It sounds to me you're experiencing a manic episode. I would suggest seeing you pdoc asap. It sounds like you may need a med change of some sorts. See your pdoc asap! Good luck and I'm sending positive thoughts and prayers your way.

I've been in a mixed state for months. I've been working with the pdoc closely but I cant get out of it. Hes tweaked the meds about all he can, next week I'll probably go on something new.

Just trying to keep it together until I can find relief.

Thanks, cat.

I am big on being obsessive. It sucks. I try to find something to do like a hobby. If I get too worked up on something, I just goto sleep. I am a worrier too. So name it I will worry about it. Stupid stuff. I will worry and obsess until I get exhausted. I am trying to work on my obsessive thoughts.

I dont think I could focus or stop fidgeting long enough for any kind of hobby or take naps right now. That's a good idea, though.

And yes, my entire brain sucks right now.

Hmm to calm racing thought. You probably can’t do this but I count Spanish words by the alphabet. For every letter I think of five words that start with that letter in Spanish. Maybe pick a topic like food or places? That helps me.

My two most effective tools for calming racing thoughts are:

1) I translate the thoughts to foreign languages. It slows the race considerable and turns the thought loops into beneficial language practice. Is it progress that I can now obsess in three languages? I am currently learning how to obsess in Mandarin.

2) I treat the racing thoughts like a purely physical phenom and focus on mental massages for the pressure centers in my head which invariably accompany my own racing thoughts.

Gentle support while you find what works for you, Kitty. The space between my own ears is so noisy that the first time I experienced a quite mind gave me a panic attack. I thought I'd had a stroke or something.

Big hug Sullen..... I'm glad your doctor will be trying something new sweetie..... There is a med that will help you

When I was in a mixed state I was put on one of the old major tranquillizers/AP's …… Perphenazine with Cogentin and it worked within a week and it was wonderful so just a thought to perhaps mention to help to bring you out of it

I wasn't long on this for a long time however it got me out of the state quickly

Mindfulness medition might help..... Colouring uses both sides of your brain so it may help a little.... I think it's going to be a med thing though sweetie

Big hug and a blessing..... xo

Good idea, kisses. My haikus are dark and always just seem to depress me. Ha ha. This is a good alternative.

Im impressed you and arf are so adept with languages!

SunCloud, I'd love to take some major tranquilizing APs. I think it would help. But I cant take anything sedating because of my responsibilities with work and my family. I'm hoping the med change next week works.

SK, I was put on Seroquel - I was working at the time, sometimes commuting to London (60 miles, driving, train, underground). While it wasn't easy it was probably safer for everybody around to be taking the seroquel than being in mixed state.

Good luck for next week.

I take seroquel ( at night, because it is very sedating ) with abilify. I've been on seroquel for 14 years, and 3 years ago, when I talked about how the seroquel wasn't working as well as years before, my pdoc added abilify. Both of them combined work good for me. Seroquel and abilify both can cause weight gain though. I've gained 51 lbs in the last 3 years! Now that my pdoc and I have decreased my abilify to the lowest dose of 2 mg, I want to decrease my seroquel. I'm on 400 mg. I want to decrease it or maybe even find another mood stabilizer to replace it that doesn't cause as much weight gain (which, I know, may be hard to find). Just out of curiosity, I broke one of my seroquel tablets in half. I woke up about 2 hours later with a very upset stomach. I ended up vomiting and diarrhea all night long! When I got up with only about 2 hrs of sleep, I googled weaning off seroquel and the side effects of it are horrendous! The next night I took my usual 400 mg dose and was fine. I'm going to talk to my pdoc about this when I see him in about 3 wks. I know I shouldn't have tried to decrease the seroquel on my own. I know to talk to my pdoc about making any changes with my meds. I was being stupid and I paid for it! From what I read about weaning off of seroquel, the longer you're on it and the higher the dose, the hardest it is to wean off of it, because your body becomes extremely addicted to it. But, the bottom line is, talk to your pdoc about any med changes. Sorry about the long response. This is actually my second response to your post, SK. Good luck to you!

Does anyone know if it's possible to take something like seroquel for only a short time? Like long enough to get me out of a mixed state and maybe (hopefully) stop my cycling? I've been researching the hell out of alternatives to lithium or depakote. That's what my pdoc said would be our next move and I refuse to take those.

They don't effect you like a benzo..... It's a different and older type of drug however they can be quite effective.... They aren't used as much now …… I didn't find it as sedating as Seroquel actually

The category of drug is 'called' a major tranquillizer …. I worked when I was on it and functioned well sweetie.... You can discuss it with your pdoc if you wanted to?

BTW stopping cycling is going to be finding a stable place and staying stable Sullen....

You don't want to keep going back and forth with cycles... it will take a big toll if you do.... It's finding a stable place and staying stable that keeps us well

I wouldn't push ideas away that your pdoc is coming up with without a really good thought out reason why.....We have a treatable disorder


We need to be on medication in order to be well and in order to be stable otherwise this disorder can really mess with your life and the lives of all who love you

Work with your doctor sweetie.... He/she is on your side.... If you don't like your pdoc for some reason then I would find another one but I believe accepting what we have and working with it as opposed to against it is where we find a good place to be..... I know it's hard at times..... Big hug.....xo

I now only take seroquel when I need it - a day or so. Previously I took it for a couple of months. Small doses are very sedating and I never took large doses - so for me I can start and stop it as I please. This is on top of my usual lamotrigine.

Your doctor can advise but that is my personal experience.

When I was in major states I stayed on a big bunch of meds for about a year before working very very carefully with my pdoc to decrease dosages and try out a few new ones. This was when I was hoping for a pregnancy but that has changed. I’m still going through med changes/trials (again VERY slowly) but I’m on lower dosages of seroquel and lamictal, with ambien or Ativan as I need it.

By the way, I’ve spent two years going from 400mgs seroquel down to smallest dose as a maintenance bc I cannot NOT take it or I will not sleep and my brain will not turn off to rest at night.

I have found that there are psychiatrists who almost require a huge medication cocktail, and some psychiatrists willing to work with patients on getting to fewer meds combined with therapy, and though I’m long out of crisis mode, I’d be okay knowing I’d have to increase my meds again should I become episodic again.

Physical exercise has helped me in the past overcome anxiety complications, as has artwork and crafts. I love to write, but sometimes I have to put that away because it overactivates my thoughts.

Best wishes.