Confidence and despair

FinsburyParkCarrots

Who fluctuates between these two states of disposition, to extremes, and how do such turns of heart and mood manifest themselves? Are there external or internal triggers that send you plummeting?

Jeanie

FinsburyParkCarrots wrote:

Who fluctuates between these two states of disposition, to extremes, and how do such turns of heart and mood manifest themselves?

Yes.

I guess it's manic or comatose for me.

FinsburyParkCarrots wrote:

Are there external or internal triggers that send you plummeting?

Yes.

imspinnin

I don't know about you but my reasoning for my fluxuation in moods is me being a true Gemini...:o

Jeremy1012

Yes.

Regularly.
My mother thought I was perhaps bipolar a while back. I just shrugged it off at first and went and sat in a corner with my head in my hands. Then I got up and headbutted her.


but seriously, yes I feel like that often.

Jeanie

Fins, are you ok?

FinsburyParkCarrots

Oh, I'm fine. I'm just curious.

justam

FinsburyParkCarrots wrote:

Who fluctuates between these two states of disposition, to extremes, and how do such turns of heart and mood manifest themselves? Are there external or internal triggers that send you plummeting?

Don't most people?

My moods can be influenced by people around me and things that happen for good or not so good. I try to maintain a steady view most of the time (which usually means retaining my confidence) but sometimes my hormones get the better of me and I have to work to stay reasonable.

I find that as long as I can remain rational in my actions, I can keep myself on course. Even when I'm struggling with my moodiness, I can stay okay as long as I don't act out off the deep end.

Were you wondering about mood swings?

FinsburyParkCarrots

justam wrote:

Don't most people?

My moods can be influenced by people around me and things that happen for good or not so good. I try to maintain a steady view most of the time (which usually means retaining my confidence) but sometimes my hormones get the better of me and I have to work to stay reasonable.

I find that as long as I can remain rational in my actions, I can keep myself on course. Even when I'm struggling with my moodiness, I can stay okay as long as I don't act out off the deep end.

Were you wondering about mood swings?

Yes, I'm interested. I want to hear people's experiences.

Jeanie

FinsburyParkCarrots wrote:

Oh, I'm fine. I'm just curious.

Good.

Jeanie

FinsburyParkCarrots wrote:

Yes, I'm interested. I want to hear people's experiences.

Well I guess I handle my swings much better now that I'm older and do everything I can to keep myself on an even keel.

I keep an eye on the calendar and what time of my cycle I'm in, which makes a huge difference because when I swing low and feral I know it's because of where I'm at with my hormones and it makes it easier knowing it will pass and that I'm not completely nuts.

I try to eat right, exercise, meditate and do things that bring me happiness, all of which keeps me more even and lessens the swings.

Having said all that, the last few months have been pure hell for me and even though I know why (external influence) and I'm doing all I can to work my way through to happy and confident again, it's still exhausting and I don't come even close to beating it a lot of days. Even being aware and having a good box of tools that would normally help, still I realize that some things just have to be worked through over time. Things are better today than yesterday but they may be shitful again tomorrow and all my efforts will be for naught. Sometimes it is only time and plodding along that will make the difference I guess.

inmyrvm

women

the wolf

Jeanie wrote:

Well I guess I handle my swings much better now that I'm older and do everything I can to keep myself on an even keel.

I keep an eye on the calendar and what time of my cycle I'm in, which makes a huge difference because when I swing low and feral I know it's because of where I'm at with my hormones and it makes it easier knowing it will pass and that I'm not completely nuts.

I try to eat right, exercise, meditate and do things that bring me happiness, all of which keeps me more even and lessens the swings.

Having said all that, the last few months have been pure hell for me and even though I know why (external influence) and I'm doing all I can to work my way through to happy and confident again, it's still exhausting and I don't come even close to beating it a lot of days. Even being aware and having a good box of tools that would normally help, still I realize that some things just have to be worked through over time. Things are better today than yesterday but they may be shitful again tomorrow and all my efforts will be for naught. Sometimes it is only time and plodding along that will make the difference I guess.

i agree with most of this. its day by day for me. in fact today is very low for me, to the point where i cant really even put it into words, (which sucks), so thats why im just stealing your post.

bipolar without meds sucks bigtime. i need a job just for insurance so i can get back on the meds.

yeah, right now life just sucks pretty much.

beebalmdancer

FinsburyParkCarrots wrote:

Who fluctuates between these two states of disposition, to extremes, and how do such turns of heart and mood manifest themselves? Are there external or internal triggers that send you plummeting?

For me it's more like wanting to take multiple naps or wanting to draw/do housework. Sometimes it is because of other people (mostly my kids) for each extreme , sometimes it's because I feel like crap and sometimes it's because I feel the need to do something worthwhile rather than becoming a blanket for my bed .

beebalmdancer

justam wrote:

Don't most people?

My moods can be influenced by people around me and things that happen for good or not so good. I try to maintain a steady view most of the time (which usually means retaining my confidence) but sometimes my hormones get the better of me and I have to work to stay reasonable.

I find that as long as I can remain rational in my actions, I can keep myself on course. Even when I'm struggling with my moodiness, I can stay okay as long as I don't act out off the deep end.

Were you wondering about mood swings?

If you have kids, do you find that when your hormones are going crazy they are too?

justam

beebalmdancer wrote:

If you have kids, do you find that when your hormones are going crazy they are too?

Yes.

My moods definitely affect the family so I have to re-assure them that my impatience is not related to anything they've done. It helps them to know I'm not upset at them, it's just something I'm feeling inside at the time.

Jeanie

the wolf wrote:

i agree with most of this. its day by day for me. in fact today is very low for me, to the point where i cant really even put it into words, (which sucks), so thats why im just stealing your post.

bipolar without meds sucks bigtime. i need a job just for insurance so i can get back on the meds.

yeah, right now life just sucks pretty much.

I guess I should have mentioned that, that if it was a REALLY bad day I wouldn't even be on the board bothering to try to say how it is. I'd just be staring at the tv, not really watching or curled up in a ball in bed wishing I could stop breathing.

I have a friend who is bipolar and I can't even imagine how bad it must be for you. I'm sorry. I hope tomorrow is a little better.

the wolf

Jeanie wrote:

I guess I should have mentioned that, that if it was a REALLY bad day I wouldn't even be on the board bothering to try to say how it is. I'd just be staring at the tv, not really watching or curled up in a ball in bed wishing I could stop breathing.

I have a friend who is bipolar and I can't even imagine how bad it must be for you. I'm sorry. I hope tomorrow is a little better.

Thanks Jeanie. ya know, sometimes a kind word from a stranger helps too. : ) and i would like to point out that you are the class of the board. always something nice to say to others, that is rare, and very much welcomed.

Jeanie

the wolf wrote:

Thanks Jeanie. ya know, sometimes a kind word from a stranger helps too. and i would like to point out that you are the class of the board. always something nice to say to others, that is rare, and very much welcomed.

Well thank you. Not sure about me always having something nice to say to others but I try to save the not so nice for the deserving. Guess I'm managing to keep my inner nasty in check mostly though.
Takes so little to be kind to others and far more energy to be mean, I don't really understand why anyone bothers with nasty.

MattCameronKicksButt

Odd question Fins.

I'm up and down all the time. The doctor's asked me a couple of times if he thinks I'm bipolor and I'm not. Also been asked about menapausal issues but it's not that and I wouldn't put it down to being a Gemini either.

given2fly78

Isn't it human nature?

I personally find the weather affects my moods terribly. Around December I get into a funk. Granted, between December and January my job is super slow so that doesn't help. But this year, I was horribly blue. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Crying for no reason, I had my first panic attack, not wanting to get out of bed, not wanting to do anything....

Granted, there are a few more things that led to that, but I popped out of my funk after Christmas. But it was disturbing. That was the worst I'd ever felt. To the point that I went to the Dr. (no drugs though! I made that clear). They suggested I go to a therapist or social worker to get some shit off my chest. I haven't yet..... But I probably will.

Life is difficult sometimes. Pressure, stress and I don't know about you but nobody has higher expectations of myself than me. So some days I'm on top of the world and others I'm just......well, lost.

But my biggest salvation is truly Music. When I'm feeling blue, I listen to some killer tunes. And I can honestly feel myself come back up. It's amazing.

I'm also going to start playing around with the guitar. Stress relief. I've always wanted to learn. No time like the present!

But you are NOT alone.

FinsburyParkCarrots

Is it human nature? I've pretty even with my moods. I don't suffer from depression at all. This is why I'm so curious.

On another matter, I would dread to read an A*n**us-style post here, quoting neurophysiological data to "explain" how science determines how people feel on the rollercoaster of highs and lows. I want to read true testaments of how it feels, from real people.

So, thanks, everyone, so far.