Mood Episodes and the Power of Opposites by Robyn Tamanaha, LMFT

When an individual is in a depressive, manic, or hypomanic episode, there’s a pull to go with the emotions they’re experiencing, which then leads their actions to be guided by these emotions. This is an easy thing to do because when an individual is in the thick of their episode it can be almost automatic to be guided by their emotions.

When an individual is in a depressive episode, the depression will convince an individual to be alone, lay around on the couch or in bed, sleep in, sleep more than usual, etc. When an individual is a hypomanic or manic episode, the (hypo)mania will push an individual to think many thoughts at one time, zone into and research that goal they’re currently thinking about, run many errands, move their body a lot, etc. It’s this pull of depression and this push of (hypo)mania that leads individuals to slip deeper into their episode.

The thing to do during these episodes is the opposite of what the depression, hypomania, or mania is telling you. Doing the opposite will allow you to gain control of your body. For depression, doing the opposite may look like getting out of bed at your usual time even if you don’t have anything planned, or planning something that will make you get out of bed such as an errand, task, or walk. Or, even better, planning something with another person so that you not only need to get out of bed, but will also be interacting with another person. For hypomania or mania, doing the opposite may be narrowing down your to-do list that that day from 5 errands to 1 errand, incorporating an activity that will not allow you to be moving so much, such as yoga or meditation, or doing an activity that is calming and slows down your body, such as sitting still and listening to calming music while drinking honey lavender hot tea.

These can be easier said than done, and oftentimes require a lot of practice. For best results, preparing for a future episode and managing actions during an episode is to be done with the assistance of a mental health professional.

You don’t have to do this alone. I specialize in bipolar disorder. If you are interested in receiving therapy with me, let’s schedule a free 15-minute phone consult.

(NOTE: This video was filmed when my office was at a previous location. I am now in Irvine, CA)

My office is located in Irvine, which is near Newport Beach, Orange, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Tustin, Seal Beach, and beyond. I work with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and Asian American & Pacific Islanders.

Disclaimer: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. The topics being discussed are meant as a self-help tool for you own use. It is not psychotherapy or counseling. This information is to be used based on your own judgment. If you need to speak with a professional, you should find one local to you and contact them directly.

**IF THIS IS AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY NUMBER OR GO TO YOUR NEAREST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. **