Lately I've found myself shooting between phases of hyperactivity, to times of Depression and disinterest. After doing a little bit of studying I've found my weird phases are not extreme to be considered Bi-Polar, but seem to fall into the category of a similar thing called Cyclothymia. The problem is I'm not sure if I'm just making stuff up in my mind, or actually have it, I seem to fit the critera but i'm not sure.
So my question is to Self Diagnosed Aspies...how do you go about self diagnosing yourself for things? i'm not sure how to tell...
Oh here is the Diagnoses Statistic thingers.
-During the first two years of the disorder, the patient has not fulfilled enough criteria to qualify as having either bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder.
-Symptoms are present for at least two years: periods of hypomanic symptoms and periods of low mood that do not fulfill the criteria for major depressive disorder.
-The longest period the patient has been free of symptoms is two months.
-The disorder cannot be better explained as schizoaffective disorder, and it is not superimposed on schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, delusional disorder or psychotic disorder not otherwise specified.
-Symptoms are not directly caused by a general medical condition or the use of any substances such as prescription medicines.
The symptoms do not cause the patient clinically significant distress or impair work, social or personal functioning.
-A person with this disorder may experience euphoric highs, boosts of energy and require less sleep in one phase, followed by a severe mood swings into a depressive state coupled with negativity & sadness for no particular reason.
-These mood swings are not as severe as bipolar I disorder or bipolar II disorder.
-Cyclothymia is to bipolar disorder as Dysthymia (a mild form of clinical depression) is to major depressive disorder.
Thanks for the Help ^_^
There's a name for it?!!
I thought it was just life, or hormones...
Apperently there is. But according to it, it has to last over two years, with a maximum of two months between symptoms. Also something else I read says it doesn't have anything to do with actual life problems...and just happens randomly.
Apperently there is. But according to it, it has to last over two years, with a maximum of two months between symptoms. Also something else I read says it doesn't have anything to do with actual life problems...and just happens randomly.
But I've been like that all my life. Sometimes I can sail through problems and setbacks, sometimes I am 'stuck' even when life is going swimmingly. I thought everyone was like that...
To my knowladge most people aren't like that. From what I've heard, and seen most people are Manic, or Depressed during times in their life that correspond. >_>...
What is Cyclothymia?
The short answer is.
This.
My mood swings are alot more severe than cyclothymia suggests, but Im in complete control of my life, and experience no greater difficultly in executive function during these swings. I can go through a whole day of school wanting to commit suicide, but I can still do my school work. Or I can be the opposite, but I don't spend outrageous amounts of money or have an overpowering sex drive. But I have accidently hurt people though.
I've also heard that bipolar/cyclothymia in epileptics translates into IDD.
We have a patient a work who hits highs - especially when there is something exciting is about to happen. Her son is due to visit from Australia - she is on a high despite taking mood stablisers - so we have had to increase mood calming medications. This patient is bed bound - but this does not stop the high - she wants to make phone calls, organise her friends with lists - she can't sleep - at the moment she is an exhausting person to be around. Usually "X" has no energy for anything - she just wants to lie and sleep. She is in heart failure. So - it is one extreme to the other.
Recognising and diagnosing mental health conditions is a bit of an art form. Making diagnoses according to brain chemistry and behaviours is not easy. You know yourself best - if you read something that seems to fit - believe in it. Same applies to self diagnosed aspies. Trust your instincts. If these fluctuating moods cause misery or disorder in your life - maybe you should look to get medical assistance / help for this problem.
My mood swings are alot more severe than cyclothymia suggests, but Im in complete control of my life, and experience no greater difficultly in executive function during these swings. I can go through a whole day of school wanting to commit suicide, but I can still do my school work. Or I can be the opposite, but I don't spend outrageous amounts of money or have an overpowering sex drive. But I have accidently hurt people though.
Do you have *any* problems with executive function, in the first place?
My executive dysfunction is constant and unceasing, but much worse when depressed or overanxious. Basically if I'm not in the mood to do something, it's very hard to make myself do it.
We have a patient a work who hits highs - especially when there is something exciting is about to happen. Her son is due to visit from Australia - she is on a high despite taking mood stablisers - so we have had to increase mood calming medications. This patient is bed bound - but this does not stop the high - she wants to make phone calls, organise her friends with lists - she can't sleep - at the moment she is an exhausting person to be around. Usually "X" has no energy for anything - she just wants to lie and sleep. She is in heart failure. So - it is one extreme to the other.
Recognising and diagnosing mental health conditions is a bit of an art form. Making diagnoses according to brain chemistry and behaviours is not easy. You know yourself best - if you read something that seems to fit - believe in it. Same applies to self diagnosed aspies. Trust your instincts. If these fluctuating moods cause misery or disorder in your life - maybe you should look to get medical assistance / help for this problem.
Thanks. I guess I should look more into it before I decide anything. The thing is I just want make sure I'm not just making up symptons in my mind in order to diagnose myself with it...If that made any sense...Thanks you helped.
Yes - it made sense. I do this as well - I tend to undermine my struggles when faced with explaining them to a doctor. I feel like I am making mountains out of molehills. I feel like I am complaining without justification.
I take antidepressants now and antianxiety meds. These meds. have helped me so much to cope - prior to going on these meds. I used to struggle. I only got help when I took my son to a psychaitrist. The psych. encouraged my to take the meds. He told me I was very hard on myself by denying myself the help of medications. He told me he didn't have anyone else come into his rooms who would get as upset as I would - He also told me he had never meet anyone as nervous as me - this made me feel really stupid - but anyway - an outcome was that I got meds. I needed.
Maybe when you are struggling with mood - you could scale yourself on a scale of 1 - 10. with 5 being a stable mood - keep a daily track of where your mood is and then show the doctor. You could perhaps also write decriptively how you might be feeling - if you are struggling to cope with ways of being.
Hah, that exactly like me. Whenever I feel depressed, or hate parts of my life i always think that I'm just making something out of nothing, like my problems don't really matter. I do that for everything...
I am going to try that scale thing...Maybe I'll write it down everyday for a month or so and see what i get out of it, and possible show it to my doctor. Maybe at more extreme times I could describe it like your idea...That really would help me understand. Thanks.