windimeria2000
05-03-2009, 09:26 PM
How does rapid cycling work? Can someone give me there story and perhaps a situation where one happened?
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dreams in neon
05-03-2009, 10:36 PM
I'm a rapid cycler who has BPI. My moods change every hour and sometimes every minute. I can go from feeling manic to extremely irritable to severely depressed and back to manic. I can also start off feeling extremely irritable then cycle into mania followed by severe depression. There is no set pattern to my cycling unlike some people who rapid cycle.
My pdoc prescribed Clonazepam to help control my rapid cycling. I've been on this med for close to a month and with the exception of today, I haven't even cycled once/day.
There are 3 kinds of rapid cycling:
Rapid cycling: 4 or more manic and/or depressive episodes during a 12 month period.
Ultra-rapid cycling: When a person's mood changes within a month or week.
Ultradian/ultra-ultra rapid cycling: When a person's mood changes several times/day, hour and/or minute.
My pdoc prescribed Clonazepam to help control my rapid cycling. I've been on this med for close to a month and with the exception of today, I haven't even cycled once/day.
There are 3 kinds of rapid cycling:
Rapid cycling: 4 or more manic and/or depressive episodes during a 12 month period.
Ultra-rapid cycling: When a person's mood changes within a month or week.
Ultradian/ultra-ultra rapid cycling: When a person's mood changes several times/day, hour and/or minute.
Elf_Ears
05-04-2009, 06:16 PM
Ok, I think I'm the last, the ultradian. I've changed mood every other hour. But I'm not quite sure. It seems that my mood swings are aggravated by stress, as I'll be fine (on meds) and then I'll go from euphoric for 10-15 mins to neutral/blah, but not really depressed, for 30 mins, then totally fine mood, then it repeats. Other days, I go from depressed to neutral to depressed again.
Is this true rapid cycling? My pdoc has told me that it's hard to tell the difference between mixed episodes and rapid cycling. I have had both depression and mania symptoms at the same time, or perhaps every other minute. But I've also been just one at a time, every other day. It's really hard to tell.
Here's an example of a manic day - :) :jester: neutral :) :jester: neutral :jester: :)
Or depressed: :( :mad: neutral :( :mad: neutral
Is this true rapid cycling? My pdoc has told me that it's hard to tell the difference between mixed episodes and rapid cycling. I have had both depression and mania symptoms at the same time, or perhaps every other minute. But I've also been just one at a time, every other day. It's really hard to tell.
Here's an example of a manic day - :) :jester: neutral :) :jester: neutral :jester: :)
Or depressed: :( :mad: neutral :( :mad: neutral
dreams in neon
05-04-2009, 07:47 PM
Ok, I think I'm the last, the ultradian. I've changed mood every other hour. But I'm not quite sure. It seems that my mood swings are aggravated by stress, as I'll be fine (on meds) and then I'll go from euphoric for 10-15 mins to neutral/blah, but not really depressed, for 30 mins, then totally fine mood, then it repeats. Other days, I go from depressed to neutral to depressed again.
Is this true rapid cycling? My pdoc has told me that it's hard to tell the difference between mixed episodes and rapid cycling. I have had both depression and mania symptoms at the same time, or perhaps every other minute. But I've also been just one at a time, every other day. It's really hard to tell.
Here's an example of a manic day - :) :jester: neutral :) :jester: neutral :jester: :)
Or depressed: :( :mad: neutral :( :mad: neutral
What you've described sounds like ultradian rapid cycling.
Stress can cause one to rapid cycle even though it is biological in nature.
In my case, if I get into an argument with a friend, I will obviously feel irritable or depressed, but the difference is that minutes later I can feel manic and then cycle back into severe depression or extreme irritability for no reason.
When a person has a mixed episode, they feel manic, depressed and tired at the same time whereas when a person rapid cycles, they don't. When a person rapid cycles, they feel one emotion at a time even if it is minute by minute.
Even if a person no longer rapid cycles when on meds, they are still considered a rapid cycler because of the fact that meds are needed to control their rapid cycling.
Is this true rapid cycling? My pdoc has told me that it's hard to tell the difference between mixed episodes and rapid cycling. I have had both depression and mania symptoms at the same time, or perhaps every other minute. But I've also been just one at a time, every other day. It's really hard to tell.
Here's an example of a manic day - :) :jester: neutral :) :jester: neutral :jester: :)
Or depressed: :( :mad: neutral :( :mad: neutral
What you've described sounds like ultradian rapid cycling.
Stress can cause one to rapid cycle even though it is biological in nature.
In my case, if I get into an argument with a friend, I will obviously feel irritable or depressed, but the difference is that minutes later I can feel manic and then cycle back into severe depression or extreme irritability for no reason.
When a person has a mixed episode, they feel manic, depressed and tired at the same time whereas when a person rapid cycles, they don't. When a person rapid cycles, they feel one emotion at a time even if it is minute by minute.
Even if a person no longer rapid cycles when on meds, they are still considered a rapid cycler because of the fact that meds are needed to control their rapid cycling.
Elf_Ears
05-05-2009, 06:25 AM
When a person has a mixed episode, they feel manic, depressed and tired at the same time
This has happened to me, but only during that awful summer of 07 after several months of Lexapro alone. I truly thought I would lose my mind. I remember being so wiped out that I needed to crash and just stare at the tv, but so revved up in my mind that I couldn't. It was like there were 2 battling persons within me. Getting on 600mg lithium alone made it stop. So, whether I'm a true mixed epi's person or whether that was just Lexapro, I don't know. But it hasn't happened since. The ultradian is more me.
Isn't that just peachy? ;)
This has happened to me, but only during that awful summer of 07 after several months of Lexapro alone. I truly thought I would lose my mind. I remember being so wiped out that I needed to crash and just stare at the tv, but so revved up in my mind that I couldn't. It was like there were 2 battling persons within me. Getting on 600mg lithium alone made it stop. So, whether I'm a true mixed epi's person or whether that was just Lexapro, I don't know. But it hasn't happened since. The ultradian is more me.
Isn't that just peachy? ;)
dreams in neon
05-05-2009, 06:57 AM
Elf Ears,
I've only had 3 mixed episodes (thank goodness) and I hope that's all I have. I can't stand feeling more than one emotion at once. I'd rather feel manic, depressed or even moderately psychotic. Mixed episodes s*ck big time.
I've only had 3 mixed episodes (thank goodness) and I hope that's all I have. I can't stand feeling more than one emotion at once. I'd rather feel manic, depressed or even moderately psychotic. Mixed episodes s*ck big time.