Quote:
Originally Posted by ~Christina
The DSM guideline is having more than 4 distinct episode in a 12 month rolling period is considered Rapid cycling.
Rapid cycling happens but often people call it rapid cycling when in fact they have yet to find baseline. So until a person find stability whats to compare too?
Ultra cycling is quite rare... This is often just a person that is all over the map because they haven't found baseline and the treatment meds and coping skills are not working , so adjustments need to be made its not just medications.
And just food for thought, Often Bipolar is to blame for any mood shift, Bipolar people are going to be happy or sad or pissed because the situation warrants it.
Examples:
If I am stuck in traffic and going to be late for something ,, Sure I am going to get angry... Bipolar? No traffic.
If my husband is being a jerk ,, I can get pissed and it have nothing to do with Bipolar.
If my pet goldfish dies.. Im going to be sad.
If a kid is screaming bloody murder in the grocery store and Mom or Dad doesn't try to quiet the child down... I'm going to be irritated as hell .
Of course this is just my opinion  |
This. I fell some bipolar people are too quick to blame any mood shift on bipolar and thus think they have ultra rapid cycling when they really have a hard time regulating emotions brought on by situations.
I don't consider myself in an episode unless the mood shift lasts for three days or more.
That being said I do have technical rapid cycling because when Unmedicated I tend to go in two week cycles, so that's more than four episodes a year. Now with proper medication and coping skills I have been stable for four months. The downside is when I get depressed I tend to stay in it longer now because the medication kills any hypomania/mania.