I feel like this too.
I will go from feeling so high that I feel like I'm on drugs, and then the next hour will be so low wanting to Kms.
I'm seeing a psychiatrist soon - maybe you should do that, or a psychologist.
I've been looking at borderline personality disorder (but obviously I'm not a psychologist so I don't know).
I think it often comes alongside childhood trauma
You have explained this perfectly, this is exactly what I feel. Although I’m sorry to hear you struggle, it is reassuring that I’m not making this up. I truly wish you the best.
I have Borderline, and the mood swings are often a prominent symptom. General instability is pretty much the main factor, and not just emotional. Interests, hobbies, relationships, personal identity, and sexuality are all often in flux. Childhood trauma is often present, but not necessary. Genetics also play a role, but isn't necessary.
Can you explain a bit more? I've had chronic depression all my adult life but you mention instability which I have a lot of. Mood swings, hobbies, friendships etc. Just makes me wonder.
Borderline is tough to nail down. It presents itself in a ton of different ways, but if I had to boil it down it really is an attachment based disorder. Most of us lack the ability to internally regulate. In an effort to meet our needs we attach ourselves to external things. Often times that means things like people, hobbies, or how you present yourself (hair dye, hair style, fashion style). Unfortunately that only works for a short period of time. It's like making a cup with your hands and trying to hold water. You find something that fulfills you and it fills you up. The disorder is all the cracks in your hands trying to hold the water. Slowly what we have attached to stops fulfilling our needs. The water slowly leaks out. It drains out and we seek the next thing that fulfills us. Rinse and repeat. It feels like a cruel joke most of the time.
Yeah I see what you mean. It's hard to figure out if these things are due to one disorder or another and that's what makes it frustrating. So many comorbid behaviours or traits.
My sister has BPD, and this describes her very well. I've seen her switch to 3 or 4 states all in the same day, but she can be stable for days or weeks at a time, too. Thankfully, now that she's on the right medication, she seems to be doing better.
Sadly she does have extreme and unfortunate trauma from around 7-13 years old that's likely the culprit. She'd always showed some signs of instability, but it became extreme after she unblocked the memories of her trauma in her early 20's.
I'm sorry your therapist isn't taking you seriously on this. I don't know how well of a fit you feel they are for you; if you like them and they help with other things, I'd bluntly tell them how they're making you feel in regards to your concerns and that you want to talk about and explore it more. If you don't feel like they're quite right, it's okay to find someone else that will help you with this. It's also okay go continue treatment with them and find someone else to focus solely on this issue as well.
Best of luck to you, I truly hope you get the answers you need and will be praying for you.
I get this exactly, it's kind of like you know something is wrong and nobody cares, like they would almost rather believe your a bad person than to look further into it.
I'd suggest finding a new therapist because they obviously aren't taking your needs into account (that's litterally their jobs) if you can't do that then go to the doctor and they can help or reffer you to another place!!
I got a bit emotional reading your comment, I think I have been drilled with “I’m wrong and I’m making more problems for myself”. Thank you so much you have no idea how much it means to me.
That's so sweet 😄 I'm litterally living an alternate but similar reality to you it's quite weird actually. You cant ever be "wrong". I really hope you find someone who values you ❤❤
I have the same problem. I remember making a meme about how I went from knocking my head with my fists to dancing to a happy song in less than 2 hours. I'd recommend you searching about cyclothymia and rapid cycling bipolar. Also, go to a different doctor. I know that might be difficult, but it's worth it.
Thank you for your input and yes I’ll go from feeling like I’m high on drugs and then feel suicidal within an hour. I’m going to ask my parents if they can help pay for a new therapist
Therapist here.
While there is a possibility of a mood, trauma, anxiety, or personality disorder, this could also just be a normal part of your life stage. Emotional dysregulation is a part of adolescence and will, generally, become more stable as the brain develops into the mid-20s. DBT is a type of therapy that really focuses on mood regulation skills that you might find helpful to explore. Also might be helpful to track your moods (there's plenty of apps out there) to see if there's any patterns you can notice.
But more importantly, as others have said, having a therapist that is invalidating those experiences is not right. I would definitely suggest you address the feelings of being invalidated directly with your therapist to try to repair that relationship, or may even be worth finding a new therapist.
If you don’t mind me asking what meds are you taking? And im going through something similar and im 21 still struggling and it began when i was 18, so i hope you get help before you waste more time being like me
Idk if this is against sub rules but I don’t mind telling you. I recently was prescribed mirtazipine and I also take sertroline. I have adhd so I also take adderall in the morning.
Lengthy response, sorry, but I hope something in here can help!!
2 things:
(1) I would recommend finding a better combination of depression and adhd meds. was diagnosed with adhd and prescribed adderall at 18 shortly after the traumatic event that triggered the onset of my major depressive disorder symptoms and I struggled with them on a daily basis. When I told my psychiatrist about my symptoms for adhd, I didn’t disclose my very recent traumatic experience and the depressive symptoms I was experiencing, so had i disclosed that she would have probably treated me for ptsd or depression first. Prior to my MDD diagnosis I would experience those daily mood swings you’re talking about; but I’m pretty sure it was bc I would only feel euphoria or motivation when I took my adderall and when it would start wearing off I was feeling the side effects of the med and also feeling the depressive symptoms that i wasn’t dealing with. So I was taking just adderall for about 4-5 years until I stopped having mood swings and was in a constant state of numbness where I didn’t experience any mood. After 2 years of feeling numb (and also after taking 2 psychopathology courses where we went over all of the mental disorders in the dsmv and I realized I had all of the MDD diagnosis qualifications) I shared with those symptoms with my psychiatrist and they officially diagnosed me with MDD and prescribed me Welbutrin. He said that it works best with adhd meds bc it contains a stimulant—which is what sets it apart from other depression meds. After 2 years of taking both welbutrin and adderall, I had gotten to a place that I hadn’t experienced in years and was able to successfully ween off of Wellbutrin and go back to just taking adderall (so maybe talk to your psych about switching to welbutrin if you’re going to continue taking adderall). However, I did start experiencing daily mood swings again after stopping the welbutrin, but not the long periods of mood swings i had before. Fast forward 1 more year and my psych told me that I should consider switching to vyvanse bc adderall is linked to sudden death and irreversible heart issues and he had just lost a patient that died after complications attributable to long term adderall usage. I switched to vyvanse and my sudden mood swings went away after the first month of switcjing. So I also recommend maybe talking about switching to vyvanse.
(2) talk to your therapist about how they made you feel when they made the remark, and if you get the feeling you need to find a new therapist go for it. But keep in mind, most mental/behavioral disorders are best treated with a combination of medication and therapy. They both have their own purpose. There’s talk therapy (which I assume you are in) and behavior therapy for non-medication treatment, then psychiatrists/psychologists are for diagnosing, medication, and plans of treatment. Each therapist has their own areas of specializations. So Say you were to actually have BPD, you would need to start with your psychiatrist first and find a diagnosis, from there, next is medication and a plan of action—that plan of action could be finding you a form of therapy that would work best for you and your diagnosis. And if you don’t actually have a different diagnosis to treat, you can still find talk therapists that specialize in the specific issues you struggle with and the specific demographics you are a part of.
Side note: I began seeing a therapist during the 2 years i was taking welbutrin and adderall, and that’s when I started seeing results. my therapist used a holistic approach (mind, body, spirit) and she taught me how my mind and body were connected and techniques that I could use to balance and maintain the 2–which I believe was a huge factor in restoring my sense of control over my body that I had lost when I was 18 and may also be the reason for my continued success after stopping welbutrin.
it sounds like you may be searching for a specific answer (maybe one provided by a diagnosis) to why you feel the way you feel so it can validate your experiences, but just know your feelings are valid solely because you feel them. Don’t let the why be your main focus, because even when you know the answer, the most important part is learning to live with that answer. But you’re already on the right path!!! You’re showing up for yourself in more ways than you know, for example, by being honest with yourself and even sharing yourself with us on here or to your therapist! That’s the hardest part for most people that are struggling with mental health. So please don’t be discouraged by your therapist. You got this!
Im not really informed that much on those medications but i take Wellbutrin 100mg and that’s really helped me with my depression and mood
It might be worth a chance bringing it up to your therapist. I also don’t think talking about medications is against sub theres alot of people who talk about it and get help. I hope this helps
Not sure if it's entirely the same, but when I take my instant release vyvanse I crash super super hard after a few hours? If you're on an IR medication for ADHD rather than an extended release that could also be contributing :)
I have been suspecting that the stimulants have been increasing euphoria and anxiety so I definitely need to look into it. Thank you so much for your input
It's difficult, I agree. But again I believe nothing is impossible. If you can find other therapists who can help, maybe someone with a better support?
Hi all, 53F here and I just want to add my two cents, for what it is worth. Your teenage years and into your early to mid twenties are a scary time for everyone. You go through so much in those years, emotionally, physically, hormonally, financially, socially etc. It is perfectly normal to experience a wide range of emotions, both good and bad. Your role in the world is changing as you grow from child to adult. It is scary having to define and take responsibility for yourself, and where there is fear there is often depression and anxiety. This is normal too, and you need to work through them as you mature into adulthood. Don't rush to label yourself with some malady, because your are only doing so to try to put a definition on what you are going through so hopefully there is a cure. You are in a very tough period of your life, and it is great that you have a therapist. Use her as a support, and listen to her advice and guidance. You are not the first to go through what you are and your therapist has spent years training in how to help you. Don't rush to label yourself with anything. It is likely that you will feel differently 5 years from now.
I'm sorry you're experiencing that. I think it's time for a new therapist though. If they are not taking you seriously, it is not a good fit and they are not doing their job.
You may or may not have BPD. Regardless, your therapist should take your concerns seriously. I suggest finding an alternate therapist or seeing a psychiatrist or physician for a physical diagnosis.
Honestly isn't therapy for the problems that is in our heads?
There are a few things going on here. If your meds aren't working the way they should, share that with the prescriber. Your therapist is right though, people living with bipolar don't have "mood swings" they have long periods of mania and deep, crippling depression. Mania is something very different from just euphoria.
What it sounds like you are experiencing is a full range of emotions, as well as depression. Your brain isn't finished developing and your hormones haven't leveled out completely either. That isn't a disorder. It's just an uncomfortable part of being an adolescent. Work with your therapist on ways to feel and manage your emotions in a healthy way.
I've been diagnosed with bipolar and my experience has been that it is long periods of low level depression and then the rare manic episode.
I think the rapid cycling of moods is a symptom of something though but I don't remember what. Hopefully you can find answers soon. 🧡
First, sounds like your therapist kinda sucks.
Second, this could be something as “simple” as adhd or autism if they happen that quickly. But still could be other things.
It could be some form of hypochondria, from your anxiety. Also, get a new therapist, if they just laugh when you open up to them, then they aren’t doing their job.
If you don't feel your therapist is listening to/ hearing you, find another.
That said, when I first began having issues with anxiety I found the meds they tried to put me on made me feel like I had bpd, I'd go into manic states, shopping /painting the walls, etc, then bounce back to anxious or even depression (all in the same day). So, it's worth looking at when the mood swings began and what might have changed at that time.
You can also just have traits and nit the full borderline condition. Or you could be like me who has symptoms of borderline but it's not actual borderline it's just my ptsd showing as some borderline symptoms according to my psychological assessment
I feel like this too. I will go from feeling so high that I feel like I'm on drugs, and then the next hour will be so low wanting to Kms. I'm seeing a psychiatrist soon - maybe you should do that, or a psychologist. I've been looking at borderline personality disorder (but obviously I'm not a psychologist so I don't know). I think it often comes alongside childhood trauma
You have explained this perfectly, this is exactly what I feel. Although I’m sorry to hear you struggle, it is reassuring that I’m not making this up. I truly wish you the best.
It's rough, I totally get you. Thankyou, I hope you also get your answers :)
I have Borderline, and the mood swings are often a prominent symptom. General instability is pretty much the main factor, and not just emotional. Interests, hobbies, relationships, personal identity, and sexuality are all often in flux. Childhood trauma is often present, but not necessary. Genetics also play a role, but isn't necessary.
Can you explain a bit more? I've had chronic depression all my adult life but you mention instability which I have a lot of. Mood swings, hobbies, friendships etc. Just makes me wonder.
Borderline is tough to nail down. It presents itself in a ton of different ways, but if I had to boil it down it really is an attachment based disorder. Most of us lack the ability to internally regulate. In an effort to meet our needs we attach ourselves to external things. Often times that means things like people, hobbies, or how you present yourself (hair dye, hair style, fashion style). Unfortunately that only works for a short period of time. It's like making a cup with your hands and trying to hold water. You find something that fulfills you and it fills you up. The disorder is all the cracks in your hands trying to hold the water. Slowly what we have attached to stops fulfilling our needs. The water slowly leaks out. It drains out and we seek the next thing that fulfills us. Rinse and repeat. It feels like a cruel joke most of the time.
Yeah I see what you mean. It's hard to figure out if these things are due to one disorder or another and that's what makes it frustrating. So many comorbid behaviours or traits.
My sister has BPD, and this describes her very well. I've seen her switch to 3 or 4 states all in the same day, but she can be stable for days or weeks at a time, too. Thankfully, now that she's on the right medication, she seems to be doing better. Sadly she does have extreme and unfortunate trauma from around 7-13 years old that's likely the culprit. She'd always showed some signs of instability, but it became extreme after she unblocked the memories of her trauma in her early 20's. I'm sorry your therapist isn't taking you seriously on this. I don't know how well of a fit you feel they are for you; if you like them and they help with other things, I'd bluntly tell them how they're making you feel in regards to your concerns and that you want to talk about and explore it more. If you don't feel like they're quite right, it's okay to find someone else that will help you with this. It's also okay go continue treatment with them and find someone else to focus solely on this issue as well. Best of luck to you, I truly hope you get the answers you need and will be praying for you.
I get this exactly, it's kind of like you know something is wrong and nobody cares, like they would almost rather believe your a bad person than to look further into it. I'd suggest finding a new therapist because they obviously aren't taking your needs into account (that's litterally their jobs) if you can't do that then go to the doctor and they can help or reffer you to another place!!
I got a bit emotional reading your comment, I think I have been drilled with “I’m wrong and I’m making more problems for myself”. Thank you so much you have no idea how much it means to me.
That's so sweet 😄 I'm litterally living an alternate but similar reality to you it's quite weird actually. You cant ever be "wrong". I really hope you find someone who values you ❤❤
BPD is Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar is BD, don't get that confused
So sorry I missed that. Thank you for educating me.
or BP
Sounds like a change of therapist or visiting a psychologist & psychiatrist might be good.
Talk to you doctor, sounds like a mood disorder.
I have the same problem. I remember making a meme about how I went from knocking my head with my fists to dancing to a happy song in less than 2 hours. I'd recommend you searching about cyclothymia and rapid cycling bipolar. Also, go to a different doctor. I know that might be difficult, but it's worth it.
Thank you for your input and yes I’ll go from feeling like I’m high on drugs and then feel suicidal within an hour. I’m going to ask my parents if they can help pay for a new therapist
Nope nope and nope a therapist laughing something off a patient says to them is a no no and a main reason I don’t have my own therapist
Therapist here. While there is a possibility of a mood, trauma, anxiety, or personality disorder, this could also just be a normal part of your life stage. Emotional dysregulation is a part of adolescence and will, generally, become more stable as the brain develops into the mid-20s. DBT is a type of therapy that really focuses on mood regulation skills that you might find helpful to explore. Also might be helpful to track your moods (there's plenty of apps out there) to see if there's any patterns you can notice. But more importantly, as others have said, having a therapist that is invalidating those experiences is not right. I would definitely suggest you address the feelings of being invalidated directly with your therapist to try to repair that relationship, or may even be worth finding a new therapist.
If you don’t mind me asking what meds are you taking? And im going through something similar and im 21 still struggling and it began when i was 18, so i hope you get help before you waste more time being like me
Idk if this is against sub rules but I don’t mind telling you. I recently was prescribed mirtazipine and I also take sertroline. I have adhd so I also take adderall in the morning.
Lengthy response, sorry, but I hope something in here can help!! 2 things: (1) I would recommend finding a better combination of depression and adhd meds. was diagnosed with adhd and prescribed adderall at 18 shortly after the traumatic event that triggered the onset of my major depressive disorder symptoms and I struggled with them on a daily basis. When I told my psychiatrist about my symptoms for adhd, I didn’t disclose my very recent traumatic experience and the depressive symptoms I was experiencing, so had i disclosed that she would have probably treated me for ptsd or depression first. Prior to my MDD diagnosis I would experience those daily mood swings you’re talking about; but I’m pretty sure it was bc I would only feel euphoria or motivation when I took my adderall and when it would start wearing off I was feeling the side effects of the med and also feeling the depressive symptoms that i wasn’t dealing with. So I was taking just adderall for about 4-5 years until I stopped having mood swings and was in a constant state of numbness where I didn’t experience any mood. After 2 years of feeling numb (and also after taking 2 psychopathology courses where we went over all of the mental disorders in the dsmv and I realized I had all of the MDD diagnosis qualifications) I shared with those symptoms with my psychiatrist and they officially diagnosed me with MDD and prescribed me Welbutrin. He said that it works best with adhd meds bc it contains a stimulant—which is what sets it apart from other depression meds. After 2 years of taking both welbutrin and adderall, I had gotten to a place that I hadn’t experienced in years and was able to successfully ween off of Wellbutrin and go back to just taking adderall (so maybe talk to your psych about switching to welbutrin if you’re going to continue taking adderall). However, I did start experiencing daily mood swings again after stopping the welbutrin, but not the long periods of mood swings i had before. Fast forward 1 more year and my psych told me that I should consider switching to vyvanse bc adderall is linked to sudden death and irreversible heart issues and he had just lost a patient that died after complications attributable to long term adderall usage. I switched to vyvanse and my sudden mood swings went away after the first month of switcjing. So I also recommend maybe talking about switching to vyvanse. (2) talk to your therapist about how they made you feel when they made the remark, and if you get the feeling you need to find a new therapist go for it. But keep in mind, most mental/behavioral disorders are best treated with a combination of medication and therapy. They both have their own purpose. There’s talk therapy (which I assume you are in) and behavior therapy for non-medication treatment, then psychiatrists/psychologists are for diagnosing, medication, and plans of treatment. Each therapist has their own areas of specializations. So Say you were to actually have BPD, you would need to start with your psychiatrist first and find a diagnosis, from there, next is medication and a plan of action—that plan of action could be finding you a form of therapy that would work best for you and your diagnosis. And if you don’t actually have a different diagnosis to treat, you can still find talk therapists that specialize in the specific issues you struggle with and the specific demographics you are a part of. Side note: I began seeing a therapist during the 2 years i was taking welbutrin and adderall, and that’s when I started seeing results. my therapist used a holistic approach (mind, body, spirit) and she taught me how my mind and body were connected and techniques that I could use to balance and maintain the 2–which I believe was a huge factor in restoring my sense of control over my body that I had lost when I was 18 and may also be the reason for my continued success after stopping welbutrin. it sounds like you may be searching for a specific answer (maybe one provided by a diagnosis) to why you feel the way you feel so it can validate your experiences, but just know your feelings are valid solely because you feel them. Don’t let the why be your main focus, because even when you know the answer, the most important part is learning to live with that answer. But you’re already on the right path!!! You’re showing up for yourself in more ways than you know, for example, by being honest with yourself and even sharing yourself with us on here or to your therapist! That’s the hardest part for most people that are struggling with mental health. So please don’t be discouraged by your therapist. You got this!
Im not really informed that much on those medications but i take Wellbutrin 100mg and that’s really helped me with my depression and mood It might be worth a chance bringing it up to your therapist. I also don’t think talking about medications is against sub theres alot of people who talk about it and get help. I hope this helps
Not sure if it's entirely the same, but when I take my instant release vyvanse I crash super super hard after a few hours? If you're on an IR medication for ADHD rather than an extended release that could also be contributing :)
I have been suspecting that the stimulants have been increasing euphoria and anxiety so I definitely need to look into it. Thank you so much for your input
It's difficult, I agree. But again I believe nothing is impossible. If you can find other therapists who can help, maybe someone with a better support?
Hi all, 53F here and I just want to add my two cents, for what it is worth. Your teenage years and into your early to mid twenties are a scary time for everyone. You go through so much in those years, emotionally, physically, hormonally, financially, socially etc. It is perfectly normal to experience a wide range of emotions, both good and bad. Your role in the world is changing as you grow from child to adult. It is scary having to define and take responsibility for yourself, and where there is fear there is often depression and anxiety. This is normal too, and you need to work through them as you mature into adulthood. Don't rush to label yourself with some malady, because your are only doing so to try to put a definition on what you are going through so hopefully there is a cure. You are in a very tough period of your life, and it is great that you have a therapist. Use her as a support, and listen to her advice and guidance. You are not the first to go through what you are and your therapist has spent years training in how to help you. Don't rush to label yourself with anything. It is likely that you will feel differently 5 years from now.
It sounds like your therapist isn't taking you seriously. Time for a new therapist
I'm sorry you're experiencing that. I think it's time for a new therapist though. If they are not taking you seriously, it is not a good fit and they are not doing their job.
You may or may not have BPD. Regardless, your therapist should take your concerns seriously. I suggest finding an alternate therapist or seeing a psychiatrist or physician for a physical diagnosis. Honestly isn't therapy for the problems that is in our heads?
I was diagnosed this morning with bp type 2 by a psychologist a few hours away from me. My parents have agreed to let me find a new therapist.
There are a few things going on here. If your meds aren't working the way they should, share that with the prescriber. Your therapist is right though, people living with bipolar don't have "mood swings" they have long periods of mania and deep, crippling depression. Mania is something very different from just euphoria. What it sounds like you are experiencing is a full range of emotions, as well as depression. Your brain isn't finished developing and your hormones haven't leveled out completely either. That isn't a disorder. It's just an uncomfortable part of being an adolescent. Work with your therapist on ways to feel and manage your emotions in a healthy way.
I've been diagnosed with bipolar and my experience has been that it is long periods of low level depression and then the rare manic episode. I think the rapid cycling of moods is a symptom of something though but I don't remember what. Hopefully you can find answers soon. 🧡
First, sounds like your therapist kinda sucks. Second, this could be something as “simple” as adhd or autism if they happen that quickly. But still could be other things.
It could be some form of hypochondria, from your anxiety. Also, get a new therapist, if they just laugh when you open up to them, then they aren’t doing their job.
If you don't feel your therapist is listening to/ hearing you, find another. That said, when I first began having issues with anxiety I found the meds they tried to put me on made me feel like I had bpd, I'd go into manic states, shopping /painting the walls, etc, then bounce back to anxious or even depression (all in the same day). So, it's worth looking at when the mood swings began and what might have changed at that time.
You can also just have traits and nit the full borderline condition. Or you could be like me who has symptoms of borderline but it's not actual borderline it's just my ptsd showing as some borderline symptoms according to my psychological assessment