[CalmingOcean]

Hi, I have been diagnosed with bipolar NOS, mainly because my high/low cycles about every week. Just wondering how long you stay in a high or a low. God I hate the lows, feel myself going down into one now.

I should mention my T feels it is Complex PTSD but I wasn't much able to talk to the psychiatrist about it so he came to the bipolar conclusion. My brother is also diagnosed Bipolar II. My mom is just crazy ****.

[Trippin2.0]

Highs are usually 10 days to 3 weeks, my lows range from 1 week to 3 months... Although when I had a bipolar plus situational depression, it lasted 14 months.


When I'm super stressed I cycle faster, every couple of days, until the stressor is removed...

Fastest I've ever cycled was 3x a day for 4 months due to cold turkeying my meds.

[muffinhead]

Usually about ~2 days high 6 days low for me. I think this is called rapid cycling.

3 weeks up to 6 months for hypomania, 2 weeks to 18 months for depression. I havent cycled to hypomania for a few years but was mixed for about 6 months earlier this year. I tend to cycle more into depression.

[Victoria'smom]

my cycles last 3+ months It use to be a fast, sharp highs with mix in the middle.

[Blitter2014]

My highs are anything from a few weeks up to several months, with lows that are can last up to 12 months. There seems to be a direct correlation between the length of highs to lows, the lows being 4-6 times longer than the highs. I really should start mood charting but can't seem to keep it going.

[lacerta]

Highs 10 days to 2 month. Lows - for couple of month. Mixed -few days to 2 weeks.

[Darvula]

When I am stressed, I can cycle high/low within the same day. Not sure my usual cycle, but I am confused today. I should check my diary.

[lacerta]

Darvula, isn't it mixed when you cycle from high to low within a day?

[gloamingone]

I have the same problem with stress. When stressed, my lows are 2-3 days and my highs are 2-7 days. When NOT stressed, lows and high both last much longer.

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[Trippin2.0]

Originally Posted by lacerta

Darvula, isn't it mixed when you cycle from high to low within a day?

No, this is called Ultradian Cycling.

Mixed is when you have symptoms from both mania and depression simultaneously...

[Darvula]

Originally Posted by lacerta

Darvula, isn't it mixed when you cycle from high to low within a day?

To be honest, I don't really know. I got my diagnosis years ago, and was never really told much about it. That's thanks to the not-so-great UK mental health system. I have read some stuff, but not much. It always amazes me how much Americans in particular know about their own illnesses. Maybe 80% of the BP jargon on here I don't understand. I can only talk about BP in layman's terms. I guess I should start reading about it again. It would help me. But I don't want to get too obsessed with it. I don't want it to become more of my life than it already is.

[Darvula]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

No, this is called Ultradian Cycling.

See, I've never even heard of that. But that's cool. I can now tell people I'm an Ultradian Cycler. They'll think I do Olympic sports.

[Darvula]

Originally Posted by gloamingone

I have the same problem with stress. When stressed, my lows are 2-3 days and my highs are 2-7 days. When NOT stressed, lows and high both last much longer.

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Yeah, it sucks, doesn't it? So exhausting. That's why I'm so tired now. My brain is so exhausted from being up/down/up/down. Need to lie in a dark room for about 6 weeks. Oh, if only!

[gloamingone]

Originally Posted by Darvula

Yeah, it sucks, doesn't it? So exhausting. That's why I'm so tired now. My brain is so exhausted from being up/down/up/down. Need to lie in a dark room for about 6 weeks. Oh, if only!

It really is exhausting. I'm like a zombie half the time. I'm so glad I'm not working right now!

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[Darvula]

Zombie! Yes, Dawn of the Dead. You know, I calculated my hours of sleep and for a normal person I'd be getting more than enough - sometimes 8 hours a night - but I always feel completely exhausted after these rapid bouts. I almost fall over when walking home from work, I am so mentally exhausted. Do you also get that tired? I have asked other people and they don't seem to, so I am wondering if the exhaustion is also down to BP.

[lacerta]

Darvula, I'm always having a quarrel with my p-doc when I'm complaining that I sleep for 6-7 hours and can't sleep anymore. He says it's completely normal for adult to sleep that long. But I don't feel it's enough for ME. I need 9-10 hours of sleep to feel ok.

[Darvula]

Originally Posted by lacerta

Darvula, I'm always having a quarrel with my p-doc when I'm complaining that I sleep for 6-7 hours and can't sleep anymore. He says it's completely normal for adult to sleep that long. But I don't feel it's enough for ME. I need 9-10 hours of sleep to feel ok.

On my day off, I don't set an alarm, and I can sleep for 10 hours too. I also need a nap in the afternoon. On my day off, I try to be as quiet as possible to recover from the week. I see only a few people and don't usually have the energy for social events. If I do have to go to something, I only stay for 2 hours maximum then I am off home or to somewhere else quiet.

[CalmingOcean]

That low only lasted 1 day! Holy S*%t! First time it's only been a day! I feel great today! I wonder if Meds are finally working! I'm done playin the genie pig game.

[faerie_moon_x]

My cycles are about 3-7 days usually. Sometimes they are longer, but usually that's how I'm doing. When I have the shorter 3 day cycles I'm more volatile and more likely to have an explosive episode.

[touched by fire]

My ipod is bipolar. That m-fer changes my mood like it's a light switch... I should have been an actor