Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that most people have heard of, but what is cyclothymia? As a mood disorder, the symptoms of cyclothymia are similar to bipolar disorder. However, what actually is cyclothymia? Read this article to find out!
Cyclothymia is a mild mood disorder, but it is very rare. Both cyclothymia and bipolar disorder cause emotional ups and downs, from manic highs to depressive lows. It is characterized by fluctuating low-level depressive symptoms along with periods of mild mania. The changes in mood occur in cycles, and one may feel like his or her mood is stable during the highs and lows.
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What primarily differentiates cyclothymia from bipolar disorder is its intensity. The mood swings associated with cyclothymia are not as extreme as those that come with bipolar disorder. According to DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), cyclothymia is distinguished from bipolar disorder because it lacks the full criteria of major depression, mania, or a mixed episode disorder. However, cyclothymia can increase one’s risk of developing bipolar disorder.
Symptoms
The symptoms of cyclothymia can be divided into depressive symptoms and manic symptoms depending on which episode one is in. Depressive symptoms may include irritability, aggressiveness, insomnia or hypersomnia, changes in appetite, weight loss or gain, fatigue or low energy, feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or guilt, etc.; the manic symptoms may include extremely high self-esteem, excessive talking, racing thoughts, lack of focus, restlessness and hyperactivity, increased anxiety, etc. Some people also experience “mixed episodes”, in which they have the symptoms of a combination of both manic and depressed symptoms within a short time period.
Complications
Not treating cyclothymia can result in significant emotional problems that will affect one’s daily life. Moreover, there will be a high risk of developing bipolar disorder. With cyclothymia, substance misuse is common, and one may also have an anxiety disorder or increased risk of suicidal thoughts.
Although the highs and lows of cyclothymia are less extreme than those of bipolar disorder, it is critical to seek help managing these symptoms in order to prevent them from developing into bipolar disorder. Medications and psychotherapy can both help with cyclothymia.
Hope this article helped you learn more about cyclothymia. Thanks for reading!
Written by: Benetta Wang
Sources:
“Cyclothymia (Cyclothymic Disorder) - Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, 10 May 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cyclothymia/symptoms-causes/syc-20371275#:%7E:text=Cyclothymia%20(sy%2Dkloe%2DTHIE,and%20down%20from%20your%20baseline.
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