Having any type of depression or mood disorder makes you even more vulnerable when in pain, so i would think its the combo doing it. I know it does with me especially with my BPD.

I have had moments of heightened irritability, as you called it, and have also had moments when I've been under sudden stress where I've overreacted a bit, and I know that I am overreacting too but I can't reign it in. This has only been since I've had fibro, I wasn't like that before the fibro and I've never been diagnosed with a mental health issue though one doc I was sent to by Social Security did claim I had an adjustment disorder - but that was mainly because I told him it's hard to come to terms with not being able to be who you used to be or do what you used to do because your body has betrayed you.

I think there is a certain level of oversensitivity due to the overstimulation of our nerves that probably has something to do with it; anyone who also has bipolar or other mental health issues might have it even worse... then again, if you're already on medication for that then maybe not.

Dear AngelaJo . . . Thanks for responding and for verifying my speculation that with fibromyalgia plus bipolar disease, I am at high-risk for accelerated irritability. One thing I'm starting to realize for myself is that I need to kind of nip this emotional pain feature in the bud – that is when I feel it coming on - instead of nursing it endlessly the way I tend to do.

These forums are absolutely a blessing to me and essential to checking in and keeping abreast of my own state of mind with the hope of seeing an improvement across the board in my ability to manage myself. To this end I feel that I need a regular check-in. I'm also toying around with the idea of dropping out of the political sites I belong to which agitate me on a daily basis.

Self control for me is not a given and, although I’ve never had the inclination to get physical, I have a healthy fear of my own darkside which rears its head unpredictably and at a rate of about once every couple months.

Dear TES . . . I cannot tell you how helpful it is to hear your honesty and your descriptions of your experience. What an amazing use we can be to each other in keeping ourselves alert and therefore better able to manage our emotional and physical problems.

Just knowing we are not alone is worth a mint.

Just as you say your body has betrayed you, so has my mind betrayed me when I have a sudden unpredictable angry outburst that I don't seem to have even had a chance to control.

That was a great insight about the overstimulation of nerves causing us to be irritable and touchy. I am on medication for bipolar disease but I don't think it really does all that much to help. Terrible thing is that I actually experience relief after I've had one of these meltdowns and that scares me because I don't want such a cycle to have control of me.

Dear debbiegk . . . Yes that is the thing – I am feeling very very bad about something when I lash out that way. It's not an excuse but I live in a housing situation where I am forced to share laundry room and that has been a source of grief for me. I also am forced to use the community van to get to my grocery shopping and so, so much happens on that vehicle that just irritates the daylights out of me. In addition, I just got over a two year battle to get the tenant downstairs to turn off a screeching loud Halloween lawn ornament that was causing me episode after episode of inner rage.

You have given me a great idea to start talking to my MD about this stuff as I dont yet have access to a psychiatrist on my medical plan.

Hope you continue to feel better and look for encouragement for others who understand!

Hi debbie and thank you for the good wishes . . . I don't know what's going on with me - I had a severe run in today with an escalated hurricane level of senior abuse and disrespect at. of course, Walmarts. I've never felt so ignored, dismissed, and humiliated. I know now intimately what discrimination feels like and it fills the victim, as it did me, with rage. I was 100% right in the situation involving a cash register receipt and they were 100% wrong in there angry determination to deny me my refund. Their manner towards me was outrageous. Of course my bipolar nature was triggered and I lashed out in the only way I knew how, which always makes me feel scared about how far I will go in the future.

Same combination...sometimes I just have to retreat into darkened and silence —pillow and cat help—until I find myself unwinding a bit. Environmental stimulation plus any stress trigger equals meltdown for me. Not an easy way to live. Also curious to see if others have the same experience.