Mood Swings

[malakaix]

I need some help understanding my situation, and i was hoping anyone with familiar experience's themselves or with others can offer advice here.

I've been experiencing some severe mood swings recently, the consistency of the swings has increased alot in the last few months. It use to be every month or so, but now its down to every few days.

I'll go through a few days of loving everyone, everything, been extremely nice and friendly, confident and a sense of been on-top of the world, i'll even be so inclined to just go and hug people i love, carefree and nothing bothers me.

Then anywhere from a few days to a week i will become enraged with anger and hate for no reason, everything and everyone irritates me, i find it hard to enjoy anything at all, life becomes a bore, hopeless and lose's meaning, i cope with it by locking myself away from people in fear i will snap at someone, and usually end up falling asleep.

The consistency of these swings is having a terrible effect on my life, and confuses not only myself but people around me. The possibility of Bipolar has run through my mind more then once, but i don't self-diagnose and am still hopeful that it isn't, but if it continues in this severity i'll be seeing a doctor.

I quit smoking about 4 weeks ago now, i figured by this point the mood swings would be gone from the withdrawal or at least not this intense, but i guess they could still be lingering and this is a result of that. I feel somewhat neutral at the moment which is why im posting this now, otherwise it would probably be all over the place..

Much Appreciated

 

[bignig5971]

mood swings

I went through the same thing you are experiencing early in college. You are right not to self diagnose because those mood swings could be the result of any number of influences. Besides smoking were you on any drugs? I would explain to family and friends what you are going through and tell them to please bare with you until things settle down...which they will. I would go see a doctor though. I turned out not to be bipolar but i was taking adderall smoking weed etc...

 

[n3ophy7e]

Hey malakaix, this might sound like a cliched answer but it sounds like you really should seek some help about this. The symptoms you're describing really should be addressed with a medical professional, not because they could be linked to "bipolar disorder" or anything else, but because it is negatively impacting your life when you experience these mood swings. The good thing about psychiatry/psychology these days is that conditions like bipolar actually aren't that taboo or scary, they are much more understood now, and they can be treated. That's not to say that you actually have bipolar but if that turns out to be the diagnosis, don't stress too much about the label given to whatever symptoms you have. What matters is that you seek help if you feel you need it, and that you work towards feeling better.
Is it possible for you to speak to your doctor about this sometime soon?

 

[panic in paradise]

yeah, bi polar does come to mind, and lots of people with B/P will self medicate with marijuana, and other downers. then, some people thrive in the mania, and will use stimulants when that feeling is gone.

i have schizoeffective-bipolar. i was always diagnosed shizoeffect - clinical depression, but wow, once i started taking lithium, it was obvious i should of and wished i had been on it years ago, like when i was 12 lol. when the intrusive thoughts and chain thinking left it was amazing, i had a decrease in my libido, and the way i thought about sex changed, which was an amazing relief as well, this coming from a 28-29 y/o m at the time haha.

i would see a psych, or two would the fukn best if you can, and get diagnosed, as what their treatment options would be, and then do some research, there is a plethora of info about bipolar/mania/psych meds here, with all sorts of deliveries, experiences, and reactions.

it would okay if you where all over the place haha, sometimes its pretty amazing what comes out when we arent 'filtering' or thinking first hah. you wont get in too much trouble here or judged for doing so, i know i get to the point where i 'go off'. much much safer and better here the the real world for such out bursts, you can go and re read and re think, and not make apologies or make bail later.

 

[malakaix]

Is it possible for you to speak to your doctor about this sometime soon?

Yeah, i will probably be-able to organize an appointment at some point after the Easter break, but i'm gonna see if it worsens at all over the course of this week.

bignig5971 i haven't used any drugs in months now, but i use to in the past use slot of psychedelics, which i know can trigger pre-disposed medical conditions in some people, but again.. not jumping to any conclusions

Thanks all for your advice, i know its a really a question that can only be properly answered by a medical professional, and if it gets worse in the next week i think ill be making a checkup.

 

[n3ophy7e]

i know its a really a question that can only be properly answered by a medical professional, and if it gets worse in the next week i think ill be making a checkup.

Either way man, it's good to talk about these things, even if it's over the internet. That's what TDS is here for! Feel free to check back in here with any updates

 

[graugeist]

You need a professional who can properly monitor your mood swings or guide you through keeping a log of your emotional changes. You will receive little help from seeking input from people on an online forum. If you have a concern about your mental health you need to seek qualified help or ask your family to aid you in doing so.

 

[panic in paradise]

nobody is trying to talk him out of going to see anyone, or tell him what he needs until now.

it can be nice to speak your mind to a group of people you never have to meet, it makes for easy honesty sometimes.

 

[malakaix]

I thought id update this, i went to see a doctor last week.. i didn't mention in my original post that i had been suffering from a headache at the time, however im now up-to 9 days with a dull headache.

I explained to him my mood swings, and he's suggested i get a CT scan done to first resolve the issue of whats causing the headache, so i'll be sorting that out next week.

 

[paranoid android]

Definetely get that headache checked out. It might be unrelated to your mood swings altogether but it's best to get it checked out.