I don't think it's so much about getting stronger meds but the right ones. Lithium is supposedly one of the best at preventing mania but it didn't work for me.

But are your sure bipolar is behind these temper tantrums?

The kind of impatience you talk about I've certainly had but it persists for days or weeks unless I take extra meds. At times like those I also have other symptoms, poor sleep, constant mental chatter, speaking and moving quickly, plus mentally jumping all over the place - are you getting those symptoms as well?

I suggest this because it's not situations that cause an episode - I'm already in one - that could be due to long term stress or it's just it's time - but frustration wouldn't trigger an episode

just to add - the prozac might not be helping - it could be creating some of this.

I guess I worded it wrong. In my depression cycle these guilt feelings come hand in hand with my "tantrums" and last for a few weeks. It's like I'm already sad and stressed, and impatient but I can keep it under wraps for the most part, then something small happens and it causes me to lose it for a few minutes, then its back to being depressed. My sleep patterns are different. When in this stage I sleep so hard nothing can wake me up and I sleep for hours. The mental chatter never stops. That is an everyday thing. I have been diagnosed with bipolar by 3 different therapists, but like I said the OCD already causes some anger problems and when paired with the down cycle of bipolar it just makes a huge mess.

ok, my suggestion is you go back to your doctor.

It could be the prozac - that can set people with bipolar on edge - so taking that away might make things better.

Then it's possible increasing the doses of one of the meds you are on might help - or there are always lots of other meds.

Unfortunately it takes a while to get these things right.

I have dealt with many an upset that caused anger, sadness, and frustration. Seems to be a part of the Bipolar landscape....

What helped? Taking time everyday to meditate and find out what my inner self was feeling and it was often different from what my outer self presented as.

I need to exercise everyday, eat a reasonable diet, and sleep well if these things go out of whack I'm a sitting duck medication or not. I use a "mood scale" if 10 is the best you ever felt and 1 the worst what is your number today? Numbers above or below 5 require attention...

Welcome to DS this is a great community to get support and give support....

It does no good to bottle things up. If you are not getting enough relief to have things make sense you are doing the right thing considering your med cocktail. Mine was little help to me until I got effective psychotherapy to go with it though. I simply had too many issues unrelated to brain chemicals. All the very best.

Hi TM, welcome to DS....what you wrote sounds much like what I've experienced. I too take lamictal, zoloft for depression. I was given wellbutrin, but it gave me the hebbie gibbies :) and had to stop! Like Moob said, holding stuff inside was what I did for years, then 'one' little thing would send me off light a bomb...not fun for me or those around me. Currently after a depression which started in early November, I've come to a full stop...can't get out of this on my own due to isolation. I stared an IOP group last week, structure, less isolation, and DBT skills (http://dbtselfhelp.com/html/dbt_skills_list.html) lots of mental health tools to deal with emotions. Best to you! ml

I'll have to admit, I was absolutely terrified to start this post! I had an account on weddingwire and asked a couple of questions. Every. Single. Reply. Was so mean. It became my life to try to please these awful people. We didn't have to money to cater at my wedding and I asked for alternatives, I was told I didn't deserve a wedding if I couldn't feed my guests, that I should be ashamed, etc. my point is that I just want to say thank you. You are all so nice and it really is a relief to be able to talk without being judged.

Lots of therapy has helped. But I've always been even tempered anyway. Doesn't matter what meds anyone else is on because we all react differently to meds. Though to be honest I'd worry more about what your psychiatrist says than what your therapist says. Have you tried anger management?

Big hug for you trich..... I agree to see your psychiatrist..... They are the experts on meds.... It often just takes getting on the right med or cocktail at the right dose
Finding other coping skills can help a great deal once meds are working as they should be.... meditation, mindfulness, journal-ling etc