[Ihani]

I have mood swings that can happen anywhere as between weeks to between minutes. No matter how long they are, they fit into the symptoms of hypomania and depression, but the issue here is the fact that they cycle so fast, and I know bipolar doesn't go between minutes. I don't really socialize much so they don't cause outward problems, but they cause a lot of grief inside. When I'm sad, I'm suicidal, and when I'm happy, I'm still at risk of hurting myself - yesterday, for example, I was in a high mood, and I wanted to cut my wrist open because something in my head told me it'd be cool to do, but a friend I was messaging at the time convinced me not to.

I don't know if this would be something worth being concerned about then, or what in the world it would fit into. All I know is that people notice it when my moods shift because I'm extremely energetic or I'm extremely lethargic. I'm not quite sure what to do about it because it doesn't quite seem to fit into bipolar but I don't know what else to check into, if I should check into anything at all.

Originally Posted by Ihani

I have mood swings that can happen anywhere as between weeks to between minutes. No matter how long they are, they fit into the symptoms of hypomania and depression, but the issue here is the fact that they cycle so fast, and I know bipolar doesn't go between minutes. I don't really socialize much so they don't cause outward problems, but they cause a lot of grief inside. When I'm sad, I'm suicidal, and when I'm happy, I'm still at risk of hurting myself - yesterday, for example, I was in a high mood, and I wanted to cut my wrist open because something in my head told me it'd be cool to do, but a friend I was messaging at the time convinced me not to.

I don't know if this would be something worth being concerned about then, or what in the world it would fit into. All I know is that people notice it when my moods shift because I'm extremely energetic or I'm extremely lethargic. I'm not quite sure what to do about it because it doesn't quite seem to fit into bipolar but I don't know what else to check into, if I should check into anything at all.

have you seen a professional about this, and if so what did they say?

if not, how would you feel about seeing one.

it's good to get a starting point and some professional insight

[IrisBloom]

Medication might help control the extremes.

[MagicDragon]

I am Bipolar I and rapid cycle. I have found that over the years, my rapid cycling has become faster and faster. I am working with my psychiatrist to find a medication regimen that might reduce the rapid cycling. I have also found Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (Skills Training) effective in dealing with suicidal ideation and self-harm urges.

[MagicDragon]

This article might help explain rapid cycling Bipolar Disorder. I have also copied a portion of that article to this post.

Bipolar Disorder: Rapid Cycling and its Treatment - Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

What is rapid cycling?

Rapid cycling is defined as four or more manic, hypomanic, or depressive episodes in any 12-month period. With rapid cycling, mood swings can quickly go from low to high and back again, and occur over periods of a few days and sometimes even hours. The person feels like he or she is on a roller coaster, with mood and energy changes that are out-of control and disabling. In some individuals, rapid cycling is characterized by severe irritability, anger, impulsivity, and uncontrollable outbursts. While the term “rapid cycling” may make it sound as if the episodes occur in regular cycles, episodes actually often follow a random pattern. Some patients with rapid cycling appear to experience true manic, mild manic, or depressive episodes that last only for a day. If there are four mood episodes within a month, it is called ultra-rapid cycling, and when several mood switches occur within a day, on several days during one week, it is called ultra-ultra-rapid, or ultradian cycling. Typically, however, someone who experiences such short mood swings has longer episodes as well. Some individuals experience rapid cycling at the beginning of their illness, but for the majority, rapid cycling begins gradually. Most individuals with bipolar disorder, in fact, experience shorter and more frequent episodes over time if their illness is not adequately treated. For most people, rapid cycling is a temporary occurrence. They may experience rapid cycling for a time, then return to a pattern of longer, less frequent episodes, or, in the best case, return to a stabilized mood with the help of treatment. A small number of individuals continue in a rapid cycling pattern indefinitely.

[avlady]

i hope you feel better.

[Blue_Bird]

You may want to inquire about borderline personality disorder, Bipolar is overdiagnosed and people will tell you it sounds like rapid cycling but it's truly worth it to get evaluated for BPD, it's much more common but underdiagnosed due to pdocs not wanting to do the work and have a patient attend DBT instead they try to fix everything with medications. Good luck

[Ihani]

Originally Posted by shattered sanity

have you seen a professional about this, and if so what did they say?

if not, how would you feel about seeing one.

it's good to get a starting point and some professional insight

Sort of. I'm still a student, so I've used school psychologists for things, but I'm on summer break right now and I'm not able to see anyone for three months. I live with my parents and I'm not financially independent, so they have to pay for me. They'll help my sister out with mental problems in a heartbeat, but they refuse to help me.

When I was seeing the psychologist, though, he did bring up borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder, but I didn't really inquire into them that much, especially since when I brought it up it was near the end of winter, and my mood stabilizes during spring. Now that it's almost summer though it's starting to act up again and I have no one to consult.

Originally Posted by Ihani

Sort of. I'm still a student, so I've used school psychologists for things, but I'm on summer break right now and I'm not able to see anyone for three months. I live with my parents and I'm not financially independent, so they have to pay for me. They'll help my sister out with mental problems in a heartbeat, but they refuse to help me.

When I was seeing the psychologist, though, he did bring up borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder, but I didn't really inquire into them that much, especially since when I brought it up it was near the end of winter, and my mood stabilizes during spring. Now that it's almost summer though it's starting to act up again and I have no one to consult.

i think it's sad that your parents refuse to help with your mental health issues.

i have the same problem, and had to do it all myself.
it's been (and continues to be) a very hard struggle

[MagicDragon]

Originally Posted by Blue_Bird

You may want to inquire about borderline personality disorder, Bipolar is overdiagnosed and people will tell you it sounds like rapid cycling but it's truly worth it to get evaluated for BPD, it's much more common but underdiagnosed due to pdocs not wanting to do the work and have a patient attend DBT instead they try to fix everything with medications. Good luck

I agree. I am diagnosed with both Bipolar I and Borderline Personality Disorder. One group of doctors says they don't think I have Bipolar, and my regular psych thinks I have both. Either way, I am doing DBT and the skills have helped me immensely. I am also on mood stabilizers which are also helping.

[*Laurie*]

I so relate to your post, Ihani. I've been diagnosed bipolar, but my current p-doc says Nah, not bipolar...BPD tendencies. I dunno. Sometimes I think there isn't a diagnosis per se, but that this is just me, my personality. Whatever the case, I find the way I am very tiring and every psychiatrist says something different....you're "this", you're "that". No medication has ever really helped the rapid mood changes. Creative expression helps more than anything else does.

[Ihani]

Originally Posted by PoppyRoad

Creative expression helps more than anything else does.

Funny you say that. Poetry has always been the most relieving outlet for me. I wrote a poem in my last high mood and I always get positive feedback when I share it, probably because I feel so many intense emotions, really.

[Ihani]

Originally Posted by MagicDragon

I agree. I am diagnosed with both Bipolar I and Borderline Personality Disorder. One group of doctors says they don't think I have Bipolar, and my regular psych thinks I have both. Either way, I am doing DBT and the skills have helped me immensely. I am also on mood stabilizers which are also helping.

One of my problem is is I'm much more BPD-y in the winter vs the spring. It sort of happens in episodes. Last winter, for example, I'd fly into desperate rages where I'd threaten to kill myself after something as silly as losing a follower on a social media site, but come spring and I'm more mellow. It'll act up again, maybe within a month, because usually I'm not too happy in the summer. Would that be more bipolar since it's episodic? Or can BPD lessen in intensity every so often?

[Blue_Bird]

I'm not a doctor and can't diagnose you but it sounds more like BPD honestly, the flying off the handle at little things, threatening suicide, extreme reactions like that point more towards Borderline

[Ihani]

Originally Posted by Blue_Bird

I'm not a doctor and can't diagnose you but it sounds more like BPD honestly, the flying off the handle at little things, threatening suicide, extreme reactions like that point more towards Borderline

When I was seeing the psychologist, he was trying to differentiate between the two, which is why I'm a bit confused. I have what I would categorize as the BPD mood swings and then the other mood swings. The BPD-ish ones are triggered by things while the other ones are more gradual and just sort of happen - i.e. for years now I've been hopelessly depressed during the winter and on top of the world during the spring. The BPD-ish mood swings happen within those broader ones.

[Blue_Bird]

You can have both Bipolar and BPD

[~Christina]

It's very common to have BP and BPD.

Bpd is usually a extreme reaction to a situation in the moment.

Bp is more in waves over a period of weeks with or without a situational trigger.

DBT can be helpful for anyone regardless of there diagnosis it helps people to learn how to think before they explode.

Take care

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by Ihani

Funny you say that. Poetry has always been the most relieving outlet for me. I wrote a poem in my last high mood and I always get positive feedback when I share it, probably because I feel so many intense emotions, really.

Yeah. Sometimes I think people who are extremely sensitive and have rapid mood changes are simply "artistic personalities".

[The_little_didgee]

Originally Posted by Ihani

One of my problem is is I'm much more BPD-y in the winter vs the spring. It sort of happens in episodes. Last winter, for example, I'd fly into desperate rages where I'd threaten to kill myself after something as silly as losing a follower on a social media site, but come spring and I'm more mellow. It'll act up again, maybe within a month, because usually I'm not too happy in the summer. Would that be more bipolar since it's episodic? Or can BPD lessen in intensity every so often?

It sounds like you have more than illness. Have you ever heard of seasonal affective disorder?

The reactive BPD 'mood swings' are actually your emotions. Emotion dysregulation is a core trait of the disorder. Psychotherapy is much more effective for this than medication.

[Ihani]

Originally Posted by The_little_didgee

It sounds like you have more than illness. Have you ever heard of seasonal affective disorder?

The reactive BPD 'mood swings' are actually your emotions. Emotion dysregulation is a core trait of the disorder. Psychotherapy is much more effective for this than medication.

I've heard of it, but no one has ever brought it up with me. The trouble is is I have a depressed mood, an extremely energetic mood, and a normal mood, and those mood swings can happen anytime at all.