What Is Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder, And How Do I Manage It?
Rapid cycling bipolar disorder occurs when a person experiences several manic, depressive, or combined episodes in one year. Though bipolar disorder itself is often chronic, rapid cycling is not necessarily a long-term phenomenon.
Anyone with bipolar disorder can enter a period of rapid cycling, although some indicators and risk factors make it more likely for some than others. The critical thing to remember is that rapid cycling will likely not last forever, and you can learn to manage it while it is happening.
Characteristics of bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by highs, called mania, and lows, or periods of depression. There are two different types of bipolar disorder, and rapid cycling between the two extremes can happen to those living with either one.
Bipolar type 1
Bipolar type 1 is the most easily diagnosed form of bipolar disorder, largely because the episodes of mania and depression it can cause are often recognizable and distinct. Less than half of the people with bipolar disorder have type 1 bipolar.
Bipolar type 2
In bipolar disorder type 2, the highs experienced typically don’t reach the heights of mania that are common with bipolar type 1. Those with the disorder may still be susceptible to periods of highs and lows, but they often experience depressive symptoms more frequently and severely.
Characteristics of rapid cycling bipolar disorder
The impact that rapid cycling can have may look different depending on which type of bipolar disorder a person has. For those with bipolar I, episodes of extreme mania, deep depression, or both may be commonplace. People with bipolar II, however, may experience four or more episodes of major depression and hypomania, a less severe form of mania, in a twelve-month period.
Rapid cycling bipolar disorder can be tough to manage. You may feel euphoric one day and weighed down by depression the next. The fast rollercoaster you might find yourself on during rapid cycling episodes can be emotionally and physically exhausting. It often makes navigating things like relationships, work, and school extremely difficult.
Who is likely to experience rapid cycling?
Research studies have been done to try to identify what makes someone at risk of developing rapid cycling bipolar disorder. Experts have found that individuals are more likely to develop rapid cycling patterns when diagnosed with bipolar disorder at or around the age of 17 or younger. Other studies have also found that people with type 2 bipolar disorder and those assigned female at birth may be at higher risk of developing rapid cycling symptoms.
Individuals who stop taking medications for bipolar disorder may be more likely to experience rapid cycling. There is also an established connection between alcohol and drug use and increased mood shifts. Additionally, rapid cycling in bipolar disorder is thought to have a stronger association with disruptions to circadian rhythms than other forms of mental illness.
Resolution of rapid cycling bipolar disorder
Rapid cycling symptoms usually improve with treatment; in fact, many patients find that one to two years of consistent care can make a significant difference. While bipolar disorder itself may not disappear entirely, the frequent and tumultuous changes that rapid cycling can cause may be subdued with the right treatment plan.
Learning to live with rapid cycling bipolar disorder
There are many ways to manage the symptoms associated with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. Perhaps the most obvious and potentially essential way to get started is by reaching out to a mental health professional. Working with a team that can help you address your needs can help you get the support and care you may need to begin to see change. There are also some things you can do to help yourself right from the comfort of your own home. It can be helpful, for instance, to have people around you that you trust who can offer support.
Medication
The psychiatric community has long accepted that anticonvulsants are the best treatment for bipolar disorder, including rapid cycling bipolar disorder. Studies have found that a combination of different medications can be helpful for reducing symptoms, though it may take several months for change to become obvious.
Medications for rapid cycling in bipolar disorder may include mood stabilizers and antipsychotics. Mood stabilizers can alleviate the effects of mood shifts and help prevent future episodes. Antipsychotics can reduce symptoms of psychosis—such as delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking—that can arise during severe episodes of mania and depression. It’s typically best to talk to your doctor about whether medication may be part of an effective treatment plan for you.
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy is a common component of treatment plans for rapid cycling bipolar disorder regardless of what other steps you take to manage your symptoms. Cognitive behavioral and mindfulness-based therapy can help you recognize symptoms and adjust your thinking and behavior to compensate for mood changes. While you may not be able to control your mood swings during rapid cycling bipolar, with the help of a therapist, you may be able to exert some control over your reaction to them.
In many cases, convenient treatment options like online therapy can make it easier to find a professional who understands your experiences. Being able to meet with a therapist through the web means you won’t need to leave your home to receive the support you may need. It also may allow you to more consistently participate in sessions by helping you save both time and money.
Not only is online therapy convenient and affordable but it’s also been shown to be a successful way to manage mental health symptoms. One review of studies focused on the effectiveness of online cognitive behavioral therapy found that it can lead to significant decreases in anxiety and depression symptoms. It was also found to be just as effective as in-person therapy for treating other mental health symptoms, including those related to panic disorder, PTSD, and more.
Takeaway
What does bipolar rapid cycling feel like?
Bipolar disorder patients who experience rapid cycling may transition between a manic episode and a depressive episode with little time without bipolar symptoms in between. Experiencing rapid cycling can be draining and confusing. Bouncing between an elevated mood and a depressed mood can have a significant impact on bipolar patients’ relationships, work, and other aspects of their lives.
What triggers rapid cycling bipolar disorder?
It is not totally understood why rapid cycling occurs. A rapid cycling course may be triggered in anyone with bipolar mental disorders, whether they have bipolar I disorder or bipolar II disorder. A systematic review of clinical psychiatry research on patients with bipolar disorder found that experiencing abuse, neglect, or family conflict in childhood was associated with higher rates of rapid cycling, along with other negative outcomes, such as suicide risk. Some research also indicates that the use of antidepressants to address depressive symptoms associated with bipolar disorder may increase the risk of rapid cycling, leading some medical providers to recommend using mood-stabilizing drugs instead.
If you are thinking about suicide, considering harming yourself or others, feeling that any other person may be in any danger, or if you have any medical emergency, you must immediately call the emergency service number (988 in the US and 0800-689-5652 in the UK) and notify the relevant authorities. Seek immediate in-person assistance.
How long does bipolar rapid cycling last?
Bipolar rapid cycling can look different for different patients. In order to receive a rapid cycling sub-diagnosis, a patient typically needs to experience four distinct manic, hypomanic, or depressive episodes in a year. For some patients, rapid cycling may last for just that one year, while for others, it may continue to the point where it is a lasting feature of their bipolar disorder. In rarer instances, some patients may experience a phenomenon called ultra-rapid cycling, in which they cycle between mood states not over the course of months, but over the course of weeks or even days.
How do I know if I have rapid cycling bipolar disorder?
If you have experienced at least four “affective episodes,” or episodes of depression, mania, or hypomania, over the course of the past twelve months, you may have rapid cycling bipolar disorder. Mood stabilizers may be an effective treatment for this condition.
What is an example of rapid cycling?
Some people with rapid cycling bipolar disorder use the example of a roller coaster to explain their experience. Manic or hypomanic episodes can be described as slowly climbing to the top of a drop, with the associated excitement and euphoria, but also the dread of sinking back into a depressive state. Depressed episodes can be described as dropping down into the abyss or coasting until the next “high” comes along.
How do you spot a bipolar episode?
Bipolar episodes can be difficult to identify, both for people with bipolar disorder themselves and for their loved ones. “Mania” is often associated with a sense of euphoria, but in actuality, it is simply an elevated mood state, so a person experiencing a manic episode may not feel happiness and may even act irritated or snappish. Depressive states can show up in different ways for different people, but exhaustion, lack of motivation, and a sense of hopelessness are some common symptoms.
Can you be mildly bipolar?
The word “bipolar” can refer specifically to bipolar disorder itself, subdivided into bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder. But “bipolar” can also refer to the class of bipolar and related disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V). Out of the disorders in this class, cyclothymic disorder, is considered to be the most “mild.” A person with cyclothymic disorder experiences mood swings that are often described as moderate depression or an emotional “high,” as opposed to a full-blown depressive or manic state. Many people with cyclothymic disorder may not experience any sort of functional impairment from their moods and so may not think they require mental health treatment.
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