Cyclothymia

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What is cyclothymia?

Cyclothymia or cyclothymic disorder is a less extreme form of bipolar disorder. You experience shifts between euphoria and depression, but the changes aren’t as dramatic as with bipolar disorders I and II.

Rather than full manic episodes, cyclothymia causes hypomania, where you feel energized and excited. The depression that follows is typically mild or moderate, unlike the severe depression those with bipolar disorder I and II experience.

Between these mood shifts, you’re likely to feel fine and able to function normally. However, the effects of mood swings can still have a significant impact on your everyday life.

What symptoms does cyclothymia cause?

Depending on whether you’re in a hypomanic or depressive stage of cyclothymia, you might have symptoms like:

• Exaggerated self-esteem
• Talking faster and more often than normal
• Poor judgment
• Racing thoughts
• Irritability or agitation
• Different sleeping patterns
• Inability to concentrate
• Sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness
• Weeping
• Worthlessness and guilt
• Restlessness
• Fatigue
• Over or under eating

If you relate to these issues, WCWCW offers professional diagnosis and expert treatment for cyclothymia.

How is cyclothymia diagnosed?

Because the symptoms of cyclothymia resemble those of other mental health conditions, your clinician at WCWCW needs to use their considerable skill and experience to determine the cause of your condition. They carry out a psychiatric evaluation to determine which disorder you have.

The criteria for a diagnosis of cyclothymia include having multiple periods of hypomania and depression over a minimum of two years (or one year for children and adolescents). Stability between your mood swings lasts no more than two months, and the condition has a significant impact on work and home life.

How is cyclothymia treated?

At WCWCW, cyclothymia treatments might involve talk therapy, medication, or both. Potential talking therapies for cyclothymia include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT)
• Psychoeducation
• Supportive Psychotherapy

Your clinician at WCWCW selects the therapies that are most likely to be of benefit to you. They also use medications where necessary, which could include mood stabilizers (lithium, valproate, carbamazepine). Antipsychotic medication (haloperidol, quetiapine, risperidone) might be helpful for some people.

You may require medicines to help you sleep or lower your anxiety levels, as well. With these treatments, you can reduce the frequency of your hypomanic and depressive episodes, regaining control of your life.

Our specialists at WCWCW in Bethesda, Maryland, offer the supportive care you need to overcome the challenges of cyclothymia. We provide the same high-quality service via telehealth for patients living in Maryland, DC, Virginia, Michigan, and Florida. Call our office or request an appointment online today.