Wide mood swings should be looked into. Have you been on medications? Are you now seeing someone?
I was on meds for depression for a few years. But have been off them for a year or so and feel great. Enjoy the day!

Bodoni

I am on Mirtazapine and have been for 6 months after citalopram and sertraline didn't work.

I'm going to try and just enjoy the moment.

It seems that you're aware of bi-polar disease so if those mood swings start happening then it's time to see someone about it. But given that you woke up all better I think you should just enjoy life. Yes, it could be something more but it could also be that after 12 months of darkness seeing the light could certainly cause anyone to be manic. Yay for the mania!

kathy

I have those swings as well Manchester. Although I rarely wake up bursting with happiness. I tend to go from very dark depression to less dark depression. The less dark I sometimes mistake for happiness.

Therapy is a must for some, including myself. Please seek help and try and keep those thoughts about self-harm just that, thoughts. I experience them myself and I know the lure can be strong. . .but it's not really an answer.

OK, for argument's sake, let's assume that this 180 swing in your temperament is not just your antidepressant working, but you really are bipolar (antidepressants CAN bring out a manic phase of bipolar personality). That does not mean you are MORE mentally ill compared to what you thought. It may just mean that there is something different than you presumed. My understanding is that for many with bipolar, it is the depressive phase that is so disabling, and it is the manic phase that is the high functioning phase. Many with bipolar disorder are never diagnosed until they enter a depressive phase, some rarely do, or only enter it once.

The reason for this is that our society is geared to accept high functioning manic people. They are energetic, positive, highly productive, and motivating. As long as you stay within the accepted limits (such as no crazy flights of ideas or paranoid thoughts), you should be fine. Still, if YOU are worried, it is something to mention to your doctor.

When depression lifts, either naturally, or due to medication, there can be a danger if you had previously had suicidal thoughts. That is because you may have the energy to carry those thoughts out. That does not mean you will, but that you need to pay attention to them. Those thoughts are never normal. So, make sure you do not dismiss them.

So, if it were me, I'd have cautious optimism and assume it is a good thing and you have found the right medication to emerge from your fog of depression, but also know that you need to continue with your program. PTSD does not simply vanish.

Jan

Sorry to raise up an old post. In a nutshell I posted this a few months ago as suddenly at the flick of a switch my depression and PTSD lifted one day.

This lasted a few days and I drifted back into normal depression but not as bad as before.

My reason for re-visiting this is that on Saturday this happened again. However it this time there has been an extraneous variable. On Thursday I had had enough with taking Codeine and Oramorph and I stopped cold turkey.

I went from 240mg of codeine and 20 ml of oramorph per day to nothing. I was just sick of the fog and tiredness.

I have felt no withdrawal whatsoever and have felt so much better/happier/healthier.

Can anyone explain this?

I'd say you are one lucky dude that you are not a crumpled heap on the floor, going cold turkey like that!!

Other than that, perhaps the chronic opiate use was affecting your mood stability. It happens. For most though, a steady diet tends to stabilize, not destabilize. But, we are each individuals with individual responses....

An

Congratulations! If I'd wake up happy and energetic like you did I'd get on my knees and thank God. I've been wondering if I'm going to have to be on antidepressant and anxiety medications forever. I'm also in chronic pain and I take 30-40 lb hydrocodone a day. I'm going to quit worrying about getting "hooked" and get depressed every time I have to talk a pain pill.

I'm glad you are doing so well! I only leave the house when I have to and then my husband drives me most of the time. I also have fibromyalgia and other problems. It would be so wonderful to just get rid of any of my problems. I think my health is directly related to my depression. Hopefully you will stay healthy and happy. Everybody has a down day every once in a while.

Congratulations and thank you for posting.

I understand where you're coming from Manchester. J Pouches can easily deprive you of sleep, which scientific studies have shown, will leave you depressed. That's just one of many reasons I'm unhappy now, especially with my J Pouch