I believe that thesebreak-through resistant type symptoms sometimes are caused by triggers and/or chemical imbalances in the brain. Sometimes they go away with time so you don't need to change treatment. But when they don't go away then you need a change. Sometimes they can seem AS severe at not being on meds for me but I have to remember what it was like without meds. I am glad you are feeling better. Take it one second at a time.Some people on meds, their symptoms completely go away but mine don't but still consider that my meds are working for me.

My depression got so bad I had suicdal thoughts. Luckily just talk about it with my pdoc and parents made me feel somewhat better. On Wednesday I felt more like myself and had more energy. I hope things will never get that bad again.

In my experience mood swings will continue even though I'm on a med regimen. The difference is severity. Without meds I'd have terrible mania resulting in arrest and long hospitalizations.
With meds I have no mania and things are pretty much manageable though my moods still shift.

I have not been manic for two yrs. I was manic from a med several months ago though. That mania was not as severe as it was without meds. I mainly hAve been depressed but it was manageable up until this last time. Thank you both for sharing.

Mood swings and breakthrough episodes can deff happen, even if you are medicated, seeing your Pdoc, doing all the right things.

As tommymott said , the severity can be less.

Also as worldofblah said, triggers can set off a chemical reaction and there goes the brain !

These kinds of breakthrough episodes are usually much milder, and when I have them I pull out my tool box and use my coping techniques.

If your breakthrough episode is too severe , a call to your Pdoc is something you want to do

Yeah, I know what you're talking about... I got very suicidal after half a year on Lithium and ended up in hospital. In the beginning I thought it helped, but then everything progressivly got worse again. I haven' been entirely stabile on any medication though... But I find it's usually less severe mood-swings than without medication.

Despite medication, mood swings will still occur. For me it is the most frustrating part of this disorder. Yes, triggers typically do set off a chain of events, and I believe these can cause a 'temporary' chemical imbalance aside from your normal baseline mood.

Are you aware of what your triggers are? Once you have identified them you can prepare yourself mentally and control the severity of the episode. For example, instead of being down for 3 days, perhaps it will only be 1. Knowing your trigger, and learning how to respond to it is half the battle.

Definitely, stay on your med regimen...believe me when I say your mood swing 'deviations' will be much less severe then if you're not on them.

During the down times, It helps me to remember this verse, "This TOO shall pass".

Even on medication you can still have episodes of depression and mania. I think the difference is the severity of the episode. Without my meds I would be in and out of the hospital far to often to hold a job or function in my daily life. So, you have to take your meds even when you are tired of them because they do help. :)

The meds are treatment, not a cure. I'd guess they need some time to "kick in" before maximum benefit, or maybe more finely adjusted, but for now, you're doing better, and that's what's most important. Take care. Hugs.

Thank you everyone! My trigger was a break up and talk of getting a job and it became too much for me. I never had a plan to do anything to myself but the thoughts were really strong so i did go to my pdoc. We are leaving my meds alone for the time being. I do use my coping skills andI do tell someobdy if i am having bad thoughts. I just got over whelmed. It was short lived so that is good.