r/cyclothymia

I’ve noticed before medication my experience was like my mood would fall away like a your standing on a platform enjoying your day and then very quickly the platform falls off and you fall down.

That’s how it felt for me. And as soon as it would fall off I would be desperate to try and pull it back up. Like I never had control.

I missed my Lamictal this week for one day and noticed that old familiar drop that I forgot about. I guess Lamictal really does stop that.

Forgive me, I am just now starting to research this disorder so I am not super educated on it. But my understanding it's like a less severe version of bipolar 2? Idk feel free to correct me.

I've been questioning if I'm some sort of bipolar for years because ever since I turned 11 (im 17 now) I've struggled alot with my mental health. But I've never felt "manic" per say, I slightly relate to people's descriptions of hypomania but when I'm depressed I'm often really fucking depressed and when I'm not depressed I'm usually just fine. I live life like normal, and im happy most of the time. Sometimes every now and then I'll get really energetic but it never lasts more than a few hours and it's usually followed by a crash and a depressive episode, or in the middle of a depressive episode I'll have one or two good days and then boom back to feeling miserable.

I heard about cyclothymia recently and i honestly think I might have it. But It's also likely that maybe I'm just doomed to have a couple depressive episodes a year perchance. I'm kind of at my wits end tho, I'm in a low rn and feeling pretty suicidal if I'm being honest. I feel like I'm never gonna be ok and I'm always gonna end up here again and it feels futile.

So I'm jist wondering, when you're not depressed what do you feel like? Also, how often does your moods switch?

This post is probably not formatted greatly and is a bit of a ramble soz lol

I’m on 1 mg risperidone and 200 mg of lamotrigine and I hadn’t experienced the lows in a while. The last two weeks I felt on top of the world and didn’t sleep for 4 days at some point. Now I’m starting to feel a depression creeping in. I’ve been super disoriented, like I’m letting my body take the drivers seat. I’ve been zoning out a lot and just letting things happen. Does anyone feel like they’re watching themselves when they’re depressed?

I have been diagnosed with cyclothymia. I’m curious to know what your triggers on your mood swings are from. Do you know it’s coming ?thank you,Anything helps I’ve never even heard this word until yesterday when I went to the psychologist.

Yesterday I was diagnosed with Cyclothymia. I’ve had daily mood swings for about six years now, I can have three different moods in a single day. I usually go from happy,angry to sad quickly. I’m curious about this medication. I really want to help to get my moods stabilized for everyone around me. what were you prescribed Abilify for and did it help?

Hi all. I have a recent unofficial diagnosis of cyclothymia, and I did not realize I struggle with hypersexuality until I started taking Caplyta and found it much easier to manage while on that med. I am pretty sure it's hypersexuality and not just lowering my libido because it has always felt extremely difficult to manage and my sexual actions felt compulsive. I have had little to no success in managing this for about 4 years, when my bipolar symptoms and this started. I am unfortunately not sure if I will be able to stay on Caplyta for a variety of reasons.

I am single, and aim to stay single (personal preference for various reasons, mental health included), so my sexual activities do not involve others. However, I would at least like to be able to control myself better, even if I still experience the desires/urges. I would like to not feel like I "have" to engage with them.

Has anyone found meds that helped with hypersexuality that aren't Caplyta? The only other bipolar med I've been on was Lamictal/Lamotrigine, which helped my moods but did not touch the hypersexuality at all (and I was on it quite a while). I will see my psychiatrist at the end of the month and will be asking her about it too.

Additionally, if there's any non-sexual lifestyle changes anyone has found helpful, I'm also interested in those now that I know this isn't just natural libido.

Please do not be graphic. I am only asking about meds that have helped others with this or non-sexual lifestyle changes to help it be more manageable.

Hi, I have an unofficial diagnosis of cyclothymia, but it's pretty clear that that's what it is. I have been taking Caplyta (may have to get off of it due to insurance issues). I started having depression about 5-6 years ago, and hypomania as far as I can tell came in about a year ago.

For at least a year and maybe longer, I've been experiencing increased hunger: as in, I eat breakfast at about 8 or 9 am, and by 10 am or 10:30, I'm starving again. This happens occasionally with other meals too, to the point that I feel like I am having to eat a lot more than I used to. I didn't even used to eat breakfast, just out of preference. I am not gaining weight and I am actually very slightly losing weight, which is not a problem so far since I was about 20 pounds overweight before from different meds.

I have had thyroid tests and blood tests (diabetes) done and everything comes back normal. I feel like I have a lot of symptoms that point to hyperthyroidism, including this, but my thyroid numbers are extremely average and normal.

I went up to 42 mg of Caplyta a few weeks ago, and I can't stay on this dose for several reasons (it's made both hypomania and depression worse than the 22 mg did), but I'm having "brain zaps," which I've read can happen when your body metabolizes the medication too fast--you go into slight withdrawal every night before you take it again. It is staying in my system about 19 hours every day, so between 5:30 pm or so and whenever I go to bed and take the med, I have pretty severe dizziness related to the brain zaps. I take the med and am fine the next morning. I am planning to change the dose as soon as I see my psychiatrist, because nothing about this dose has been good for me.

All this considered, I am thinking that I have a pretty high metabolism. This didn't used to be the case though, and generally metabolism does not increase, especially not when you're my age (28). The biggest change in my health since the increased hunger is the bipolar symptoms, especially hypomania.

Does anyone know if cyclothymia/bipolar can cause high metabolism? I am wondering if the med issue and the hunger issue are related.

Just got a referral letter from my psychologist to send through to the psychiatrist I'm seeing next week. I've been struggling for 21 years. Never had money for mental health care...I'm 37 and finally found a way to get help.

The referral letter states I'm presenting with:

1. Pervasive depressive mood

2. Suicidal ideation and plan but no intent ATM

3. Insomnia

4. Anhedonia

5. Social isolation

6. Fatigue

7. Anxiety attacks

8. Rumination

9. A history of elevaged mood and goal directed activity

10. A background of severe psychosocial stressors

Psychologist says although it's a working diagnosis, it's Bipolar 2 with comorbidities.

Is this concerning at all? Look, my life is falling apart because I'm so depressed I've been booked off from work for the first time in my life. And for the first time I couldn't care less. I honestly cannot function at work. I'm a teacher as it's so exhausting having to hold it together and crack jokes when I feel nothing inside.

Looking at the info, can anyone relate with the same symptoms and how severe my potential battle is going to be? Being me, I need to know every detail or else the anxiety and rumination take over. I'm assuming I have quite a severe case as it's gone undiagnosed and medicated incorrectly for 20 years.

Glad to be getting the proper help though!

Hiii...

I was diagnosed with CPTSD in 2018 and also told I showed signs of being on the Bipolar Spectrum. My relationship with that psychiatrist ended due to insurance from job change and then severe depression dip took place....

My new psychiatrist has continually stated I have Cyclothymia. She mentioned my previous psychiatrist noting I was on the Bipolar spectrum combined with CPTSD symptoms and just gave insight on being misdiagnosed as a Black woman who reacts to provocation being common. [Background: ex with BPD continually put me in reactive situations and then would say I have BPD so I was convinced I has BPD and my psychiatrist and therapists have been working on that].

So now Im accepting that Cyclothymia might be the missing puzzle to what Ive been dealing with for decades and thought I'd reach out to others about my patterns and maybe see if anyone has experienced extended RELIEF 😬🥹

Some of the themes and patterns Ive noticed in myself are the following:

1. Bouts of deep depression and suicidal ideation [lifelong pattern that has gotten easier to manage but never fully goes away even with medication]

2. Paranoia that nobody truly cares and I need to accept being a loner despite having close friends who say they care.

3. I .ever feel LONELY in the sense of wanting others to be near but lonely in the sense of not truly enjoying most human connections. It's like I can just feel there's rarelyndepth to most connections? People aren't really wanting to truly be deeply connected and I do so it makes me feel very "other" or "strange"

4. Paralyzing internal dialogue. I struggle to do ANYTHING I want to do without body doubling. I have low energy and just can struggle to leave the house unless it is to connect with another person. But even then I flake alot and rather just be home.

5. I prefer my own company but I dont get myself out enough doing the things that would help me enjoy life more.

6. Ongoing depression that never fully leaves. It isnt always mental but the physical depression is always there...

I can't think of anything else specifically right now.

Does this sound familiar or relatable? Have yall been able to see any progress in these areas?

Like it would be DELIGHTFUL to have more energy.

I am taking fluoxetine. I tried something else and it gave me severe frustration and inner anger vibes. I forgot the name.

Fluoxetine seems to help with clarity but I still dont be leaving the house and getting outside.

Anyways...hope that made sense.

Would love any advice or suggestions on how to broach the subject respectfully. A little background:

Late 20s adult child diagnosed with ADHD taking Adderall, SSRI, & Bupropion has a long history of long stages of depression and impulsivity. Neither has been severe enough for hospitalization. Relationships with peers & significant others (online with people in other countries) intense then crash and burn. Seems to be stages of hyper sexuality. Maintains a job and takes care of themself financially but is constantly testing the limits and bending the rules. Sleeps a lot and struggles with cleaning house and the themself. Also asked if anyone else feels and hears electricity.

At the moment, planning a trip alone to a see an online boyfriend in a foreign country they’ve never been in hopes of returning to the US and getting married. Deeply concerned. All that to say this person is an adult. This is their life. But several family members, myself included, think there may be an undiagnosed mood disorder. There is a history of bipolar disorder on both sides of the family.

Really don’t want to overstep boundaries here. Again, any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hi! So I’m 17F and I am diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and ADHD. My mom has thought for a long time that I have some sort of mood disorder. I also have an aunt with bipolar.

For a couple years now I’ve been exploring the possibility that I am bipolar. I am often depressed, and feel as if I live in constant state of it. A year or so ago, I took a psychology class and learned about bipolar disorder. I heavily related to it, but not as severely. I also can now somewhat recognize my episodes. Which apparently you aren’t supposed to know you’re manic when you’re manic? So I don’t know.

Last night I got less than 5 hours of sleep. I was restless and not physically able to get more sleep, though I tried for over 2 hours. I woke up at 5 am and laid in bed trying to sleep until 7:30 or 8. I then got up and took my new ADHD medication. It’s Concerta. I am also on Lexapro. Today was my first day and Concerta and I felt really productive but I’m not sure if I was hypomanic or if it was the medicine. I was easily irritated last night and yelled at my dad over simple things😬. I think the possible “episode” started last night. I have been talking a lot today and got hyper-fixated on my Halloween costume. When my new Concerta pill was mostly strong, I was getting headaches and felt very hungry and sick. But as it wore off, I was not hungry at all, but I felt weak. I also felt very energized though. My mind had been racing. I also dressed up today, which I am normally very fashionable, but today it felt less for myself, and more for like attention or something?? Which seems to be a trend in mania or hypomania.

This is not my first time experiencing periods like this. I would say in the past they were different though. I would get into the moments where I would have a meltdown because I wanted to cut my hair so bad and would do it myself. I would say I needed a change. I also would describe these moments as “fake happy” or things like that. It’s like happy but sad. Like it’s not real joy. It’s just excitement and like an up-beat energy. And I would want to clean my room and go out and get healthier and stuff like that.

I’m also unsure of who my “real self” is. Like is it depressed me? “Manic” me? Or “regular” me?” Which I’m not sure who regular me is. It’s hard to tell.

I plan to mention this to my psychiatrist at my next appointment, but I thought I would ask people who have bipolar 2 to see if they recognize any of this?

I also usually sleep for hours on end and I’m still tired. I have very big issues with motivation and it’s so difficult to do basic things, like go to school.

Also, not sure if this matters but, 7 months ago I attempted suicide (by overdosing on lexapro and atarax), got put in the ER for like a day and a half I think, then placed in an emergency mental health place for like 12 hours or something before my parents had me released and took me home. The doctors and everyone recommended I get put in an in patient facility for a week or two, but my parents chose to take me home since I would have missed Christmas, and they’d rather I be with family. They definitely made the right choice. They care a lot about me.

EDIT!! I forgot to mention my depression lasts usually longer I think than my other periods, like anywhere from a couple days to a month sometimes. And my “episodes” or “highs” are less frequent I think?? Actually, now that I think about it, they happen probably at least once a month.

Hello. I was just diagnosed with Cyclothymia last week.

My main language is French so apologies if this text sounds weird sometimes.

I was wondering if anybody here ever had the feeling that your supposedly closest friends are totally unavailable on an emontional level. That they invalidate your feelings. Because they don't understand, since they have no issue with mental health.

I started to feel I cannot connect with them a few years back. I already started to distance myself a bit through the last 2 years, but I feel guilty. That said, they don't reach out at all, so I feel like they don't care about me after all. But still, I feel guilty. Guilt is an emotion a feel most of the time.

Lately I've been playing golf with my father, who is an awesome father (I am lucky). He struggles with the same problems as me, but he didn't really know until I came up with the diagnosis.

Anybody else here feel like they need to connect on a deeper level with people to be able to call them friends? I am starting to wonder if these 3 guys I spent many years with were actually friends. Back in the days, we were drinking and taking drugs together. I am starting to see them as party friends. I am 36 now and I've been friends with them since I am 20.

I want to know if I am expecting too much from my friends? For example, when I was diagnosed with severe depression in 2023, one of them said aren't we all a little depressed? Man, that hurts. I just answered ok dude nevermind.

The 2 others were more empathic. But since this day in 2023, none of them ever asked me if a was feeling better. Like absolutely NOTHING. With them, it's small talk all the time, and I suffer from it.

Thank god I have an awesome girlfriend of 14 years, with whom I can talk, as well as my father, sister an mother.

But I feel alone. I'm trying to get better, do some sports, etc. My friends do nothing, they are lethargic.

I'm trying to understand if I should just work hard to make new friends... or work on those I already have.

Thank you.

Hey!

So, I'm going to just list some things that I'm currently feeling for the last few days (this isn't the first time it's happened tho) and see if any of it resonates with people, because my head feels like a lot right now and it would be cool to know what's up.

Can't sleep- even when I want to

A lot of thoughts that overlap and keep going\\repeating

Very easily annoyed\\irritated, short patience for basically everything

Overlapping emotions? Like my body feels excited or nervous like vibrate-y and alert but then I'll feel like crying and laughing for.... absolutely no reason.

Finding random things \*super\* important, like learning something new and expecting to get it perfect so I'll keep doing it over and over for days

Not being as hungry as usual\\lack of interest in eating

Impulsive -which I guess I kind of always am, but it's different? This is impulsive about stuff I don't even necessarily want? Like there's such a high sense of urgency to everything

Very chatty- even though I'm not a social person

I'm usually a very quiet, organized, anxious and depressed person. So it's very noticeable when \*this\* happens, it usually lasts like a day- a week and then just poof stops.

So like....what's up? Lol

hello i was wondering if anyone else in this sub feels especially worse during the summer? i know people usually struggle during winter, but my summers are probably emotionally the worst part of the year. Ive been generally stable for a while now, mood swings and episodes are very rare, but the moment summer hits i feel like everything shifts. I start losing sleep, i feel detached from myself. Does anybody have any tips for this?

long story short - i have had 18 major surgeries, 8 of which have been spinal. one botched fusion left me unable to work/permanently disabled.

recently restarted psych meds because i decided to rejoin the world, and got remarried.

since restarting the psych meds, i’ve become emotionally stable, actually generating real joy and happiness internally.

however, i’m now really struggling to cope with pain i had learned to deal with…some of which has definitely increased due to wanting to be more active, but i’m still in roughy the same amount of pain, it just has become so much more mentally exhaustive, and only since becoming more emotionally stable…

anyone had similar experiences?

Yea i just faced the biggest rage in my life yelling like a fucking psycho to my older brother. even shoved him at one point (but obv light 😭) and then to explain whatever was going on what raged me i told my mom but in the loudest voice and raged voice i ever had in my life. Had this happen to any of yall like genuinely idk what to do after im just isolating myself now eating guilt up, but isolating to calm down. its been an hour. what advice do yall have
(also contacted psychiatrist but just waiting)

been withdrawled from inductal (sleeping meds) for a week now due to it being sold out and hard to get.