My Experiences:
I know that my behavior and thought patterns are difficult for others to understand while I’m in the midst of a mood swing. Often I distance myself from others when I’m feeling depressed or want to be around people more when I’m manic. There are early warning signs in my cognition and resulting behavior. I begin to worry or have the absence of worry. Sometimes I think negative thoughts and get paranoid. I like to start projects but often never finish them because my mood changes so quickly I get disinterested. The things I enjoy change when my moods change. My activities are usually staying in the house most of the time watching tv or writing emails and working on websites. When I’m feeling better I am more motivated to handle my projects as well as other necessary things like seeing doctors, paying bills, working outside the home, etc. My level of anxiety rises considerably when I’m depressed, like I know people will see I’m depressed and not want to hang out with me anymore. Then I feel happy again and like being around people. All this changing around really messes with my head though so it’s important to keep a good schedule. It is important for you as a caregiver, friend, or family member to encourage your loved on to keep on a regular schedule as often as possible.
It is important for your friend or family member to become aware of their signs and you can help them figure those out. First, I recommend you educate yourself on what the general symptoms of each depression and mania are. There are bunches of sites and books available with a lot of good information but sometimes it is hard to tell exactly what each symptom means. Like pressured speech… Basically for me, I get manic and like to talk and talk and talk and talk. Maybe you can tell. I will provide information I read in the book “Bipolar Disorder Demystified: Mastering the Tightrope of Manic-Depression” by Lana R. Castle on what you should do when your loved one is in need of your help.
Some Typical Depressive Symptoms:
- inexplicable aches and pains
- indecisiveness and feeling overwhelmed
- despondency and total lack of feeling
- sleep and appetite changes
- poor self-esteem and lack of confidence
- dragging through life and talking at a slower pace
- performing useless actions
- anger and frustration
- substance abuse
- self-destructive thoughts and actions
- reduced libido
Typical Hypomanic and Manic Symptoms:
- extreme optimism and euphoria
- anger and aggression
- inflated self-esteem and confidence
- appetite changes and decreased need for sleep
- elevated energy and activity
- lack of focus and distractibility
- racing thoughts and rapic, erratic speech
- impulsiveness and lack of inhibition
- risky behaviors
- substance abuse
- bizarre thoughts and behaviors
It is important to note that some signs appear on both lists such as substance abuse. I believe this is because both sides of the emotional spectrum are difficult to handle in different ways. This is also a short list of things, more can be found on websites such as http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ which is the National Institute of Mental Health’s home page.
So now you’re a little more educated about the mindset of a person with mood swings. What can you do when you sense early warning signs?
- Show concern and support
- genuine compassion, patience, and sensitivity
- give full attention
- listen if the person feels like talking
- if the person does not feel like talking, just sitting with them may help
- speak calmly without frustration or anger even if you disagree
- never say you know how the person feels
- Words that help
- “I’m concerned because you haven’t been yourself lately.”
- “Is something troubling you?”
- “I’m here to listen if you want to talk.”
- “This must be very hard for you.”
- “I’m sorry that you’re hurting.”
- “Please don’t give up. You mean so much to me.”
- “What would help you most right now?”
- “We can work through this together.”
- “You’re not alone in this.”
- “This will pass, and we can ride it out together.”
- “I love you and I’m not going to leave you.” (If you really mean it.)
- “We’re here on this earth to see each other through.”
The biggest signs that change when it’s time to seek help:
- SLEEP
- APPETITE
- MOOD
- BEHAVIOR
I hope this helps a little! Good luck!
-Katy-
