INSIGHT INTO MOOD SWINGS

In the early stages your depressive or manic (upswing) moods can switch back and forth so quickly that you get frustrated. If you have just been recently diagnosed and are starting to medication remember two things.

1. The extreme range of emotions is what doctors are trying to “even out” with medication.

2. The longer you are on your medication the more the mood swings even out. In the early stages of bipolar I had the ups and downs on a very irregular basis. Now I can pretty much say that it’s about six months of feeling up and about six months of feeling blue. Also, summer is simply brighter outside and this is the time that I feel more in control of things. When winter comes and the days are longer, the depression actually seems to take control.

Also be aware that it takes from 6-8 weeks for the medication to get 100% into your system as it evens out the moods.