Moods That Change

[Darkness Shines]

As in, change every thirty seconds. I've always been this way, at least ever since I can remember. Every thirty seconds may be an exaggeration, but every few hours is not. It can make it difficult to even determine if I'm having a good day or not, because I may have a few terrible hours, but also be bouncy and happy and fine at other times. I don't *think* there's anything wrong with me other than the C-PTSD.

I guess I wanted to ask, do other people's moods change this rapidly? Do you think the moods will improve if I find ways to reduce my other symptoms? I know the constant changes must drive my friends and family crazy sometimes!

 

[intothelight]

My moods change throughout the day, but on a small scale, from mild isolation, to the blues, low level anxiety, etc. It is the major mood shifts that terrify me, as then I am really out of control.

 

[Tinyflame]

I find that my moods are almost always related to an unrecognized trigger of some sort or an intrusive thought, memory or (on rarest-of-occassions flashback) that start a negative sliding-scale downward, particularly with sadness, depression, fear or shame/ blame/ guilt.

The most effective way I have found to be able to 'pull' myself back up is to forcibly think of happier thoughts or what I am grateful for; for the most part that equates to re-orienting myself to the present moment (vs a past traumatic memory or trigger I can't control).

Sometimes feeling unwell makes me more prone to feeling sad as well.

 

[Tinyflame]

I should add I don't think that 'happier' memories etc per se are 'why' that works for me, on their own (though it helps)- more specifically it is effective because it orients me back to the present (I think :confused:!)

 

[Darkness Shines]

My moods change throughout the day, but on a small scale, from mild isolation, to the blues, low level anxiety, etc. It is the major mood shifts that terrify me, as then I am really out of control.

My shifts are pretty major. Like from sobbing to bouncing around happy and then back again. :eek:

I find that my moods are almost always related to an unrecognized trigger of some sort or an intrusive thought, memory or (on rarest-of-occassions flashback) that start a negative sliding-scale downward, particularly with sadness, depression, fear or shame/ blame/ guilt.

I hadn't thought about it that way. It all seems so random in my head. The swinging back to happy could just be what happens when I cope with whatever was triggered.

I'll have to try to see if I can somehow document or identify what I'm thinking just before the switches. If I can focus somehow . . .

 

[Darkness Shines]

My moods change throughout the day, but on a small scale, from mild isolation, to the blues, low level anxiety, etc. It is the major mood shifts that terrify me, as then I am really out of control.

It does feel very out of control, Debbie. The intensity is close to that of my friend with bipolar disorder. I hope it's C-PTSD and not something else!

 

[Grace11]

My shifts are pretty major. Like from sobbing to bouncing around happy and then back again. :eek:

.

Yes, I am like this a lot, too.