Cyclothymic Disorder Symptoms
Cyclothymic disorder is basically a less intense form of bipolar disorder. According to www.nlm.nih.gov, cyclothymic disorder will cause a person to have mood swings over a period of years that go from mild depression to emotional highs. Cyclothymic disorder symptoms are very similar to bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder, and there is treatment for the disorder usually in the form of medication and therapy.
Cyclothymic Disorder Symptoms
The noticeable symptoms for cyclothymic disorder are not the same for everyone because everyone’s actions when they experience intense emotions and feelings are different.
Cyclothymic disorder symptoms will typically last for periods of time when the person is dealing with an episode from the illness, such as days, week or even months. During the time the person will either feel uncontrollably alert or fast paced or uncontrollably sad or depressed.
The following are common symptoms for a person to have while dealing with cyclothymic disorder:
Depressive phase
The manic and depression periods involved with cyclothymic mood disorder have recognizable symptoms and can be treated.
- Loss of appetite
- No energy
- Feeling sad or ashamed
- Consistent tiredness
- Excessive sleeping
- Suicidal thoughts
- Not wanting to participate in activities with friends and family
Manic phase
- Little amounts of sleep needed
- Quick tempered
- Irritable moods
- Distracted easily
- Hard time concentrating
- Lack of self-control especially in areas of addiction such as drinking, drug usage and sleeping with multiple partners
- Extremely involved in activities and constant elevated moods
Cyclothymic disorder symptoms are not just the typical ups and down people go through; instead they are persistent and continually occur throughout a person’s life causing them a great deal of stress.
According to www.nlm.nih.gov, in order for a person to be diagnosed with having cyclothymic disorder the following criteria must be met:
- Episodes of hypomania and mild depression occur for at least 2 years or 1 or more years in children and adolescents
- Mood swings are less severe than in bipolar disorder or major depression
- Symptoms are persistent, with no more than 2 symptom-free months in a row
The main difference between bipolar disorder and cyclothymic disorder is that the symptoms for cyclothymic disorder are not as severe as they are with bipolar disorder although they are the same.
Common treatment for cyclothymic disorder symptoms will include therapy sessions, whether group or individual, mood stabilizers such as Lithium, and antidepressant medications; many treatments will include a combination of all three.
The mood swings associated with cyclothymic disorder can cause difficulties in a person’s life effecting both their professional life and relationships. Cyclothymic disorder symptoms can cause a person to have a hard time focusing in school or at work due to the uncontrollable effects of the disorder and can cause a person to have difficulty in maintaining health relationships with loved ones due to the reoccurring mood swings. It is important for any person who has cyclothymic disorder to get professional treatment for the illness so that they can maintain and live a healthy and normal life.
