Does menstrual cycle affect Bipolar mood swings?

Hey guys,

This is pretty much the only place I feel safe enough to talk about this stuff, other than my doctor. And I don't see him for a few days and this question has been pressing on me pretty hard.

Basically, after 9 months of taking an injectable birth control every 3 months, my cycle has been way out of wack. Sometimes months between periods, sometimes a week or two between periods. Lately its been about 1 - 2 weeks between periods which is oh so annoying by the way.

My question is, considering periods involve hormones and obviously mine are all #@$%&*ed up, is this affecting my bipolar and making it worse? I ask this because my mood swings/"cycles" have been more harsh and shorter time between the mania & depression. Are my messed up menstrual cycles playing a part in it?

Please let me know if you have any insight.

yes periods can have a effect on moods , I can't take hormones as it makes my moods way worse

YES! I suggest trying to keep track of your moods/cycles. I have a horrible time with it and have mentioned it to my dr but haven't gotten much help. I just realize I have to let things go and go easy on myself as best I can. Of course, my cycle is due to hit next week when I will have family here and will NEED to be functional. That is almost impossible at that time of month for me. I am trying to do what I can now in anticipation....
I would think there could be more your dr could do to help you. Can you stop the injections? Let us know what your dr says.

I heard a psychologist online. Utube. Talking about how bipolar is a true medical illness. It is not psychological he explained. He said whatever is wrong with us and believed if anyone said they know alot about bipolar they don't. He said the reason many of us get diagnosed at the age of say 18 or somewhere in there, is because hormones awaken the bipolar monster. He said its not when the illness begins. But it is basically what the medical field does about us. They wait for the crap to really hit the fan. At the age when hormones are really coming alive in us. Then they give us medicine to basically keep us out of the hospital. Not as a cure. There is no cure yet. He was very interesting to listen to. His mother was bipolar. He explained that how he was so good at knowing about what goes on. He talked about how we cannot see ourselves on the map with other people when the light goes out in us. He explained a part of the brain. He said if we knew it was out then it really wouldn't be out. He was funny. I liked him. He also said that his daughter is bipolar. He explained a time when she called him on the phone and told him she had told her boyfriend to get lost. For something he thought was actually minor, a minor reason which really didn't need a strong reaction in judgment on her part. Then he asked her if she had her period, or was it due. She said , yeah Dad, I am having or about to have my period. Then she said, "oh, God, that's right dad. "Im

...psychotic, aren't I?" I wish I could remember how to get to this seminar online.

He said that we act funny, but we are not. He explained how diabetic people before they found insulin. Got fired alot. Because of their blood sugar problem, they acted out of sorts and nobody wanted them around, they lost their jobs because of it. He said the same thing is true of bipolar illness today. He said the people from the government SSI and SSDI are asking the wrong questions. They ask if you can work. He said , well Yes they can work if you would stop firing them. lol....
Their was a dancer he called to the stage to show what manic might look like. She was so energy driven, doing gymnastics handsprings and round-offs and cartwheels and leaps and flips and in constant motion. When she was done you were like #@$%&* she must be exhausted ... he said they would give her a break to catch her breath before showing the manic phase. Also when she danced they showed her on a screen, of digital squares , a zillion of them. Which to me showed the whole part of mania or hypomania, that we feel . The high is so perfect, you would think it was a miracle of God. And we are just flying with it. Really good illustration. Then for the depressive phase, she came on and danced again. This time the music was low and heavy and her danced was close to the floor, where she just kind of moved in a heavy sad manner. Two extremes. Really. God is such a great physician. One time I was reading in the book of ecclesiates. and I believe it was the holy spirit or God, that blew the verse my way ... which was.... a wise man will avoid all extremes. I felt good like God knew about me, we'll put it that way, cause he is real and does know alot about me. More than I know even and definately about me. After all, i didn't create myself, he created me. okay over and out... Good luck, its painful following your own storm, and I hope for more

Oliver, a couple days after I posted this my psychiatrist explained the exact same thing to me! He said the period of time when our hormones are the highest or abnormal I guess is when most people are diagnosed. I was diagnosed at 15, although I Know for a FACT I've had Bipolar since as early as I can remember - 3 years old. I always knew something was wrong but nobody knew what. Then like I said, at 15, I finally found out. Which, simultaneously, was right as my hormones were getting pretty crazy. Thanks for the story, and info. Much appreciated.

Thanks to all of you for the info. I know my periods affect my mood swings. I'm 47 and am premenopausal! Very exciting time. Have a period 1 week. 3 days w o 1 and bam you have another 1. Or maybe you go 6 weeks w o 1?!! I can't keep track or plan for any of this and it drives me crazy. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 43 and working for CPS! A very high stress job.

Oliver if you remember the name of the guy from u tube I'd love to know so I can watch him. Thanks,

Merry Christmas everyone!