RAPID CYCLING

Wow, cool. Well not cool, but I'm the same. I wasn't sure if it was possible to be a type I and rapid-cycler, as from what I understood, usually rapid-cyclers are type II. But I could be mixing up my types - or just no one really knows anything about rapid-cyclers, which is my impression.

Okay, so I've been officially diagnosed as being a rapid-cycler. My new doc has prescribed something that he says is supposed to be good for rapid-cyclers (sorry, can't remember the name, haven't gotten it yet).

My question is - I am curious what, if any, meds have worked well for other rapid-cyclers and/or are there specific medications that work better for rapid-cyclers? I am notorious for not responding to medications (except negatively), so the idea that there are meds that might be good especially for R-Cs interests me. I am curious just to know what is working for other rapid-cyclers, if they are willing to share.

I cycle usually once or twice a day which I didn't think was a huge problem, maybe just regular depression, until I realized that even if you cycle a few times a year it's considered bi-polar.

If you cycle once or twice a day, you're not only bipolar, but consider an ultradian cycler. If you cycle more than a few times A YEAR you are considered a rapid-cycler... I would give anything to just cycle a few times a year!!!

BTW, what I am taking is tegretol, but a discussion of that deserves an entire message of its own.

All,

I do feel badly that we all suffer from this, but it is "nice" to have company.

I suffer from ultra ultra rapid cycling. I began my odyssy at age 14, but was not diagnosed until age 42. I take 1500 mg of lithium per day to control it. The treatment and a lot of theraphy have worked a lot of changes.

I do well as a parent and spouse. I have somehow managed to create a dynamic well paying career, although that seems to be fading away at age 48.

I also suffer from a very abused childhood and that is my primary focus these days.

Take care,
Walt

hi - just wonderin how one can rapid cycle a few times a day but not notice it?

just curious - sometimes i think i may cycle more than i believe. i only hav one real episode to go off..

cableart: even more pervasive then my bipolar was my child abuse. at 14 I went into denial about everything. my denial was based on intense shame issues. i never accepted, believed, or took anybodies help. in fact i just treated them as a traitor, and they were out of my life.

i became pretty good at the denial over time, admitting that I had small probelms and dealing with those, but never getting into any core issues.

getting diagnosed and treated for bipolar is what has allowed me enough stability to go on and start dealing with the other issues. there is a lot there. I see two therapists right now a total of six times a month.

I hope that helps explain it some