Crazy mood swings

Sadie23 · ‎07-07-2021

Hi There. I am currently experiencing extreme mood swings. I am fine one minute then suicidal the next. I have been out today for social engagements which I enjoyed. Then I get home and my mood has plunged through the floor and I feel like I want to act on my feelings of suicide. I attempted suicide a few years ago and spent some time in the hospital. Up until the start of this year I had a psychiatrist, psychologist and support group but I quit them all as I was doing ok. Still depressed but manageable. Since then I have had cancer twice and knocked myself out at work giving me concussion for 2 weeks and ongoing neck pain. I work as a casual but there has been no work for the last 2 weeks. I am struggling to get through the day. Any advice or response would be appreciated. Thanks

Sophie_M · ‎07-07-2021

Hi Sadie23,

We appreciate you taking the time to post about your experiences tonight and we hope our community can provide you with the advice and support you are looking for. It sounds like you have had an extremely difficult year with your issues with cancer and concussion.

We have reached out to you privately tonight to see how we can support you additionally through these difficult mood swings you are experiencing and to check in with you

You mention having good contact with your psych team and a support group, have you been able to reconnect with these supports at all currently? Or have you been able to share these experiences with your GP?

We urge you if you feel unsafe or that you may act upon these feelings, this is an emergency and you should contact 000.

We hope that you can reach a place of stability and contentment soon.

RJ_3 · ‎08-07-2021

Hi Sadie23

I feel a lot of compassion for what you're going through as I've also experienced the extreme mood swings you're talking about. I'm wondering if you're able to start seeing your psychologist and psychiatrist again, as well as your support group? It's really helped me just knowing there's someone to talk to who doesn't judge and that I don't have to be putting on the brave face that it feels as though society often expects. I've been doing a DBT program for the last six months and I've learnt so many distress tolerance skills which might help you. I'm not sure if you've heard of DBT? I hadn't before my psychologist mentioned it. You can look up DBT skills online and there's some really good help there. And I'm not sure if you drink alcohol or not, but I found that at my worst times it made me feel suicidal and other times I felt as though I just couldn't bear my thoughts. I now have the occasional glass of half strength wine if I'm with friends and I can't believe the difference it's made. My last couple of thoughts are that I'm wondering if you could talk to your GP about mood stabilisers as they've made a huge difference for me and also a big part of my DBT program has been learning about mindfulness, which I was sceptical about, but is so incredibly helpful and also look up paced breathing if you don't already know about it, as that's been such a help as well. Even if you just give one of these things a try it might help you x

Best wishes, Robyn

Sadie23 · ‎09-07-2021

Hi Robyn

Thanks for your reply. I have also done DBT and was participating in Graduate group till start of this year. Thought I could do without it and haven't been practising skills. Also got taken off mood stabilisers in April due to negative side effects. Have been to pool today (opposite action) and feeling a bit better but will still seek out new psychiatrist and will also seek hospital admission if things get worse. Thanks again for your support. Regards Helen

Guest9337 · ‎09-07-2021

G'day Sadie23,

I get those kinds of mood swings too. Recently I was crying heavily and laughed at the same time, that was really weird. Sometimes the world feels weird for me too, kind of shiny to vision, but muffled to ear, idk just different, maybe daydreamy might be a good word for it. Like I'm "off with the faeries" my grandma would say.

I'd like to read more of what you have to share of the experience. Does your family have a phrase for it?