Bipolar III disorder is the unofficial term for cyclothymia, a mild form of bipolar disorder. Cyclothymia, sometimes called cyclothymic disorder, is a long-term condition where your moods cycle between hypomania and depression , but they are not incapacitating or suicidal. Hypomania is a "high" that can be mild to fairly severe but does not include delusions, hallucinations or other psychotic features. Cyclothymia is milder than bipolar I or bipolar II in that the depressive and hypomanic episodes are not as intense as those found in the other two disorders.
In between the highs and lows, you may feel pretty normal. However, it's important to get help for cyclothymia since it can significantly impact your everyday functioning and affect your relationships at home and at work.
Cyclothymia usually starts during the teen years or young adulthood and affects both males and females equally. It may be under-diagnosed because people who have it are sometimes erroneously diagnosed with other mental health conditions like depression or bipolar II disorder.
Many people with cyclothymia do not seek treatment either because their symptoms are not as debilitating as those seen in bipolar disorder. As with every other mental health disorder, no one knows what causes cyclothymia. Cyclothymia has similar symptoms to the other bipolar disorders , but not quite as extreme. It is characterized by emotional highs and lows that can be but aren't always disruptive to daily functioning. These emotional highs and lows are called hypomanic and depressive episodes.
In cyclothymia, when you are on an emotional high, you are experiencing a hypomanic episode, which is not as extreme as mania. In cyclothymia, when you are in a low place, you are probably experiencing a depressive episode, which also tends to not be as extreme as those found in bipolar I and bipolar II. These symptoms may include:. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at for support and assistance from a trained counselor.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. If you have symptoms of cyclothymia, you should see your doctor right away. The aim is to: stop the cyclothymia developing into bipolar disorder reduce your symptoms stop your symptoms coming back You'll probably need to continue this treatment for the rest of your life.
Medicines You may be prescribed: medicines to level out your mood mood stabilisers antidepressants Mood stabilisers include: lithium — commonly used to treat bipolar disorder anti-epileptic drugs — such as carbamazepine , oxcarbazepine or sodium valproate Antidepressants may help improve your low moods, but they may cause you to switch to the other extreme of hypomania.
Recently, some antipsychotics such as quetiapine have also been used as mood stabilisers. But not all people with cyclothymia respond to medicine. Psychotherapy Psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy CBT , can help with cyclothymia.
You'll be given practical ways to improve your state of mind on a daily basis. Further support for cyclothymia Find your nearest mental health support service You may also find it helpful to join a support group so you can talk to others who share your experiences and problems.
You can ask your mental health service or GP if there's a local group you can join. Read about depression support groups Other organisations that can help include: Bipolar UK Mind Rethink Mental Illness Living with cyclothymia It's not known how many people with cyclothymia will go on to develop bipolar disorder.
But some people with cyclothymia see their elevated or depressed moods become more severe. The signs of bipolar disorder can generally be divided into those for mania, and those for depression. Mania can cause other symptoms as well, but seven of the key signs of this phase of bipolar disorder are:. Like mania, depression can cause other symptoms as well, but here are seven of the key signs of depression from bipolar disorder:.
There are four common types of bipolar disorder, but two of these types are most often diagnosed. The person may end up in the emergency room if left untreated.
To have bipolar I, a person must have manic episodes. In order for an event to be considered a manic episode, it must:. Bipolar II is considered more common than bipolar I. It also involves depressive symptoms, but its manic symptoms are much less severe and are called hypomanic symptoms.
Hypomania often becomes worse without treatment, and the person can become severely manic or depressed. There are two other types of the disorder that are less common than bipolar I and II. Cyclothymic disorder involves changes in mood and shifts similar to bipolar I and II, but the shifts are often less dramatic in nature. A person with cyclothymic disorder can often function normally without medication, though it may be hard. Bipolar disorder not otherwise specified is a general category for a person who only has some symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder has no single cause. It appears that certain people are genetically predisposed to bipolar disorder, yet not everyone with an inherited vulnerability develops the illness, indicating that genes are not the only cause.
Some brain imaging studies show physical changes in the brains of people with bipolar disorder. Other research points to neurotransmitter imbalances, abnormal thyroid function, circadian rhythm disturbances, and high levels of the stress hormone cortisol. External environmental and psychological factors are also believed to be involved in the development of bipolar disorder.
These external factors are called triggers. Triggers can set off new episodes of mania or depression or make existing symptoms worse.
However, many bipolar disorder episodes occur without an obvious trigger. Stressful life events can trigger bipolar disorder in someone with a genetic vulnerability. These events tend to involve drastic or sudden changes—either good or bad—such as getting married, going away to college, losing a loved one, getting fired, or moving. Substance Abuse. Drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy, and amphetamines can trigger mania, while alcohol and tranquilizers can trigger depression. Certain medications, most notably antidepressant drugs , can trigger mania.
Other drugs that can cause mania include over-the-counter cold medicine, appetite suppressants, caffeine, corticosteroids, and thyroid medication. Seasonal Changes. Episodes of mania and depression often follow a seasonal pattern.
Manic episodes are more common during the summer, and depressive episodes more common during the fall, winter, and spring. Sleep Deprivation. Loss of sleep —even as little as skipping a few hours of rest—can trigger an episode of mania. DSM Library. American Psychiatric Association, Sponheim, Jonah Popp, Victoria A.
Nelson, Viengneesee Thao, and Benjamin Sunderlin. Tondo, Leonardo, Gustavo H. Carvalho, Brisa S. Bobo, William V. Bipolar Disorder — Symptoms, causes, and treatment. National Institute of Mental Health. Rapid Cycling — Signs, symptoms, and causes of rapid cycling in bipolar disorder.
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. Bipolar — Workbook and other self-help resources. Centre for Clinical Interventions. In the U. UK : Call the peer support line at and leave a message for a return call or Find a Support Group near you. Bipolar UK.
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