Why does bipolar at 25 cause one to abandon a new project?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 25 years old and have bipolar depression. One thing that really irritates me is that I keep losing every new project I get excited about.

I will throw myself into something, convinced it is going to change my life, and then a few weeks later, I completely lose interest. It has happened with hobbies, side gigs, and even career plans.

My friends think I am flaky, but I honestly do not mean to be.

Is this kind of all-or-nothing pattern common with bipolar disorder, and are there ways to stick with things longer?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your experience is quite common in bipolar disorders, particularly during shifts between elevated and depressed moods.

During times of high energy or hypomanic phases, it is common for people to feel motivated, confident and believe that a particular project or idea would be life changing and eventually follow up with reduced energy, loss of interest or passion due to change in mood state.

It gives a sort of impression of all-in and nothing type of investment where one feels enthusiastic and gets involved initially and all of a sudden loses his/her motivation and interest.

The problem is not lack of discipline but rather mood regulation in bipolar disorder.

This kind of process can be managed by slowing down the initial commitment process and allowing a couple of days or even weeks prior to investing time and money in new project or idea.

Having a straightforward schedule that is independent of your moods, being aware of your patterns such that you can recognize the warning signs of either overexcitement or depression, and collaborating with your psychiatrist or therapist to stabilize your moods are crucial.

The idea is not to kill the joy of living but to regulate it in such a way that you can see things through without feeling the intense fall that makes you so angry.

I trust I have addressed your question sufficiently.

Do let me know if I can be of further help to you.

Thank you.