Severe mood swings can be caused by the mental illness bipolar disorder once called manic depression.These usually last several weeks or months and are far beyond what most of us experience.
There has been at least one high, or manic episode, which has lasted for longer than one week.
Untreated, manic episodes generally last 3 to 6 months. Depressive episodes last rather longer - 6 to 12 months without treatment.
There has been more than one episode of severe depression, but only mild manic episodes – these are called ‘hypomania’.
The feeling of depression is something we all experience from time to time. It can even help us to recognise and deal with problems in our lives.
Like depression, it can make it difficult or impossible to deal with life in an effective way. A period of mania can affect both relationships and work.
When it isn't so extreme, it is called 'hypomania'.
If you are in the middle of a manic episode for the first time, you may not realise that there is anything wrong – although your friends, family or colleagues will. You may even feel offended if someone tries to point this out to you. You increasingly lose touch with day-to-day issues – and with other people's feelings.
treat a manic or depressive episode.
There are several mood stabilisers, most of which are also used to treat epilepsy. However, Lithium (a naturally occurring salt) was the first effective mood stabiliser.
Lithium has been used as a mood stabiliser for 50 years – but how it works is still not clear. It can be used to treat both manic and depressive episodes.
Treatment with Lithium should be started by a psychiatrist. The difficulty is getting the level of Lithium in the body right – too low and it won't work, too high and it becomes toxic. So, you will need regular blood tests in the first few weeks to make sure that you are getting the right dose. Once the dose is stable, your GP can prescribe your Lithium and arrange the regular blood tests.
be careful with tea and coffee - they increase the amount of water you pass in your urine.
It can take three months or longer for Lithium to work properly. It's best to carry on taking the tablets, even if your mood swings continue during this time.
These can start in the first few weeks after starting Lithium treatment. They can be irritating and unpleasant, but often disappear or get better with time.
These can usually be improved by lowering the dose of Lithium.
At first you will need blood tests every few weeks to make sure that you have the right level of Lithium in your blood. You will need these tests for as long as you take Lithium, but less often after the first few months.
Long-term use of Lithium can affect the kidneys or the thyroid gland. It is wise to have blood tests every few months to make sure that they are working properly. If there is a problem, you may need to stop Lithium and consider an alternative.
Drink unsweetened fluids regularly. This helps to keep your body salts and fluids in balance.
Eat regularly - this will also help to maintain your fluid balance.
Watch out for caffeine – in tea, coffee or cola. This makes you urinate more, and so can upset your Lithium level.
Lithium, Valproate and Olanzapine are all equally effective.There are other medications that you can discuss with your psychiatrist.
It is possible that Sodium Valproate, an anti-convulsant, works just as well, but we don’t yet have enough evidence to be sure. It should not be prescribed to women of child bearing age.
Carbamazepine is slightly less effective. It is not usually suggested for bipolar disorder but, if it works for you, you don't need to change it.
‘Atypical’ antipsychotic medications (such as Olanzapine) can also act as mood stabilisers.
Lithium, Sodium Valproate and Olanzapine will usually be recommended for long-term treatment.
Carbamazepine may be suggested if you have faster and more frequent mood swings.
A combination of drugs is sometimes needed.
Much depends on how well you get on with a particular medication. What suits one person may not suit another, but it makes sense to first try the medications for which there is better evidence.
What will happen without medication?
Lithium reduces relapse by 30–40%, but the more manic episodes you’ve had, the more likely you are to have another one.
As you get older, the risk of getting further episodes stays much the same. Even if you have been well for a long time, you still run the risk of having another episode.
After just one episode, it’s difficult to predict how likely you are to have another. You may not want to start medication at this stage – unless your episode was very severe and disruptive.
If you have a second episode, there is an 80% chance of further episodes – so most psychiatrists would usually recommend a mood stabiliser at this point.
For how long should a mood stabiliser be continued?
If you continue to have troublesome mood swings, you may need to continue medication for longer.
In between episodes of mania or depression, psychological treatment can be helpful. This should be around 16 one-hour sessions over a period of 6 to 9 months.
cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for depression.
You should discuss any pregnancy plans with your psychiatrist. Together, you can arrange how to manage your mood during the pregnancy and for the first few months after the baby arrives.
If you are pregnant, it's best to discuss with your psychiatrist whether or not to stop Lithium. Although Lithium is safer in pregnancy than the other mood stabilisers, the risk to the baby needs to be weighed against the risk of you becoming depressed or manic. The risk is greatest during the first three months of pregnancy. Lithium is safe after the 26th week of pregnancy, although you should not breastfeed your baby if you are taking Lithium.
During pregnancy, everyone involved - the obstetrician, midwives, health visitors, GP, psychiatrist, and community psychiatric nurse – need to stay in touch with each other.
Antidepressant medication will usually need to be added to any mood stabiliser. The most commonly used are the ‘SSRI’ (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor) antidepressants. These affect the action of a chemical in the brain called serotonin, and seem to be less likely than other kinds of antidepressant to push someone into a manic episode. The older ‘tricyclic’ antidepressants should be avoided for this reason.
If you have had a recent manic episode or have a rapid-cycling disorder, an antidepressant may push you into a manic swing. It may be safer to increase the dose of the mood stabiliser without an antidepressant.
Antidepressants can take between 2 and 6 weeks to improve your mood, but sleep and appetite often improve first. Antidepressants should be continued for at least 8 weeks after the depression has improved, and then should be reduced slowly.
Even when you feel better, it is safer to carry on taking the tablets as your GP or psychiatrist advises. If you stop them too soon, you are more likely to become depressed again. If you stop them suddenly, you may get withdrawal symptoms.
If you have repeated depressive episodes, but have never switched to mania on antidepressants, you can continue on both a mood stabiliser and an antidepressant to prevent further episodes.
If you have had manic episodes, you should not continue antidepressants long-term.
Any antidepressant should be stopped. A mood stabiliser or antipsychotic medication can be used, either alone or together. Antipsychotic medications are used in schizophrenia, but they also help to reduce the overactivity, grandiosity, sleeplessness and agitation of a manic episode.
The older antipsychotics (e.g. Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol) have some unpleasant side-effects such as stiffness, shakiness and muscle spasms. Some of the newer drugs (e.g. Risperidone, Olanzapine) can improve manic symptoms without these short-term unpleasant side-effects.
Once the treatment has started, symptoms usually improve within a few days, but it may take several weeks for a full recovery. You should check with your GP if you want to drive while taking this sort of medication.
Learn how to recognise the signs that your mood is swinging out of control so you can get help early. You may be able to avoid both full-blown episodes and hospital admissions. Keeping a mood diary can help to identify the things in your life that help you – and those that don't.
Try to avoid particularly stressful situations - these can trigger off a manic or depressive episode. It's impossible to avoid all stress, so it may be helpful to learn ways of handling it better. You can do relaxation training with CDs or DVDs, join a relaxation group, or seek advice from a clinical psychologist.
Depression or mania can cause great strain on friends and family - you may have to rebuild some relationships after an episode.
It's helpful if you have at least one person that you can rely on and confide in. When you are well, try explaining the illness to people who are important to you. They need to understand what happens to you - and what they can do for you.
Try to balance your life and work, leisure, and relationships with your family and friends. If you get too busy you may bring on a manic episode.
Make sure that you have enough time to relax and unwind. If you are unemployed, think about taking a course, or doing some volunteer work that has nothing to do with mental illness.
Reasonably intense exercise for 20 minutes or so, three times a week, seems to improve mood.
Make sure you regularly do things that you enjoy and that give your life meaning.
You may want to stop your medication before your doctor thinks it is safe – unfortunately this often leads to another mood swing. Talk it over with your doctor and your family when you are well.
If you have been admitted to hospital for bipolar disorder, you may want to write an ‘advance directive’ with your doctor and family to say how you want to be treated if you become ill again.
lipid levels - for all patients over the age of 40.
ALithium level check will need to be done every 3-6 months and a blood test for thyroid and kidney function at least every 15 months.
Mania or depression can be distressing – and exhausting - for family and friends.
It can be difficult to know what to say to someone who is very depressed. They see everything in a negative light and may not be able to say what they want you to do. They can be withdrawn and irritable, but at the same time need your help and support. They may be worried, but unwilling or unable to accept advice. Try to be as patient and understanding as possible.
At the start of a manic mood swing, the person will appear to be happy, energetic and outward-going - the ‘life and soul’ of any party or heated discussion. However, the excitement of such situations will tend to push their mood even higher. So try to steer them away from such situations. You can try to persuade them to get help, or get them information about the illness and self-help.
Practical help is very important – and much appreciated. Make sure that your relative or friend is able to look after themselves properly.
In between mood episodes, find out more about bipolar disorder. It may be helpful to go with your friend or loved one to any appointments with the doctor or psychiatrist.
Give yourself space and time to recharge your batteries. Make sure that you have some time on your own, or with trusted friends who will give you the support you need. If your relative or friend has to go into hospital, share the visiting with someone else. You can support your friend or relative better if you are not too tired.
In severe mania, a person can become hostile, suspicious and verbally or physically explosive.
In severe depression, a person may start to think of suicide.
talking of harming or killing themselves.
- get medical help immediately.
Keep the name of a trusted professional (and their telephone number) for any such emergency. A short admission to hospital may sometimes be needed.
If you become manic or depressed, you may temporarily not be able to look after your children properly. Your partner, or another family member, will need to organise the children's care while you are unwell. It can be helpful to make plans for this in advance when you are well.
You may find that your child may feel anxious and confused when you are not well. If they cannot express their distress in words, toddlers can become difficult or clingy, and older children will show it in other ways.
Children will find it helpful if the adults around them are sensitive, understanding, and can respond to their difficulties in a calm, consistent and supportive way. Adults can help them to understand why their parent is behaving differently. Questions will need to be answered calmly, factually and in language they can understand. They will feel better if they can keep to their usual daily routine.
Older children may worry that they have caused the illness – that it is their fault. They need to be reassured that they are not to blame, but also to be shown what they can do to help. When an older child takes responsibility for caring for a sick parent, they will need particular understanding and practical support.
A not for profit organization based in San Diego whose mission is to eliminate Bipolar Disorder through the advancement of research; to promote and enhance care and support services; and to erase associated stigma through public education.
Provides support, advice and information for people with bipolar disorder, their friends and carers.
Provides information, support and advice for people affected by bipolar disorder and all who care for them. Promotes self-help throughout Scotland, and informs and educates about the illness and the organisation.
Welsh organisation whose sole purpose is to support people affected by depression.
Organisation run as a source of support for people with depression, or their carers. A national mutual support group for people suffering from depression.
Confidential, non-judgmental support 24 hours a day by telephone and email for anyone who is worried, upset, or suicidal.
An Irish organization that assists and supports those suffering from depression and their families. A helpline is available as well as support groups, lectures and current research on depression.