[neodoering]

Good day, SZA sufferers.

I've been working on a mental illness memoir for the last few months. As I write the scenes, I realize how cyclical my symptoms are: a few months of less symptoms, then half a year with bad symptoms. I try to figure out what causes these cycles, but so far I have not got it. And for a few months, every few years, the cycles are really vicious, like a bad cycle on steriods.

Do any other members of the SZA forum experience their symptoms in cycles? How long do the cycles last?

Yes, my symptoms cycle very similar to yours by the sound of it. It gets very bad for awhile every few years also....like a cycle on steroids. Stress is probably the culprit I imagine but most of the time I handle stress well so I just don't understand why sometimes I switch like I do. Someone recently was trying to tell me it's because I'm special in a good way. They obviously don't get it at all.....this stuff isn't good, it's absolutely horrifying. I wish I could figure out for certain WHY it happens so I could put a lasting stop to it all.

[franz kafka]

I tend to have mild to moderate episodes every 3-4 months or so. Then out of nowhere for years at a time I'll be severely unwell. Then it'll "go away" for a while. So yea... definitely have cycles.

[Shoe]

I also notice some kind of cycling going on when I was experiencing my psychotic episodes when I was younger. Several times they seem to come about roughly the same time each year. My old friend's book or website had a study that found a correlation between episodes happening at a certain time of the year. I have been trying to find that study again at his website and will post a link here if successful.

http://schizophreniathebeardedladydi...riodicity.html

[Bbop]

I haven't been able to identify a pattern. I feel I am chronically ill without my meds. My moods swing in cycles but, the parinoia is always there.