Thanks for the link, LeftCoastChick. Good stuff there. The Zoloft by the way is something I am only going to be on for a short while longer and I see my doc today on the mood hypomania issues and he is going to recommend some sort of treatment for that.
I wish I could just have something physical to deal with that at least I could control. This disease is depressing when you realize it is for life. I just finished the book, "The Unquiet Mind." Great one for those that have not read but I still found that I finnished it a bit depressed when you consider not only what she went through but will continue to go through even though she is under solid treatment.
I've been wondering about Omega-3's. Do you find they really help?
I forgot to add this great website:
http://www.helpguide.org/topic_index.htm
If you look at the bottom of the page, there are links to further info as well. It's been extremely helpful to me.
I'm a rapid and mixed state cycler - it basically means I can have a mood swing that is depression with hypomanic features. I get cranky and irritated and feel down, but then pop right up 3 hours later and a happy camper. I just had my Seroquel upped so that hypomania is better controlled, it's a relief, but I still get some along with mood drops.
Being self aware is most important and how you are going to manage your swings. You can control them to a point. Regulating your sleep, no more then 8hrs a day, no stimulants or very little. I'm allowed 1 cup of coffee a day. I've even dropped my cravings for chocolate which is a stimulant as well. Eating decently, if you can't be more vigilant, look at taking a multi-vitamin, I also take Omega-3, and that's supposed to help.(just my own daily self care, but see your doc first) I do stay away from any herbal compound, as far as I'm concerned it's a non-regulated natural drug. Talk therapy or a support group can be a really helpful alongside a good psychiatrist. You'll have a wellness team, especially if you are newly diagnosed. It was so helpful for me for the first 6 months after diagnosis.
lamictal is a great drug, I wonder about the Zoloft, that's an anti-depressant as well. It doesn't seem like you haven't got anything for your hypomania. If you're still swinging, I would ask about that. Being too up or having mixed states can be most frustrating!
See your doctor, you can control your swings!
Rapid cycling is very common in people with bipolar. I experienced it in the past before my current recovery and Lamictal was quite helpful on it.