Stress and bipolar episodes

[Wishbone]

No, I don't think therapy is for me. Firstly because I tried CBT and we just couldn't get past the fact that moods appear as if from nowhere, so it feels much more biological rather than a thinking style for me. I don't think myself into misery, put it that way, and I damn sure don't think myself into energetic frenzy! And as I said previously, pretty much every time, I only know that a mood change has happened (we're talking the bigger ones here by the way, obviously I can feel myself changing on the more milder day-to-day stuff) after it has happened, which is too late to do anything about. I don't think DBT would do much different as a result. And secondly, my background is a behavioural sciences area so I can see why we all do the things we do in a behavioural sense, and this isn't it!

 

[Ginger Kitten]

Yes, I understand, but DBT uses a lot of behavioural change over time, not the 'thinking' approach of CBT. I found DBT helped me becasue if I was getting angry, for instance, there were methods to physically cool the body, which cooled (calmed) the mind. It brought my mood under control, back to normal in fact - and it did it in a minute or two.

It worked for me, because although it drew on CBT, that's not a major feature. CBT just doesn't work for bipolar mood swings in my case. And I do understand what you mean about mood swings being triggered by biological factors, because often they are. But not exclusively so, imo. I understand what you're saying because sometimes seasonal light changes in spring and summer can send me high. But in my case, this kind of trigger is much less significant than stress - both internal and external.

I'm sure you know there are many therapies available, perhaps one would help you. I saw a counsellor a few years ago that I just talked to, about many things, not just bp and that in itself was therapeutic and shored me up against the vagaries of the illness. It's not for everyone though.

Maybe a medication review would be possible? If you feel your condition isn't properly controlled and you don't want to do down the therapy route, perhaps your psychiatrist could help? Very best wishes, GK.