how to prevent from progressing into Bipolar?

Hi, Im 28 year old, i'm glad i found this forum as it brings me relief im not alone here with symptoms that are covered under cyclothymia. After doing a lot of reading about the subject of cyclothymia, i realized that this description fits my situation the most, as themanic and depressive episodes are not as extreme as with BP, and they can shift often even in a single day.

It may have started with just dysthymia. When i was starting university my girlfriend once asked me after looking at my family photo album, why i have a smile on so few pictures, this was the first time someone has noticed such a pattern or at least brought it to my attention, why would an 11 yeard old boy look not happy for no apparent reason. i couldn't explain it.

Now that i think i may have progressed to cyclothymia, and reading about a great percentage of people with cyclothymia at risk for developing full bi polar disorder i'm a little scared. is there a way that this can be stopped? cured, or the best thing that we can do is to control it to a point that it doesn't disrupt our lives. Does anyone have any success stories? I'm a little sceptical about pills being the solution although it may have help with the symptoms in the short run. Did people have similar problems 100 years ago?

It can't be stopped.

You can however learn to manage your symptoms, and manage your illness.

Medications work, but only if you are working on it too.

I keep detailed charts of my mood shifts.

I've cut foods from my diets, caffiene, excess preservatives, excess carbs, artificial sweetners.

You have to learn what works for you.


Manic depression has been around for a while.
The terminology is relatively new, but the symptoms have existed in history.