Mood Swings

[heyheyhey]

When my PTSD first kicked in, I was having really severe mood swings - from elation to depression and back again - that would be triggered by the slightest thing. I think a lot of it was also down to adrenaline and panic attacks and sometimes when I was feeling very fearful but averted the feelings or something, I felt that I'd experience a very elated mood. Over time, as my PTSD has gotten better, so have my mood swings but I still occasionally feel like I am hyper sensitive and go from feeling down to happy and energetic in the same day or for a few days at a time. I'm just wondering, does anyone else have this? And does it get better with time?

Sometimes I worry it's a mood disorder, but it doesn't tend to effect my behaviour at all - it's just a feeling... and sometimes people might say "oh you're perky today" but it doesn't seem anything major... and it seems to be getting better as my PTSD gets more manageable.

 

[Silver.]

I have gone through all of this (and surprisingly a lot of people will tell you the same)
I was diagnosed with mood swing disorder and bipolar before the whole lot finally agreed it was none of the above and was PTSD
I just try and go with the flow of things. I embrace the ups and reach out during the downs. The more you try to go with the flow of things, instead of fighting the ebb and tides, the easier it gets to manage them x

 

[NatBird]

I can relate. I don't think I am 'recovered' enough to know if it gets better over time.

I can share that my relationship to the extreme feelings is changing, dare I say getting better!

Increased awareness means I'm not feeling like I'll feel whatever the feeling is, for eternity. I have a sense that it is passing. This sense contributes to generally feeling stabler.

Hope that made some sense.

Wishing you well.

 

[PTSDisweird]

When my PTSD first kicked in, I was having really severe mood swings - from elation to depression and...

Yeah I can relate too.

To be honest? I am not a professional, but i think that ptsd is very misunderstood, and everyone experiences it in their own way. I read somewhere that scientists have hard time finding solid criteria for ptsd because of the different manifestations among the sufferers.

Yeah mood disorders are one thing, but again, mood swings can be a symptom of so many more "disorders". For example, since I was a child i had mood swings, or more accurately emotional dysregulation, because of my severe ADHD.
If your mood swings happened after your trauma and ptsd onset, then most likely its because of it. Thats my personal (ofc non-professional) opinion.

 

[heyheyhey]

Thanks so much guys :D! I've been reading up on cyclothymia and I don't actually think it is that..I've always been kind of moody in nature or moody swingy and do see that my moods are getting better - guess with PTSD everything is so out of balance!! I definitely say I'm mood swingy, but it doesn't massively negatively influence my life either way - like it seems to in other mood disorders :). Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, I feel far less alone :)!! Interesting what you mention @PTSDisweird that "scientists have hard time finding solid criteria for ptsd because of the different manifestations among the sufferers".

 

[PTSDisweird]

Thanks so much guys :D! I've been reading up on cyclothymia and I don't actually think it is that..I'...

Everyone has some tendencies for some mental issues. They already exist, but after trauma and PTSD onset, as you said, they get out of balance. Many people have mentioned such experiences in this forum. For example for me, after the PTSD, my body image issues got extremely serious, OCD too, in fact like you, i got obsessed at some point about cyclothymia and other disorders, i couldnt stop googling the symptoms for weeks.

Ofcourse you are not alone. Be well. :)

 

[heyheyhey]

Everyone has some tendencies for some mental issues. They already exist, but after trauma and PTSD...

Thank you :). I am sure it is PTSD more than anything. I need to stop reading because i just freak myself out and worry about possibly having something else 'wrong' with me!

 

[Gadgie]

Yea! I get annoyed with my own mood swings, mainly because I have no control over them, and that's frustrating!

They come and go so quickly, and no matter how hard I try, I just can't shake them off!

I can change from feeling quite happy one minute, to really feeling depressed and tearful, but fortunately they don't last too long, a few hours at the most, apart from the anger ones, they seem to last a lot longer?

 

[PTSDisweird]

Yea! I get annoyed with my own mood swings, mainly because I have no control over them, and that's frust...

But people, mood swings arent abnormal since they dont cause pain or other problems. And not to sound sexist, but especially women are quite prone to mood swings without suffering from a mental issue. That being said, i know a lot of people in real life with mood swings, including men ofc, so its not that rare and its not necessarily a problem. :)

 

[joeylittle]

women are quite prone to mood swings without suffering from a mental issue.

It's because many of us are biologically tied to regular, repeating hormone cycles for a large portion of our lives. Men would certainly have the same thing, if their bodies prepared to get pregnant once a month.

 

[heyheyhey]

Yea! I get annoyed with my own mood swings, mainly because I have no control over them, and that's frust...

Hey Gadgie, totally know what you mean about anger. I think sometimes it's good coz it's self-protective and shows self-respect but can making you f*cking miserable when it pervades your life!! I end up listening to some talks on compassion or do some kind of compassion practice every once in a while, just so I can stay chilled and not be overwhelmed and made miserable by it!!

 

[heyheyhey]

But people, mood swings arent abnormal since they dont cause pain or other problems. And not to sou...

I found out recently that men actually have the same cycle as women, only it happens through a 24 hour window. So we have the hormonal stuff that just lasts longer, in cycles throughout the month.

One of the things that made me think WTF is wrong with me, is that I actually have a hormone tracker app that lets you know how your mood will be effected on which days of your cycle. Before the full blown PTSD showed up it was spot on, whereas now my moods are generally all over the place despite the 'time of the month'. I guess they do get more balanced with time though :), as I get more treatment.