[BrainWaved]

I am new here and have a question. I have not actually been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder but do have many of the symptoms. My main concern is that I keep reading about how with a Bipolar Disorder one will have cycle changes approx. 4 times a year. Then I see rapid cycling can occur as well which may change cycles every few days. I am dealing with mood changes daily, sometimes even twice a day or MORE! I will tend to be just fine, even euphoric and then as fast as you can blink I turn nasty, depressed, and angry. I can't seem to figure out what it is (if it is anything specific) that does this. Could this be a form of rapid cycling? Do others deal with this type of mood changes as often?

Thanks

[justpassingby]

Hi Brainwaved,

Great question, I have Bipolar and rapid cycling mood disorder. What they mean about rapid cycling is that you have mood changes at least 4 times per year. Some people like myself can have weekly to every other day mood changes and that's ultra mood cycling. Can't think of the exact term, but some people do experience their mood swings like yours and mine. It's really debilitating because you never know how you are going to feel from one day or one minute to the next. Your pdoc if you see one can modify your meds and adjust the dose to counteract those symptoms, but nothing is for sure. Just be prepared when they come and stay safe when they do. Surround yourself with a good support system and try to get plenty of rest because it's important not to disrupt your sleep cycle. Hope this helps somewhat.

[Cyran0]

BrainWaved, I've never been diagnosed bipolar but I go through exactly what you describe pretty regularly. I don't have any information for you, I just wanted you to know you are not alone.

Cyran0

[Bellax3]

Im with you. I am not diagnoised, (although I fit the diagnostic criteria, and will seek a DX when I turn 18)
and for example, monday, I was in an extremely agrivated mood, so pissed at everything and everyone, and one of my closest friends kept asking me "what's wrong" and I kept telling her "Honestly, nothing...thats the problem" and nothing was wrong...I was just pissed, course she didn't believe me.
Teehee since I said "thats the problem" she pulled my hair so I could have something thats wrong, and there wouldn't be a problem...

right now I'm OOBBERR hyyyperr!!

[Perna]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Now, there are still other issues: if you have one switch, that is, go from depression DIRECTLY to mania, but then have a normal mood episode, this is a "switch" or "biphasic" cycling. If you go from depression DIRECTLY to mania, then continue DIRECTLY to depression again, this is "multi-phasic" cycling, worse than plain rapid cycling or even a plain or single "switch." But even "multiphasic" can end at some point, say with three or five DIRECT switches into other mood states, then a period of normal mood. Worse even than multiphasic is "continuous" cycling, which means that you never have a normal mood period: you cycle directly from one mood state into another with no normal mood. But again, the mood episodes may be long, short, mixed, with added features of panic, anxiety, etc. I guess the worst is ultra-rapid cycling and ultra-ultra-rapid or ultradian cycling, with many episodes in a day which just go on and on. It is very important to understand these differences, and write down all your moods and drugs, EVERY DAY. Otherwise, you will never figure out what is going on.

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It says "switching" is going from depression to mania to depression, etc. but with "normal" inbetween.

From: http://bipolar.about.com/od/rapidcyc...ymensrapid.htm

[BrainWaved]

Thanks for all the input. It IS really nice to know others are out there and I am not insane.