[watchthestarsfall]

I've noticed in "textbook" answers to what Bipolar is like that there is the classic "2 week" depression or something and that usually is the common one with only one episode of mania or hypomania needed for a diagnosis.

However, the people I know with bipolar syndrome seem (and I know this is a horrible word for it) moody. Like they swing high and low really easily and rather quickly. It isn't like they're steady state for longer than say...a few days.

My one ex-friend in particular would tell me that she would be there thinking about bad things in a low and then 10 minutes later be like "what the heck am I doing?" And also I know that she would be complaining about having a bad day and then something would happen and she would be "OMG SUPER AWESOME YEAH!" again.

So I was just wondering how common it is to have either the textbook or the superultrafast cycling?

I haven't been diagnosed with bipolar...but recent events have lead me to believe I might be. I spent the last 3 weeks pretty depressed, barely got out of bed etc. And now my mind is racing and everything is shiney and happy and new and gorgeous and nothing can go wrong and I love everything. I feel high, like on drugs, but all I've had is a pepsi.

Well, mine vary, but sometimes go on for months. The longest hypomania I had went on for a month and a half (once I was aware of what was going on -- for years I wasn't and can't account for time frames). My depressions are the more frequent feature and sometimes go on for months. That said, it's not all that consistent. Sometimes they are longer, sometimes shorter. Inside of the larger picture, I sometimes "flip a switch" for much shorter spans of time. I tend to think of these as cycles within cycles -- one or the other is really dominating, but there are short spells of something different. Most of the time when it's really flipping, I think it's more "mood lability". These aren't really cycles, it's just that moods can take big changes in short order.
Just my experience, but hope that's helpful!

[meApe]

Some people get like a seasonal depression. Winter is always the worst for me. The depression gets so bad and the isolation and desperation. There are good days, or even a few good hours. Moods can change very quickly though and there are times when things are going great and you stop for a second just to breath and the mood changes. Sometimes without a trigger. Just sitting down cause a mood change from fun and exciting to sad and angry.

I have to agree with above. They cycles aren't perfect, nor are they predictable. You can't see them coming and they do spring up over night.

There are definitely morning during the ups when you feel like you can take on the whole damn world. Anyone or anything that tries to stop it will be dealt with in a harsh and unforgiving manner.

[Eloise42]

Before I was diagnosed and on mood stabilizers I had WAY more depression than manic episodes. Intense mania lasted anywhere from twenty minutes to three days. Although I was on Remeron to manage anxiety and insomnia so that might have helped keep the episodes somewhat in check.

I wasn't strictly always either up or down, sometimes I was just stressed out and anxious. I've known people who have episodes that last months. I've had multiple episodes in an hour or at a time.

The exact cycling isn't as significant as the reality that there is a noticeable pattern of behavior.

[The Crazy Rambler]

Hi Waththestarsfall,

As the others already have said, it is pretty personal how fast anyone will cycle. There are so many things that can influence it. I had all the moods in April, due to severe stress. Before I was diagnosed my moods in hindsight would last several months and sometimes even longer. I remember being overly active for a couple of years, after which I had a severe disabling depression lasting nearly a year. But my inital diagnosis of BP II has developed in BP I with rapid cycling and mixed episodes. It stinks, as indeed I can simply wake up in a foul mood and not knowing what to do with myself. I hope all this instability is also partly due to trauma work, and I do sincerely hope that after my trauma work life will get more stable. I hte the inpredictability so much.
I actually doubt if there is any 'textbook' BP's out there as BP is an disorder that takes on very personal traits, if you know what I mean. You don't need to have all the traits listed in any one textbook. If you suspect you have BP Disorder, I would suggest you go to a psychiatrist to find out for real. A pdoc can then help you get more stabilized and find ways for you to have a better quality of life.
Good luck to you!

The Crazy Rambler

[sugahorse1]

I cycle often, with depression dominating. I usually only have a day (Sometimes only a few hours) or 2 of hypomania symptoms

[Shakti]

Hi all, I'm new here. I've posted in the introductions section, but this is my first post here.

I'm a rapid cycler, a lot of mixed states, depression predominating. Depression can last any length of time, but usually once it comes it's here to stay a while, but like someone else said, inside the larger picture the switch can be flipped...so while in a long depressive phase I can switch to a more manic state for brief periods of time (probably a mixed state). My mania presents a few ways: true hypomania (productive, creative, and just GOOD, but fairly rare), a mixed state (which is usually dangerous because my brain gets swept away in it completely and I'm not myself at all some of the time), or a manic state that consists largely of restlessness, anxiety, irritability, etc. I'd say I'm on the depressed end 65% of the time, "normal" 15% of the time, and manic/hypomanic/mixed state 20% of the time...but I cycle very fast and very often, sometimes in the course of a single day. It's exhausting. Once I'm good and depressed, I tend to stay there a while (a few weeks or more), but my cycling is just off the wall and unpredictable...but usually fast. The only long mania/hypomania (still not sure which is was) happened right when the bipolar started (3 years ago)...it was the first mood shift I ever had and I had no idea what it was, but it was wonderful...lasted about three months. Since then they've been shorter and in the last year or so I started having mixed states...I was bipolar II, but now am bipolar I.

It is different for all people, though. We may have similarities, in general, but our individual experiences vary quite a lot. Definitely see your doctor and mention your concerns. A pdoc would be best, but talking with your regular doc is a good starting point (especially if you need a referral for the pdoc). Good luck!!

[watchthestarsfall]

I find it ridiculous that they even bother to have textbook definitions of the disorders when it varies so much. I understand the "one manic episode" part being needed because most ppl I know (as echoed here) tend to be more depressed in their swinging. I think there should be some disclaimers in the texts about it being incredibly variable. Sometimes I think I have it and I am like "okay, yeah, symptoms" and then I'll read about it some more and am like "well...that doesn't fit."

[Typo]

the more stressed I am the quicker my moods swing around, (by the way about the pepsi, the caffine could have been a trigger to cause the manic feeling, caffine is a stimulant and can trigger mania) when I"m stable and not in a stressful enviroment I seem to cylce every 3 weeks, I keep track with mood charts my T assigns me.

[sunnygirl1uk]

I have cyclothymia and i cycle pretty much nearly everyday, but sometimes im stuck in a depressive phase at least once a month for three or four days. Before i was on mood staberlisers i was in a really rapid cylcing where i would be really high for half a day and then crashing to a very low towards the end of the day.

[Skully]

I cycle often. I have been known to cycle several times in 1 day. Not true anymore since my medications are where they should be.

[The Crazy Rambler]

Originally Posted by Skully

I cycle often. I have been known to cycle several times in 1 day. Not true anymore since my medications are where they should be.

Hi Skully,

Glad you got stabilised! And glad to hear it is possible after all. I am still not stable and struggling wi. A lot has to do with circumstances and PTSD. Still, I wish my meds were sorted adn helping more. I have just started on Abilify in support of Depakote and Efexor. Can I ask you what meds you are on?

[Skully]

Originally Posted by The Crazy Rambler

Hi Skully,

Glad you got stabilised! And glad to hear it is possible after all. I am still not stable and struggling wi. A lot has to do with circumstances and PTSD. Still, I wish my meds were sorted adn helping more. I have just started on Abilify in support of Depakote and Efexor. Can I ask you what meds you are on?

I too have PTSD from life long emotional/verbal abuse and physical abuse as a child. I take Lamictal 150mg, Geodon 80mg twice a day, and Valium 5mg 3 times a day. I am pretty stable on these meds. I am having trouble with my circumstances as well. I lost my job a year ago and my unemployment is running out soon and still no job. But despite that, I stay pretty even cycle wise. I wish you luck in finding the right meds. Abilify is a decent medication, I just didn't have much luck with it.

[watchthestarsfall]

Originally Posted by Typo

the more stressed I am the quicker my moods swing around, (by the way about the pepsi, the caffine could have been a trigger to cause the manic feeling, caffine is a stimulant and can trigger mania) when I"m stable and not in a stressful enviroment I seem to cylce every 3 weeks, I keep track with mood charts my T assigns me.

I drink coke almost every day though and never get anything off that. It couldve been a fluke though.