Question about Manic Episodes and Rapid Cycling - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

dreams in neon · 11-24-2008, 11:46 PM

Hi everyone,

When you're experiencing a manic episode, do you eat less than normal? This is definitely the case with me. Since I have so much energy, I tend to focus on doing other things besides eating. Sometimes I just don't feel like eating either.

Today I spoke to my tdoc about the fact that I've been losing weight (although not significantly -- I dropped from 121 to 117). He asked me if this had anything to do with my rapid cycling and I said that it probably did.

However, I'm not really sure of the answer to his question. Can rapid cycling have a negative impact on one's weight? I assume it can, but was wondering if any of you have had any experience with this before.

UKguy · 11-25-2008, 07:11 AM

yeah i notice when im really down i dont really consider eating. ive never had any issues with eating dissorders but i do feel that i dont eat as much.

Bunnylover · 11-25-2008, 08:10 AM

When I'm hypomanic I don't eat. I have a history of anorexia, and when I'm depressed sometimes it's tempting to choose not to eat, but the manic epispodes are different. It's like I'm literally so reved up I don't get hungry and don't even feel the need for food, and I don't tend to notice that I'm not eating either.

katlin09 · 11-25-2008, 11:59 AM

Hey neon,

When I'm really depressed, like now, I don't eat, I go for days, I think the last time I ate solid food was..Friday. My pdoc gives me hell for it, but I do drink slimfast's at least twice a day to get some nutrients. I just forget to eat.

Kat

seaturtle · 11-25-2008, 08:49 PM

Hey, kat,

You gotta eat, please. Not eating only worsens the depression. Slimfast is super low-cal - what about Ensure or tasty milkshakes? And making a scheduled, regular, same-time eating period every day, just part of your daily routine.

I do have a chronic ED and have great trouble maintaining even a very low weight. My temptation is not to eat at all - I just forget, too, or don't feel like it. But I have forced myself to make eating healthily at part of every day. All that wonderful-sounding stuff aside, I tend to undereat more if depressed or manic, too.

My bp group leader has been emphasizing the importance for us bps to maintain as regular a schedule as possible and to be very careful about eating, too, exercise, sleeping. Our bodies need it.

I hope you can break out of this cycle. Good nutrition, for us, is medicine. At the same time, I do understand how impossible this can seem.

My salvation food is peanut butter and pb/jelly. Try some kid-foods.

Gosh, you're having a rought time. I'm so sorry.

Seaturtle