Dealing with mood swings and extreme emotional reactions

moxietoxic · Jun 17, 2019 at 11:01 AM

Does anyone here have any tips for dealing with wild mood swings or extreme emotional reactions?

Both are large parts of my Bipolar 1. Sometimes I swing wildly from okay to super depressed and crying back up to laughing within the span of minutes. Or something little and insignificant will happen and my emotional reaction to it is way way out of line with whatever happened to cause it. At the time I know my reaction is way over the top but there's nothing I can do about it. I can't control it. I'm getting better at managing my reactions to there extreme emotions but I'm nowhere near where I need to be.

Does anyone else experience these? And if so, what tips or tricks do you use to manage them?

cincidak · Jun 17, 2019 at 11:18 AM

For me finding the right medication/tions and a good cognitive behavioral therapist has helped. You can't control the extreme as far as I can tell, only ride then out. I am the same way when my meds aren't working. Happy, sad, angry, depressed all in a very short period of time. Geodon and Lithium have helped the most along with Prozac. Those three are what I currently take. Doc won't put me on an antianxiety medication

moxietoxic · Jun 17, 2019 at 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincidak

For me finding the right medication/tions and a good cognitive behavioral therapist has helped. You can't control the extreme as far as I can tell, only ride then out. I am the same way when my meds aren't working. Happy, sad, angry, depressed all in a very short period of time. Geodon and Lithium have helped the most along with Prozac. Those three are what I currently take. Doc won't put me on an antianxiety medication

I'm working on the medications and the therapist. I have an appointment with my new psych tomorrow (only seen him twice but I like him so far) and a therapist lined up, I just need to call my insurance and figure out some authorization thing before I can see her.

I definitely need to be on meds that work for me. It's just a long, slow, frustrating process trying to find them.

cincidak · Jun 17, 2019 at 11:48 AM

I know it is. They are still adjusting mine even after being diagnosed years ago. Only because things sometimes aren't as affective as they used to be for me.

Jun 17, 2019 at 01:45 PM

I haven't had that much of a history of ultra ultra rapid cycling, but I have had mixed states (a little different, at least my case). Some medications have been more effective for me at controlling mixed states, agitation, and anxiety. Definitely let your psychiatrist know about your fast fluctuating moods. Perhaps he/she can find the right medication mix that helps with that. As for emotional dysregulation, therapy is said to be the most effective tool at curbing it. DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) and other types of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) skills are useful. I have found CBT skills a bit helpful for managing my bipolar disorder, but more as an adjunct to medications than as a first-line approach.

moxietoxic · Jun 17, 2019 at 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

I haven't had that much of a history of ultra ultra rapid cycling, but I have had mixed states (a little different, at least my case). Some medications have been more effective for me at controlling mixed states, agitation, and anxiety. Definitely let your psychiatrist know about your fast fluctuating moods. Perhaps he/she can find the right medication mix that helps with that. As for emotional dysregulation, therapy is said to be the most effective tool at curbing it. DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) and other types of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) skills are useful. I have found CBT skills a bit helpful for managing my bipolar disorder, but more as an adjunct to medications than as a first-line approach.

I've definitely told my psych about the rapid mood swings. Right now I'm on effexor and abilify and klonapin. But they dont seem to be helping very much.

Dealing with mood swings and extreme emotional reactions

cincidak · Jun 17, 2019 at 09:01 PM

I take Geodon , Lithium, and Prozac

Nammu · Jun 17, 2019 at 11:19 PM

For that you need DBT

~Christina · Jun 17, 2019 at 11:45 PM

Yes as Nammu said ..... DBT it would likely help in a huge way but it takes a lot of hard work, but so worth it.

Medications can only do so much. Therapy, exercise, good sleep hygiene, healthy foods etc are equally as important.

moxietoxic · Jun 18, 2019 at 04:50 AM

I unfortunately dont know what kind of therapy the therapist I'll be seeing soon does. But I'll mention it to her.

Thank you.

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cincidak Veteran Member Member Since Apr 2016 Location: Ohio Posts: 563 8	Jun 17, 2019 at 11:48 AM #4 I know it is. They are still adjusting mine even after being diagnosed years ago. Only because things sometimes aren't as affective as they used to be for me. __________________ I'm bipolar 1, agoraphobic, ocd, and gad. Fairly happy go lucky. Prozac 20mg Geodon 80mg Saphris 10mg Lamictal 150mg All I can offer is my heartfelt honesty
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cincidak Veteran Member Member Since Apr 2016 Location: Ohio Posts: 563 8	Jun 17, 2019 at 09:01 PM #7 I take Geodon , Lithium, and Prozac __________________ I'm bipolar 1, agoraphobic, ocd, and gad. Fairly happy go lucky. Prozac 20mg Geodon 80mg Saphris 10mg Lamictal 150mg All I can offer is my heartfelt honesty
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Nammu Crone Member Since May 2010 Location: Some where between my inner mind and the solar system. Posts: 71,285 (SuperPoster!) 13 53.6k hugs given	Jun 17, 2019 at 11:19 PM #8 For that you need DBT __________________ *Nammu* …Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. …... Desiderata Max Ehrmann
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~Christina Legendary Wise Elder Community Liaison Member Since Jul 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 22,450 (SuperPoster!) 12 12.7k hugs given	Jun 17, 2019 at 11:45 PM #9 Yes as Nammu said ..... DBT it would likely help in a huge way but it takes a lot of hard work, but so worth it. Medications can only do so much. Therapy, exercise, good sleep hygiene, healthy foods etc are equally as important. __________________ Helping others gets me out of my own head ~
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moxietoxic Junior Member Member Since Jun 2019 Location: US Posts: 16 4	Jun 18, 2019 at 04:50 AM #10 I unfortunately dont know what kind of therapy the therapist I'll be seeing soon does. But I'll mention it to her. Thank you.
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