Bipolars Only Online Support Group

I've noticed that towards the end of march, I have a manic swing, like what is happening right now.

A few weeks ago my days and night schedule was flipped, I stay up until 4:30 A.M. at times, than have to get up at 5:30 A.M. for school. Most of the time I don't have a strong need for rest. Last week I stayed up all night monday night, than for the next three days, I slept a total of 4 hours. I hallucinated a bit, was a little aggitated and hyperactive, but eventually crashed for 5 days afterwards.

In the last 3 days, I've noticed the length of my sleeping time decreasing from 10 hours, when staying up late, to about 5 hours. TODAY I woke up giggling and it feels like I smoked crack when I was asleep. My mother noticed this change and made me go with her to Walmart. LOL Let's just say I was a chatterbox. I bought 20 Dark Chocolate Bars, because I'm craving sweets and chocolate. It's not bad, I feel euphoric, but I plan to contact my Pdoc if I stay up for more then two nights.

I just think there's definately a seasonal aspect to my Rapid cycling BP. At this time last year, I was in a mixed Episode, which led to the official DX of Bipolar. This time, since I'm not working myself to the bone, at some factory, I think that is why it's a Euphoric mood.

Does anyone else have swings related to the changing of seasons?

Hello, and yes I deal with seasonal moods to. My meds help some but still feel the seansonal pulls. And the sun plays a big part in it for me. The more sun I get, the higher I get. I know some people that have to use light thearpy. take care

I don't do quite so well in the summer time. The OKLA heat is like an oven and when I get out in it for very long I get sick and cannot cool down very well. The outdoors light bothers me too. It is just too much and I never go outside w/o sunglasses ever. I do like to sit in the light streaming in thru the windows though. It's bound to be a healty thing to do for a bipolar person. I like the idea of a light box or a well lit room. Don't have one of those light boxes though. I checked them out on the internet and decided they were too pricey for me at this time. Maybe I'll get one for Mother's Day or my birthday in Sept.

Does anybody have a light box or any info on them?? Maybe we could use a thread on that subject. What do you all think about that??

I would much rather be in Ireland every summer, but that just isn't possible. $$$$$$$$$$$$$ !!!

Post edited by: Kelti, at: 03/25/2011 06:01 PM

Being up in the north our winters are really long. I definately have more depressive swings. Sun makes a huge difference for me!

Seasonal mood swings are sometimes associated with bipolar, according to the DSM-IV-TR (the big diagnosing book psychiatrists use). I actually go through that, too. With the better weather, I have been feeling more manic than depressed.

The both times I ended up in the hospital for my psychic break was during the month of October. I find I get depressed during the fall and winter while the spring and summer I experience mania. Now with the medication I'm on, I get depressed than I'm stable then back to depressed.. even if it's spring... so yes, the seasons (and medications) affect us greatly.

defintely affected by the season late winter until early spring always flirt with depression, when the sun is in full force and it is warm, I am always slightly hypomanic. Summer requires much less sleep for me than the winter.We all may have different reactions but most defintely season affect BP

Alot of people with bipolar are affected by winter until spring. Caused by lack of sun. I take vitamin D and am getting a light box. Hopeing next winter will be a little better than this one.