Cyclothymia + Schizoid?

Hi,

I wasn't quite sure where to post this... I have Schizoid Personality Disorder (self-diagnosed, as most of the cases). While I have always been a rather laid-back, introverted person for most of my life, something started changing since about a year ago.

It started back around March-April 2015 when I had this "phase" (don't want to call it "episode") when I was very irritated and angry at everything. I just felt very moody, including moments when I felt full of rage and I just wanted to be left alone. Then a couple months later something changed. I started working out, eating healthy, going out with friends... I assumed I had just overcome a rough patch and that the summer had boosted my mood. Then everything changed again in a few weeks and I have been having these constant mood swings ever since. They alternate between "feeling empty/dead inside, locking myself in the house for weeks, not wanting to talk to anyone, lack of energy, feeling desensitized, angry...." to "feeling happy, full of energy, being confident, wanting to socialize, seeking new opportunities...". It's become quite bothersome because at first I thought it was just phases, but it's come to the point that I feel like I'm two different people and they're just taking turns every few weeks.

I knew of bipolar disorder, but there's no way I fit that description. I haven't been manic to the point of harming anyone or losing control and I also haven't felt totally depressed (but then again, I can't really feel sadness due to my SZPD). I know I have to wait for at least 2 years, but I was wondering if anyone else here is also schizoid or if you've read about these disorders being comorbid.

Comorbidity isn't unusual. A psychiatrist could describe you as having one disorder with features of another. Sometimes, a subtype of a disorder is defined that way.

But you will also see, just by looking at the lists of symptoms, that there is a lot of overlap. Cyclothymia and schizoid would offer plenty. This is why even people who work closely with psych professionals may have one diagnosis, then another, then another, until the right one is found. It's all very complicated and certainly frustrating.

The most important thing is that you have the kind of help you need. If your problem isn't particularly bad, you may just need to determine which family and friends can help you. If it's a little bad, you may need a therapist to guide you. If it's really bad, you could need a psychiatrist with a team of psych professionals.

So if you need help sorting it out, consider seeing the professionals. You could really agonize yourself trying to self-diagnose.