Nov 21 2008
Cyclothymia and NOS: Forms of Bipolar Disorder
Most people are familiar with Bipolar I and Bipolar II. However, Cyclothymia and Bipolar NOS may be terms you have not heard.
Cyclothymia is a milder form of Bipolar II. Symptoms include recurring episodes of mild hypomania and/or depression.
What are the symptoms of Cyclothymia?
- Persistent unstable mood
- Periods of mild depression and mild elation
A diagnosis of Cyclothymia means that while some of the features of Bipolar Disorder have been identified, they are not severe enough or have not existed long enough to meet the criteria for a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder. It is quite possible that a person diagnosed with Cyclothymia may eventually develop Bipolar I or Bipolar II.
Persons with Cyclothymia have not experienced manic, major depressive, or psychotic episodes. The appearance of these symptoms would warrant a diagnosis of another form of Bipolar Disorder.
Bipolar NOS (Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified) is a term used for patients who are clearly suffering from a form of Bipolar Disorder but do not exactly fit into any of the other categories. This could be the case if someone has symptoms that fit in several categories or for people who do not yet have enough symptoms required to be diagnosed in a more specific category of Bipolar Disorder. It is often used as a catch-all.
Have you been diagnosed with Cyclothymia or Bipolar NOS? What has been your experience with these forms of Bipolar Disorder?
I’ve had mood swings all my life, including severe depression, so I was interested to find, recently, that the diagnostics have been somewhat refined over the years. During a bad depressive period, a counselor suggested the possibility of BP II, but we never had a chance to go any further. I think I’m actually somewhere between BP II and Cyclothymia. Don’t quite fit either, but still have to cope with the problems. Meds either worked like sugar pills or made things worse, so I’m not willing to keep trying that route.
Maybe diagnosis and meds have improved for BP. I certainly hope so, because i never met or heard of anyone with BP I who could count on remaining stable on any drug regimen.
I have BP I and it is a roller coaster ride. Out of all the new treatments available, the medicine that works best for me is one of the first ones ever used to treat Bipolar Disorder - Lithium. Does it keep me stable? No, but it puts me on an even enough keel that I can cope with it all.
I have went through a lot of meds over the years and it is just like you said. Mine was so bad that I had to stick with it until I found something to help. I cannot stay off meds long term because I always end up suicidal.
Diagnosis has improved and there are a lot more meds available. They all work differently on everyone and it is hard to find the right one. It’s frustrating.
I have no idea how I would have managed to last this long with BP I. Just from my one year’s experience with meds trials, I don’t think I could spend my life on that roller coaster. I’m glad lithium helps keeps things under control for you. It did nothing at all for me, except make me sick when the dose increased. Years after all that nonsense, I found that aside from mood swings, drug-resistance is one of the indicators for BP II and that anti-depressants, which is what I was taking, are counter-indicated. It was a real fun year, I can tell you.
I hope you’re starting to get traffic here. People need to know more about mental illnesses.
Traffic is gaining pretty well. I agree. I feel that if the general public knows more about mental illness, then the stigma involved with it will decrease. I know people suffering who refuse to seek treatment because they are afraid of what others will think.
I was the same way in the beginning and waited until it was literally a life and death situation. It was only after I learned more about it that I felt at ease talking about it with others.
Hopefully, people will learn about BP and maybe some people will recognize the symptoms they have and seek treatment.