Feb 08 2008
The Bipolar Express seems to be on schedule
The Bipolar Express seems to be on schedule.
Bipolar Niece (BPN) just returned to college for the next semester. I was talking with her mother, SisterDear3 last night. She mentioned that her daughter has already started calling her about 5-7 times a day. BPN seems to be stuck on playing the ‘Mother Bashing’ game, even if only by telephone.
So I’m doing the math in my head and I’m wondering… BPN’s last manic episode was over Christmas. She mentioned to her mother that her period was later than normal this month. So was the manic phase. It may just be anecdotal, but BPN’s mood swings definitely seem to coincide with her menstrual cycles. Either that, or BPN has the tremendous misfortune of suffering a manic phase at the same time as having the worst case of PMS in the universe.
So I have a question to any of you who are Bipolar and female; have any of you noticed any correlation with your mood swings and menstrual cycles? I sincerely would like your input.
One response so far
The very best job I could ever imagine is one that would pay me to think… and the currency would be wine!
Absolutely! Hormones play a big part in Bipolar and other neurological disorders. (I am not bipolar though I have struggled with depression however my husband, daughter, and mother-in-law are and my side of the family all struggle with depression.) My oldest, who is definitely bipolar is 10 and has not yet had her period–she does however cycle at the same time I do and already has PMS and is “developing”. She absolutely cycles with the Bipolar at the same time, as does my mil and the females in my family all get worse with the depression during that time.
I believe I recently ran into a study that showed the same– I thought it was on Naturalnews.com but now I can’t find it. I know that when I was studying up on Bipolar and children there was mention of hormones definitely affecting Bipolar (think about it–postpartum depression is a huge thing which is linked to hormones and POMS is linked to hormones, why wouldn’t other forms be linked to those buggers. :))