Could I be cyclothymic?

Question:

I'm not bipolar, because I never have full-blown mania or depression, but I think I might be cyclothymic. I've been reading about the symptoms, and it sounds like what I have. For a few months, I told myself flat-out that I was a hypochondriac and nothing was wrong with me, but I still kind of noticed the cycles. For example, right now I am really arrogant and conceited. Even though the sensible part of me knows that I am wrong, I feel that I am much more intelligent than anyone else on this site and I am superior to them. I also don't have much empathy, and if I see a dead body on television, I'll just shrug it off. It doesn't affect me like it normally does. But then there are times when I feel everyone hates me, and I feel miserable because life is so empty and there's nothing but pain.

My mom thinks I'm making this up to get put on medication. My counselor convinced her to take me to the mental health center, but then she lost her job and I haven't gone back.

Answers:
have your mom read this:
"Cyclothymia is a chronic bipolar disorder consisting of short periods of mild depression and short periods of hypomania (lasting a few days to a few weeks), separated by short periods of normal mood. Individuals with cyclothymia (thymia: from the Greek word for the mind) are never free of symptoms of either depression or hypomania for more than two months at a time. In 1980 the classification of cyclothymia was changed in the DSM-IV from Personality Disorder to Mood Disorder.

Though the above description portrays cyclothymia as a mild disorder, it is so only relative to the severity of Bipolar I and Bipolar II disorders. cyclothymia can completely disrupt the life of an individual and create personal chaos. In their continual oscillation of mood, they never know from one day to the next what to expect".

symptoms are:
~*Zig-zagging from periods of elation to gloom
~*Unable to maintain enthusiasm for new projects due to mood changes
~*Personal Relationship Problems due to influence of moods causing a constant "pulling close and pushing away" of emotions
~*Abrupt changes in personality from cheerful, confident and energetic to sad, blue or "mean"
~*Sleep difficulties are prominent, with affected persons sleeping little during hypomania, and "unable to get out of bed" during depression.

Self medication with alcohol or illegal drugs is common.

In a word cyclothymia seems to sabotage a person's opportunity for a stable life.

"According to DSM-IV a diagnosis of cyclothymia is based on the following:

1. Individual has had many periods of both hypomania and depression, for a period of at least 2 years.

2. Individual has experienced no periods of normal mood lasting longer than two months.

3. Individual has experienced no major depression, manic or mixed episode during the first two years of symptoms

4. Symptoms are not attributable to either Schizophrenia or Psychotic Disorder

5. Symptoms are not due to effects of medication, illicit drugs or medical condition.

6. Individual experiences significant distress or impairment in daily living".

the only way to know for sure is to see a professional. self diagnosis is not the way to go.

if you are cyclothymic, there is treatment:

"In some cases individuals may prefer no treatment or supportive psychotherapy alone. Couples or Family therapy is often sought to help with the problems in relationships brought on by the disorder.

In addition, lithium, a mood stabilizer used commonly in the treatment of Bipolar Disorder, has been proven to help a substantial number of people with Cyclothymia."

and not all medications are "happy pills."

Other Answers:
I don't know what cyclothemic means, but it sounds like symptoms of bipolar disorder to me. It isn't always as bad for some people as others. That could be why you are not experiencing real strong mania or depression.

I'm curently asking the same kind of question about me...
You may be, but only a doctor can tell you for sure if you're a cyclothymic or not.
If you're like me, it causes you problems in your life, in your relatioshipe with others... So you really should go and see a doctor (and I should do the same...)

There are clinics which are income based. Try finding one because it wouldn't hurt.

Cyclothymia is a chronic bipolar disorder that consists of short periods of mild depression alternating with short periods of hypomania. It is considered to be a chronic, low level form of bipolar disorder. The onset of each phase is separated by short periods of normal mood. Cyclothymic disorder is a recurrent, chronic, mild form of bipolar disorder in which mood typically oscillates between hypomania and dysthymia. This diagnosis is excluded if the patient has had either a manic episode or a major depressive episode.

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Could I be cyclothymic?

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