Yo-yo Up/downs every few weeks -how improve?

[NutcaseGuy]

For years my mental health has been swinging up / down every few

weeks.

Ups =happy/happy enough

=good self-esteem +fully functioning +not hyper but energetic while also able to relax well + interested in things +sociable +creative.

Downs =very deep depressive

=extreme opposites to above

=basically a waste of space

=as if another person (ref. partner Sue)

I am currenly a happy bunny in 2021July.

I have lots of self-awareness insights, but clearly it (+medication) ain't enough because I'm still yo-yoing.

***I've been on the look-out for ages

***for effective ways of at least reducing how long the downs last / their frequency

***or extending the ups / increasing their frequency.

I'm not expecting never to be unhappy /sad / stressed. I just want to avoid such deep deep deep disfunctional total wipeout depths.

CBT doesn't seem to ever work for me - like water off a duck's back

(altho to be fair I've never given it more than short chances).

Prescribed drugs certainly have not stopped the downs.

In fact I sometimes wonder if they've made it worse.

=for last 3 yrs or so

=Mertazapine 30mg (up'd to 45mg only a few weeks ago)

+Quetiapine (for 2yrs?) 50mg

Thanks for any constructive comments. From NutCaseGuy Stephen

[Hidden]

You say this has been going on for years, so if I was you, I'd consider starting over with your treatment(s). Drop all the assumptions and diagnoses under which you've been treated so far. It's possible that you may have been barking up the wrong tree. Don't even assume it's solely a mental health issue. Get yourself fully checked out physically. For example, are you experiencing pain or any other physical symptoms? Do you get sick - colds, etc. - frequently? Do you have any chronic physical issues? Address these first. Then get another expert opinion about your mental health. At this point, you've suffered long enough, and invested enough, in your current treatment plan. It's not working, it needs to be rebuilt. Maybe you'll keep some things, maybe not. But have no doubt - it can be improved.

[NutcaseGuy in reply to Hidden]

Thanks deuxChevaux (French? / love French horses?) for replying.

"Maybe"goes both ways: maybe it helps /maybe it doesn't? Who knows?

No I don't have recurring physical ailments (you seem to almost assume I do).

I hear + respect 2 GP doctors telling me their gut feeling is not to come off my medication because that would probably make it (even) worse. +A pschiatrist suggests certain medication inc. an alternative drug that we will discuss as soon as she can give me an appointment.I have also tried several therapists over many years, which has helped sometimes at the time but never longterm yet.

My current conclusion is that the best I can do at the moment is ride the waves of depression / survive them. But yes I do continue to believe things could improve =less deep depressions when they come +making me less dysfunctional/ less waste of space then

and shorter dips / longer good times.

Currently (prob obvious) I am appreciating being a happy bunny again, firing on all cylinders + hoping again to get things in place while I am well that will help me get through the bad times better.

[Gunshipmusic26]

I battled similar issues for years myself before finally landing on the best combo of treatment for my specific case. I am absolutely I'm bored two try and bring about some change for you around your current struggles. I think in order to do this in the most efficient and time sensitive manner, I would suggest that we try to link up over the phone or video if you're comfortable in doing that, As I have some questions for you about the feelings, symptoms etc. That are Best digested Live Conversation and also I have typing out books to each other I feel Elise initially is probably a a poor use of time until we figure out what works. Are you comfortable and trying to set up a time for us to chat over the phone or video?