Rapid cycling? Not clear to me...

[bibiane]

Hi again... My doctor tells me I have rapid cycling bipolar. She explained quickly that my moods tend to change rapidly and often. I'm not sure what she meant by rapidly and quickly... Is it daily, weekly, montly? Can anyone clear that up for me? Sometimes I do feel like my day is crazy like parts of it are like flashes of emotions... like pictures of moments happening during the day but not a solid flow. do I make sense?

[dave]

My doctor has also diagnosed me with rapid cycling mood disorder. From what I have read, people with bipolar disorder who don't cycle rapidly have as few as one depressive or manic episodes yearly. They have extended periods of "normal" mood.

Rapid cycling means that your mood can change between manic, depressed and "normal" several times over a short period of time.

For example, on sunday my wife asked me if I was feeling manic as I was talking a lot, talking fast and frequently changing topics then I didn't sleep at all sunday night. On monday I felt "normal" again until yesterday evening when I started feeling depressed. Today my mood is low but I am not as depressed as I was yesterday.

These mood changes are hard to take but the episodes are not as severe as they were several months ago, before I was on my present med combination. Before when I was manic I would go for days without sleeping any my mind would race for fast that it was excruciating. When I would get depressed I would have more suicidal thoughts.

[bibiane]

Thanks, I really think I understand my mood swings a little better. It is exactly what I am experiencing... Different moods in a short period of time... And depression does makes it worse for suicidal thoughts. I prefer being manic sometimes because it is less frightening but it is so tiring though.

[paul m]

Hello Bibiane. Cannon explains rapid cycling very well. The clinical defintion is 4 or more mood changes a year, but that seldom happens. It more often happens the way that Cannon describes it.

One other thing that a lot of us rapid cyclers experience is what is called mixed states. That is where we have part mania and part depression. This often used to happen to me as I was rapid cycling. For example, I would have the energy and sleeplessness of hypomania, but at the same time I would feel sad and lack any form of concentration.

Mixed states and rapid cycling can be very hard to deal with and also hard to find a medication that works to control them. Good luck with yours. Take Care. paul m

[astronaut]

I have a bipolar without rapid cycling (however, I have had a very long episode that was possibly a "mixed state"). I usually have very long episodes of depression but I can't say that I have had many "extended periods of "normal"mood" as cannon has described. I am sure it is possible but over the past four or five years or so, I can't say that I've had many long periods of feeling relatively normal.

Predicting mood swings and mapping out mental illness in a very defined, diagnostic category is not easy and not always necessary if we can find a treatment that works.

As for your question about "what rapid cycling means," that is a really good question to write down and ask your doctor next time you see her. It is your right to ask her questions about her treatments and diagnosis. It is your body and you have the right to understand--and the responsibility to take care of it too. This forum is a good place to start asking questions, but keep in mind that we can't diagnose you and that your psychiatrist can best back up her reasons for diagnosing you as a "rapid cycler," and perhaps give you an idea of how it might affect your life or the kinds of warning signs you might watch out for if your mood is going to change. We'll do our best on the forum to answer your questions or tell you about our experiences, but don't be afraid to ask your doctor too. Sometimes it can be hard to be assertive in questioning the doctor but with a little practice, it gets easier over time. Many doctors also like to see that you are engaged in your treatment and in getting better.

astronaut