[Koigokoro-Love]

So, It's pretty much official that I have a mood disorder, and most doc's are saying bp2, but the way they say it is more like "We're not really sure because it doesn't quite fit into anything, but bp2 is the closes we can figure".

I'm not going to go through all my bp history, but can someone tell me if they ever have rapid cycling, and what it's like for them, because I think that's what's throwing people off.

For me rapid cycling feels like I mill through emotions so fast its almost unreadable. Always extreme emotions, and they last anywhere from 30 seconds to 5 min. Or they last a few hours to a day or two. I get longer spans than these, like two or three weeks of depression followed by a week of hypomania with manic spots, but the rapid cycling is not uncommon.

Has anyone else had that? What did the doc's say to you?

[dragonfly2]

My rapid cycling has been more in terms of days and weeks rather than minutes and hours at a time. Technically, having four or more mood shifts in a year is considered rapid cycling. What you are describing would be considered ultraradian cycling, or ultra-ultra rapid cycling. The extreme mood lability is what makes it hard to sort out I think.

The diagnostic manuals tend to prefer nice, discrete episodes and sometimes that's just not our reality. So, they try to put a fluid, human experience into a very cut and dry box and it doesn't always work.

Hopefully now they'll be able to get you onto a good mood stabilizer and things will settle down for you soon.

[~Christina]

I rapid cycle daily I can zoom thru 15 severe mood shifts in one day ... Im trying another new medication so im hopeful that this combo will work.

Just make sure your Pdoc and T know what your dealin with maybe keep a mood journal to show them... it will help show the ups and downs.

Good Luck

[whathappened]

Hi, I go thru the same thing you do with the rapid cycling. The minutes and hourly changes are really exhausting the days Im having that. This BP II seems to have its own sets of rules. My Pdoc doesnt say much. Just meds, meds, change meds, meds. Totally frustrating.