Cyclothymia Moods, and Commonality.

I understand the general disclaimer of we can't diagnose you here, but that is not really what I am looking for.

I do have some general questions though. I have had quite a few mood swings in the past, where occasionally they happen for a day, or maybe just a few hours. Sometimes I will go for long periods without any change. They are not extremely severe. I have a lot of self image swaying, and a number of highs and lows in attitude. But I did have a recent bad episode that lasted a month or so where the shifts were severe and it affected my mind and lively hood to the extreme but I am not in such a fog anymore. Occasionally I am curious if it is just because I have poor character, but I am sort of over the whole self identity thing for now. I am becoming aware on how to handle myself, but I was curious if this seems common to people who have cyclothymia. Thanks for you time.

Hello s3b.
That does sound like myself, but I've never had the courage to ask for a diagnosis,
I surprised myself recently at going hypo in reaction to extreme stress, but I know that there are dozens of diagnosis that can fit my own symptoms,
I've noticed on the b.p.UK forum a lot of members are finding that psychiatrists currently are shifting diagnosis of b.p. to personality disorders. So much for the experts...
I expect you've done some reading about cyclothymia and know what it is technically, for myself the disadvantages of getting a diagnosis outweigh the advantages, perhaps I am lucky in that my g.p. so far has been confident enough to manage things with a low level of a couple of meds. I dread the idea of being referred to a shrink.

Hey, thanks for the reply.
I understand. I am concerned about the meds and being treated like a human biochemistry experiment. I was thinking about personality disorders, but much of what I have read in my research does not necessarily align with most of them. I am not a trained psychologist by any means, but it looks like a diagnosis can just shift depending on what the doctor thinks. I have been trying to study parts of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, but there is a lot of material. I am able to manage myself so far, and can deal with mood shifts for the most part if I stick to a schedule.

Meds have a place for controlling symptoms, but if other ways suit, we'd all prefer not to have cocktails that came with no side effects..
Sleep is my strongest tool, if that gets mucked up I end up walking an emotional tightrope
As you say the dsmm is huge and growing every year. It's not just a diagnostic tool, it is a method to put labels on conditions that allow docs to treat them, in America where everything depends on having a label before the medical insurance will cough up payments it is essential to have a label.
Planning treats and rest and nessercary tasks into the week can be enough to get through rough times, I have to admit that I'm someone who is challenged without at least a low level of meds, and to be honest I wish I had asked for help many years ago..
Id rather not label myself as proper b.p. but not sure how else to explain the hypos