[QUOTE=jacky8807;4219666]Rapid cycling means you have 4 or more distinct mood episodes in a year meeting the full criteria for length of hypo/manic/QUOTE]

I probably should have said ultra-rapid. I don't think I'm "ultradian", but I have switched moods pretty rapidly apparently. Like before an argument was over.

Ever since I was inpatient the first time my mood states have lasted days and weeks a few times. I would say in the whole of last year I went from high to low probably 8 or 9 times. Bottomed out once and flew too high to the sun once. The manic episode got me my second trip to the hospital, almost 2 years from the first time I went in (originally diagnosed with MDD). Before I was hospitalized the first time I would be in different levels of depression with hypomanic episodes maybe 2 to 4 times a year. My therapist has pointed to a few times in my past that would put me high enough (and reckless enough) to be considered manic, and she's convinced I was manic most of the time I spent in the Army.

I seriously thought the way I was is how "normal" people are...I was just a little moody. Looking back now I can see it went a whole lot passed "a little moody".