I've been struggling with intense, dramatic mood swings for years and I really need some advice on how to deal with them, as nothing I've tried so far worked.
I'm 19 years old and for pretty much longer than I can remember I've had very intense, frequently changing moods. I guess they probably must have started around age 13, but they've been going on for so long it feels like forever.
My moods are very erratic. Some days I don't really have any problems with them, maybe a day or two a week. However, the rest of the days, I switch between angry, depressive moods and very happy, hyper moods. Sometimes within an hour of each other; sometimes a couple times a day. The low moods go back and forth between angry and depressed. Usually if they're angry, it's initially triggered by someone doing something that annoys me, but it lasts way longer than annoyance at that one thing. When I feel depressed, I'm unmotivated and just feel generally awful. I don't really self harm, although sometimes I scratch or pull at the skin on my arm when I'm feeling extremely down, because it distracts my thoughts. I also get really good moods, too, during which I have a huge amount of energy and feel on top of the world.
The moods come out of nowhere with no warning. They've gotten in the way of my everyday life for years. My parents think I'm mad at the world or something because I act so unhappy some days. I really don't think that it's something particular in my life that is causing mood swings, because I've drastically changed my lifestyle (for the better) a year ago and the moods are exactly the same as always.
I saw a counsellor at my college for several months this year and the best advice she gave me was that when a bad mood comes on, I should stop what I'm doing and spend an hour or so doing something that is relaxing and enjoyable, liking watching a TV show, and try to let it pass. This helped a bit, but it's difficult to use this solution when I'm not at home. I thought my moods were getting better this year, but I realised it was just my busy school life that distracted me from them. Now that it's summer and I'm home in a generally peaceful environment with nothing to distract me from my own thoughts, my moods are back in full force.
The only prescription medication I'm taking is Loestrin birth control (for my period), but I've used many other types of birth control before this one and my moods are the same with all of them. I've asked my doctor about it, and she doesn't think I'm bipolar because my moods change so frequently. No one has been able to tell me what's wrong with me and it's so disruptive to my life and relationships that I can't stand another year of it.
Sorry for the length of this. I've just been struggling with this problem for so long that I'm desperate for any advice anyone could give me, and I wanted to make sure I give all the important details of my issue.
I'm open to any coping skilles, possible diagnoses, or cures of any kind.
Hi, obviously no one on here can diagnose you and the best advice I can give with a diagnosis is to go to your GP and ask for a referral to a psychiatrist.
But I just wanted to let you know that your not alone. I get dramatic mood swings, one minute I'm lying in bed wanting to kill myself the next I'm leaping around hyper as hell and everything in between,plus getting angry for no reasons.
I don't really have any coping techniqes myself so don't really have anything to offer there, sorry.
but if you want to PM me and chat your more than welcome to.
"Never be a spectator of unfairness or studpidity. The grave will supply plenty of time for silence." Christopher Hitchens
'When words fail, music speaks'
I am transsexual and homoromantic and proud to be.
When did you start your periods? It sounds like there could be a hormonal link. Also, if something upsetting, even subconsciously so, happened when you were 13, that can have an impact too. Have the doctors done hormonal blood tests?
When did you start your periods? It sounds like there could be a hormonal link. Also, if something upsetting, even subconsciously so, happened when you were 13, that can have an impact too. Have the doctors done hormonal blood tests?
I started when I was 13 or 14. I did have a lot of family problems going on around then but I never thought they were dramatic enough to screw with my emotions for this long.
My counsellor suggested hormone testing, but my doctor said that because I take birth control it shouldn't be hormonal.
Family problems happening at a time when your brain chemistry/hormones are in flux can actually effect how your brain chemistry develops, functions. I know that's true for early in life, so I feel it could happen later, too.
I know I'm sounding like the cliched analyst, but how do you feel about your role as a woman, a female, in life?
Family problems happening at a time when your brain chemistry/hormones are in flux can actually effect how your brain chemistry develops, functions. I know that's true for early in life, so I feel it could happen later, too.
I know I'm sounding like the cliched analyst, but how do you feel about your role as a woman, a female, in life?
Um, well, I'm gay, if that counts for anything. I'm quite independent and in a kind of ~I don't have to rely on men~ phase. I don't really have any problems with my femininity.
Hi, It sounds pretty bad, and I don't have any wildly useful advice but here's a few thoughts:
You've said in your post that you are better when you are engaged in activities and have things to distract you - so it's really important to use this knowledge. Can you plan some activities each day, or find a project to work on?
(This next bit assumes you don't have an eating disorder - as I wouldn't want to be giving nutritional advise to anyone who does!) You might experiment with trying a low glycemic index diet for a bit to see if it helps any, as unstable blood sugar levels can increase mood swings for some people. The main idea would be to eat very regularly and healthily, and avoid sugary and processed foods. If you drink a lot of coffee that is another thing to test - cutting out caffeine makes some people less irritable and moody.
Diagnosis is really something for a psychiatrist to consider - you could ask your GP to refer you to one. (I agree that swings this rapid do not suggest bipolar.) They hopefully wouldn't want to jump to any conclusions, but might think about whether it would be worth trying mood stabilising drugs.
Also will you be able to continue seeing the counsellor? - if you have access to a helpful one take all the sessions you can.
