But we don't WANNA talk!

Okay... so a few weeks ago my daughter's psychologist suggested I have some cyclothymic tendencies (although he'd tend to lean Mood Disorder, NOS, for me and Cyclothymia for my daughter). So I've been becoming a little more aware of myself the last few weeks... finding some interesting things... kind of a cool journey of self-discovery.

Except... I've known for years that about day 10-12 of my cycle I go into quite the funk. It only lasts a couple of days and by the time day 14 hits, I'm doing much better. So it hit Friday night. No reason, having fun with friends, and suddenly I'm quiet, distant, feeling very isolated. Next day I'm highly irritable (at least as far as my dh), and again quiet, melancholy, distant. So sitting at a fundraiser dinner which I didnt' want to be at, but my husband decided for some reason it was important to go as a family... and my mother notices my mood and asks if I'm okay. I knew full-well what was going on, but didn't wanna admit it, let alone talk about it, and so I muttered "I'm just tired." In truth, I felt "watched" because I'd just recently told her about the pdoc's thoughts. I felt like she was watching for signs I was cycling, afraid I was getting too low or out of control. I couldn't even look her in the eye when I replied... Those reactions are ridiculous, I know. She just saw me too quiet and wondered what was up. But those reactions were there and way over-sensitive... But just knowing it, doesn't change it. And I'm struggling with how to deal with it; how to react appropriately; how to tell my family how to best approach/help me.

Because... this morning DD was HIGHLY irritable. I know she's got a lot of stuff going on right now. And I asked her what was wrong (in a totally sweet voice) and got snapped at, "Nothing!" Later, I was driving her to a new job orientation when she was again a little touchy and I asked about it. Same poor response. A little later something else set her off. Thinking about the new job orientation, and not wanting her to "lose it" at a bad time, I very lightly told her that she was touchy today. Of course that went over really well. But here's the thing: I GET IT!!! I had the same reaction to my mother (and everyone at the table) on Saturday. But just because I get it, doesn't mean I know how to help my DD... especially since I haven't figured it out on my own end!

So... any thoughts from the more experienced?

I'm sorry nobody has answered you sooner. I don't have an answer based on any experience like yours. But maybe this will help. On a day when things are better and you can talk to her, try to agree on a protocol for how you should act toward each other on the bad days. Let her know you understand that some days she'll be fine with talking and others she won't but you need a way to know that.