Bipolar 1 question - elevated mood and anxiety management/prevention

[KirSa]

I've been struggling for many years with what I've recently learned is bipolar disorder. 

I really need to get a handle on what to do when I start feeling overwhelmed.  

For some reason, I go from feeling confident and capable (and I am these things), to feeling stressed, anxious, and losing control.  Like there's too much to take in.  

It builds up over a few days usually.  But a disruption or setback... some kind of unexpected news or interruption can bring it on quicker too. 

I try to fight it off... sit and think it through... get my bearings... or distract myself with music, movies, or another project or hobby. Guitar, rubiks cubes, reading.  But usually the result is adding more noise to the existing chaos that's building. 

I don't know how to stop it and I'm struggling to keep up.  My partner knows and is very supportive.  But I don't know what she can do to help. 

I have to get baseline blood tests before I can take the medication.  But I'm scared that I'll be a stupid mess taking that stuff too. 

How do I deal with this feeling when it comes?  I'm not doing very well handling it so far. 

[quirkywords]

Kirsa thanks for reaching out. 
it can be so confusing getting a diagnosis. 
Does this overwhelming feeling involve depression. I have been living with bipolar fir 50 years.
how long does  overwhelming condition last for. Do you get highs.?

I had regular up moods for 6 weeks then down for 6 weeks. 
Have you spoken to person who is treating you about how you feel.

I think being prepared fir this feeling may help.?

I kept a mood journal a daily record of how I was feeling. 
maybe until you start medication it may be hard. If something does affect your moods is it possible to work out how to cope. 
I was fortunate that medication help stabilise but I still work hard on being health, exercise food etc and keeping journals.

i come on the forums regularly so feel free to post.

All the best.

[KirSa]

Hi quirkywords, 

I have had a number of major depressive episodes in my life. Once in my mid/late teens for a number of years. But generally, I feel depressed for a few days after I crash... then just gloomy for a week or two before returning to normal.  Normal can last anywhere between a few weeks to a few months.  Generally, I'll spazz out again after a few months though. 

I tend to get highly enthusiastic about something... usually an obscrure angle on anti-aging, origin of life, immortality, nature of life/death, or religion, politics, economics, or social theory.  Sometimes it's a hobby like rubiks cube or guitar (new artist/style etc).  If I'm into a new project, or work, business idea, I might go head first into it and spend little time thinking or doing anything else.  The phrase I've come to know myself as is: "I don't do things by halves".  

I ditched my mood diary last time I went AWAL. Waste of time.  

The appointments are few and too far between for my GP, shrink, or counselor to be of great help.  I think writing here helps.  But maybe there's a better forum.  I've learned this is more for depression and anxiety than bipolar 1. 

Paradoxically, this is all pretty new to me... while I've been living like this my whole life.  So I'm still pretty confused about what's normal and what's not. I've never known any different I guess.