Signs I Notice Before a Mood Swing Hits: Living with Bipolar Disorder and Recognizing the Precursors to a Wave

Mood swings can seem to arrive suddenly one day.

But looking back,
there are moments just before that where I feel like something is slightly off.

It is not a clear-cut change.
But it is a little different from my usual self.

I call that feeling,
the "a bit suspicious" phase.

Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder,
I have gradually become better at noticing those "precursors."

This time,
I would like to write about the precursors to mood swings that I feel.

First, let's start with the precursors to depression.

In my case,

・I become unable to sleep
(I have trouble falling asleep even though I am tired, or I have days where my sleep is shallow)

・Fatigue does not go away

・Waking up in the morning becomes difficult

These kinds of changes often appear little by little.

Next, the precursors to mania.

・I cannot stop the work I am doing

・I feel fine even without sleeping

・I feel overconfident for no reason

I am stable now, but
looking back, there were times when these states continued.

However, writing it out like this,
people might think, "If there are precursors, it must be easy to tell."

But in reality,

there are times when I feel the precursors, but
often, by the time I realize it, I am already in the middle of a wave.

Sometimes, it really does hit me suddenly, like a ton of bricks.

Even so, there is one other thing I am mindful of.

That is,
living a life where waves are less likely to occur in the first place.

While it is important to notice the warning signs,
I believe it is just as important to try not to create big waves as much as possible.
I think it is just as important.

For example,

・Not pulling all-nighters or staying up late
・Living as regular a life as possible
・Avoiding getting too hyper-focused on things
・Being careful not to make impulsive purchases

These aren't anything special, but
I feel like these daily habits
help keep the waves a little calmer.

Of course, the waves still come.

No matter how careful I am,
there are times when they are unavoidable.

But compared to going through life without being mindful of anything,
I feel like the way I sway is a little different.

That is why I

value both noticing the warning signs
and living a life that keeps the waves from getting too big.
I value both of these things.

Even if I cannot do it perfectly,
I hope to keep at it within the range that I can manage on my own.

Thank you so much for reading this far🌷
I would be happy if this piece reached someone's heart, even just a little gently.
It would be a great encouragement if you could give me a 'Like♡' or follow me🕊️