[mel80]

I have just been informed by mental health professionals that I am rapid cycling with this "illness".So I was just wondering what does this term mean to you if you suffer it ?I really don't think I am but heck I'm not in the best place to be judging myself at the mo.Thanks in the mean time for reading and maybe answering ?

[fergus]

Someone that has been on this forum longer might have a better answer but the way it affects me most of the time is I have a period lasting about 2 or 3 days where I am extra hyper, racing thoughts (people tell me to slow down), pretty happy, on a high. Then out of the blue it comes crashing down and I can get pretty down.

Often I can get more of a rapid cycling/mixed mood. Starts with the high but then goes into an energetic/agitated depression with fixation of destructive thoughts. I can flip flop several times in one week or month. Some people cycle in one day.....that must be tough.

[hanners]

Technically the definition is 4 or more mood episodes in one year.

[sb7777]

For me, it means I can be manic (or hypomanic) one day and depressed the next. My mood can also be unstable during a single day, where I start out depressed, but become annoyed or irritated for no reason.

I'm recently diagnosed, so still figuring this out.

[BipolaRNurse]

Originally Posted by sb7777

For me, it means I can be manic (or hypomanic) one day and depressed the next. My mood can also be unstable during a single day, where I start out depressed, but become annoyed or irritated for no reason.

I'm recently diagnosed, so still figuring this out.

Yeah. THIS. ^^^

At least, it's where I was up until a couple of weeks ago. Thank God for mood stabilizers

[faerie_moon_x]

I also cycle through the day. I also have a lot of mixed states, so I'm both at the same time. I'm actually diagnosed as an ultra-rapid cycler, but you know, rapid cycler is easier to say and spell out.