Well, speaking for all psychiatrists everywhere (as usual), the problem isn't so much that no-one's listening or understanding; rather they are listening but simply cannot come up with a pharmacological 'magic bullet'. Sometimes there just aren't any.
'Mood swings' is a fairly common complaint, and when each 'phase' lasts hours to days rather than weeks, it's very difficult to suggest anything constructive in terms of pharmacological support. Quite apart from the fact that, basically, your GP's correct - even quite extreme fluctuations in mood do shade into 'normal' human experience - the nature of many psychotropic drugs makes them unsuitable in this context. Antidepressants, for example, take an average of two to six weeks to exert a noticeable mood-lifting effect - not much help when you want to lift today's 'depression' now. Those drugs which do act instantaneously to sedate or elevate mood tend, on the whole, to be hugely dependence-forming - and to produce an equally sharp swing in the opposite direction when they wear off.
As far as the 'highs' not feeling "natural", I'd be surprised if anything felt 100% free-range, dolphin-friendly, unbleached natural on 60mg Fluoxetine...
I have no idea of your psychiatric history, Cholister, and am loathe to make specific suggestions online but if your GP/psychiatrist hasn't tried you on a mood stabiliser (Lithium wouldn't be indicated but Carbamazepine, Sodium Valproate or Lamotrigine might be worth a whack) now might be a good time. Unlikely to make you feel completely 'natural' - people not infrequently complain of feeling 'blanded out' - but might curb the extremes of your swings. Might.
Given the general inadequacy of psychotropic drugs in the face of rapid 'mood swings', however, I'd be inclined to put less emphasis on medication (the expectant placebo-esque 'high' and subsequent crashing disillusionment if they don't work is a mood swing in itself) and instead pursue all and any alternatives.
So go for it. Basically, anything which you know to have a calming influence on you - people, places, activities - is worth devoting serious time and energy to. Pleasantly repetitive, 'mind numbing' hobbies (swimming lengths, knitting) can help, as can intentionally regressive play sessions (plasticine! finger painting!) Pay attention to your diet (some suggestions above), avoid alcohol and/or other stimulants, try to establish a regular sleep pattern. If possible, keep 'stressful' people at arm's length and make an effort to be around people whose company soothes you. Visit your favourite places with your favourite friends.
Take your medication, same(ish) time every day - but try not to get too hung up on it. In particular, don't clock-watch the hours/days until you expect it to 'kick in'. Waiting is, in itself, stressful.
That's all, really. Common-sense, mealy-mouthed New Agey bollocks - but, while the drugs we prescribe remain coarse, non-specific or hit-and-miss in terms of their actions, that's all we have to offer. |
