Posted by Racer on January 8, 2006, at 21:22:27
In reply to cyclothymia, posted by hopwitch on January 8, 2006, at 18:47:19
Cyclothymia is to bipolar as dysthymia is to depression -- they're much milder, but generally a bit more chronic. Saying you're cyclothymic is basically saying that you get -- forgive me, this is the best I can describe it -- hypohypomanic, and then swap over to a bit depressed. I guess he's not convinced you're bipolar, but he's not sure you ever find a happy medium in your mood.
Here's a question for you, though: What do you think?
The first time I ever took antidepressants, my doctor dragged me back to the psychiatrist to be checked out for bipolar. Turned out, though, that *that* was my personality! No one had known, since I'd been so depressed for so long. Without the depression, I was friendly, bubbly, cheerful, and generally NOT what my doctor was used to. Could it be that your natural state, your natural personality, is just more cheerful than your psychiatrist is really prepared for? Personally, I think you probably know the answer to that better than your pdoc.
Treatment for cyclothymia would probably mirror that for bipolar, since the issues are the same.
I hope that helps.
poster:Racer
thread:596756
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060108/msgs/596852.html