I'm rapid cycling and it drives me nuts. I get episodes every 1-2 months.

It's completely my fault, though. I'm non-compliant with meds. I take them one week, but don't take them the next. On and off, on and off, on and off...

A large part is denial. I think there is nothing wrong with me, so I go off my meds. Then when an episode hits, *BAM*, I remember that I have bipolar. Anyone else relate?

[Shazerac]

Going on and off meds will do that to you but I am a rapid cycler too. To bad it doesn't burn calories like an actual bicycle....dammit

I have long cycles of a month or two. And then mini cycles within that cycle that can last only hours. Recently I changed political parties three times in one day

[HALLIEBETH87]

I rapid cycle
Too. I guess I don't really know how
Often I have episodes as its random
But seems every couple months.

[UpDownAround]

I have been in the recent past, also due to med changes. I used to stay moderately depressed between episodes and hypomania was pretty infrequent. Getting me more stable and out of the funk as a baseline seems to have put me within shouting distance of hypomania because I have had fairly frequent episodes but most are pretty mild and euphoric. I have been honest with my psych NP about that and have had an office visit while I was hypomanic. She is making only minor tweaks right now. I pleaded for a cautious approach to changes because I am so tired of being depressed. Other than my persistent fog, I really like where I am between episodes (which, as I said, have been mild).

[RainyDay107]

I’m a rapid-cycler, too. I have had some long episodes, however. I was manic for six months a few years ago, yikes. I always take my meds, too. I’ve had a depressive episode that lasted five months.

My predominant mood state is mixed episode, which I really.....I hate feeling that way. I’m recovering from one now. I started feeling better two days ago. Hopefully I’ll feel upbeat soon. I tend to be mildly hypomanic as my general normal state...I don’t consider them episodes, in my case.

I cycle every year, May through August.

Other times, I’ll rapid cycle and it’s when I am under an extreme amount of stress for an extended period of time. I’m having one of those times, it started last November and it’s day by day.

I had an IP stay earlier this year because I couldn’t sleep for five nights straight. I became manic and had the insight to call my pdoc. It was the first time he has ever admitted me into IP. This was a mood unit and I did need it.

I almost had to go to the hospital last week. I was disassociating and cycled into a mixed episode. My bf is very supportive, but he was out of town. He urged me to call for an ambulance—but I couldn’t leave my stepdad alone (he’s terminally ill and I take care of him). My goal is always to never return to the hospital, but I can only do my best. It was strange, my last IP stay, as I was the only person not depressed.

Mixed episodes can be dangerous in terms of safety, but my days of attempts are over. I struggled when I was in my abusive marriage. I am strongly committed to not trying ever again, it would destroy my family (as my pdoc says) and it always passes.

I am just glad my stepdad was sleeping a lot. I didn’t want him to know how unwell I was and, frankly, I couldn’t take care of him right then and vice-versa.

It’s a roller coaster, rapid cycling.

[WildcatVet]

Originally Posted by Shazerac

Going on and off meds will do that to you but I am a rapid cycler too. To bad it doesn't burn calories like an actual bicycle....dammit

I have long cycles of a month or two. And then mini cycles within that cycle that can last only hours. Recently I changed political parties three times in one day

Me too...exactly! And I take my meds like a religious ritual...these new meds though...not working very well. Time for the pdoc!

[marthac_mtl]

I cycle about once a week. Am in hospital now getting lithium started to try to control things.

[fishin fool]

I can cycle very rapidly at times, sometimes within the same day.
I believe I still do cycle rapidly but the meds help keep it the moods from being
to severe.

[zbmom]

I think I might be an ultraradian cycler.

[xRavenx]

I think I cycle more frequently and rapidly now, compared to ever before.

[UpDownAround]

Originally Posted by zbmom

I think I might be an ultraradian cycler.

How do you tell if you are cycle that quickly as opposed to being a mixed episode? I am not sure which is actually happening to me sometimes. Sometimes when I am depressed, I will get a little euphoric intermission and then back to depressed.