Loss of time episodes with BP

[duckman_42]

I am BiPolar II. Was diagnosed 8 years ago. Currently taking Depakote and Notriptaline anti depressant. The last year has been increasingly difficult. In a bad relationship being forced to work excessively on the house of my girlfriend (bad relationship) and feeling totally trapped. Turning 66 tomorrow and for perhaps the last monthor two been having episodes when a chunk of time just disappears. One minute I am totally awake in the middle of an activity and then I am somewhere else in the house and 20 or minutes or an hour + has elapsed with no recolllection in between. It has happened while driving, watching TV or even on ther computer. Not falling asleep. Just time is missing. One second it could be 5:00 and the next moment it is 6:30. What is this? What is happening? It is frightening.

[sunflwr925]

Your welcome! I am glad this helps. It was scary when I realized my husband was experiencing this. We were lucky that my husband's psychiatrist is a specialist in this disorder and can inform us of what is going on. My husband's psychologist was clueless about this scary symptom (He has talk therapy with a psychologist, and sees a psychiatrist for meds) and it is so hard to find information on this "loss of time" thing associated with bipolar disorder.

~Catherine

[determined2beatit]

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I distinctly know this happens to me and accepted it but had no rationale for it!! Thank You for pointing that out and when I do experience it again, I now know to make sure I get enough quality sleep!
Linda

[jasmine49]

I have dissociative disorder and bipolar and this happens to me when I dissociate, but it also happens when I'm totally stressed out. I was told that I'm safe to drive and carry on, but that I need to rest and remember it will pass as the stress lowers. I was told it is a way for the brain to rest and keep from overloading.There are some techniques you can do if you are aware of it happening. Such as look at your surroundings and count the dark colors objects and then switch and count the light color objects around you. This is suppose to help ground you.

JAsmine49

[sunflwr925]

Yes my husbands psychiatrist who is a specialist in bipolar disorder said that it occurs when you shift from manic to depressed Or I think also vice versa. One way to prevent this, is to get plenty of sleep. -Tough I know with BP. What happens is the brain chooses to "sleep" in the in between states, if you are not getting enough sleep. You are functioning in these states able to drive, shop, work, but your short term memory doesn't work

[determined2beatit]

I know what you mean but it's not that noticeable with me and time jumping ahead,rather, I experience the opposite! Time slows down to the point of almost stopping. Feels like hours go by and only 10 mins passed. I notice not too often and I'm not sure what state i'm in. I do have energy so I'm not depressed at that time. But I know that the time element has been a noticeable occurrence for me also. Maybe sunflwr is right, and it happens in between states. I don't know but I don't like the feeling, the time factor just doesn't make sense to me throughout the day.

[sunflwr925]

My husband experiences this....it happens when you are in between states of a depressed episode, and a manic episode. You are functioning during that time period, however your short term memory does not work during that fluctuation. I hope this helps.

[DLA]

Think you should get to your GP right away and tell them about this.  Don't know if it really has anything to do with being bp or not, but you should be checked over thoroughly.

Take care of yourself and let me know what they say.