisely every 2 years, at roughly the same time of year...with my symptoms recurring in between but not causing the same calamity. Is this odd?

angelblue65 · 06-07-2005, 07:29 AM

My BF says he seems to go into more of a depressive state during the fall/winter months. He told me that he's tried not to play into the SAD (seasonal affective disorder) diagnosis one pdoc gave him but the more time goes on, the more it seems to be a pattern for him. However, (and we've had this discussion before on this board), when there's outside stressors which you cannot control, things that would throw anyone for a loop (even those who do not have BP) they contribute and may turn an otherwise predictable illness (as some books will state) into something where you never know when the next mood swing will strike.

My BF and I were just having this conversation last night where he acknowledged that on most days, a b or c will not bother him in the slightest but on a specific day, a b and/or c will send him into a rage and it could be something as small as (this was his example) the milk being in the refrigerator in the wrong spot. He says it bothers him to not understand why and I think the important thing is I don't believe there's an answer to the why's but that awareness is what counts. There are triggers and that's where the predictability comes into play. But then there's the "out of the blue" mood swings and my conclusion is it's just one of the factors of this illness that cannot be controlled (at least the way you or my BF may like) be it because of the illness itself or because of long standing issues/stress that has not been dealt with.

I hope this helps!

Zbaby · 06-07-2005, 07:54 AM

Yes, I've noticed a pattern, too. My upswings usually occur in the fall months, and the downswings happen in the winter/spring months. Summers I'm usually normal. This pattern doesn't happen every year, but the job/mood connection falls in line. For example, most of my jobs commenced in September when I was feeling good. The majority of jobs have ended sometime between January and May.

And then there are the periods of monumental change which would normally make people happy (eustress) but will sometimes send me over the edge (distress). The last two years of my life have been more down than up and extremely difficult, but I'm finally breaking out of it. Triggers were relocation, pregnancy, husband's new business, pressure of getting job to feed the family and provide benefits, parenthood, etc. Difficult for the most stable of people, traumatic for someone with BP.

Ian'smom · 03-02-2006, 05:02 PM

My mother has suffered from both bipolar disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder from as far back as I can remember. The last time that she had a manic episode where she had to go into the hospital was about 2 years ago. I don't always feel like she is back to normal once she gets out of the hospital, but eventually after a month or a few weeks she seems fine. This time she's not fine. All of her medicines were changed when she was released from the hospital, and she has been "different" ever since. She is always nervous and has trouble sleeping. I know this is completely ridiculous, but she is afraid to eat things containing sugar. She thinks that the sugar will get in her hair and on her feet, and then get into her bed. That falls under her OCD. Her husband is a severe alcoholic, but he refuses to get any help. He totally doesn't help her stress levels at all, but you can't help someone that doesn't want help. She sees her doctor that regulates her meds about once every three months, and her psychologist about the same. I don't know what to do to help her. I just got married about a year ago, and had my first baby recently, and she doesn't even act like she enjoys any of that. She is so down all the time, and she is so nervous that she can't really concentrate on anything. She hasn't had a job for at least a couple years. She is too nervous to have a job. I dont' know if she needs her meds changed or if her doctors just aren't helping her. I just don't know. If anyone has any input or ideas PLEASE HELP!!!

mudhound · 03-03-2006, 05:12 AM

My wife swings like a kid on a swing set. At least she used to. We bought a light for the SAD and it does seem to help some. Also, her meds are just about right now. Glory, it has taken years to achive this.