Rapid Cycling Bipolar - Understanding Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder

Many people are familiar with the mental illness called bipolar disorder. Some individuals go through what is referred to as rapid cycling. They have to very extreme moods and the go in a full circle back and forth from depression to mania over and over again. The speed at which a person goes through rapid cycle bipolar is different for everyone. It can also change depending on the medications the person takes and any stress taking place at a specific time.

Rapid cycling bipolar disorder can be the result of a hereditary mental health issue. It can also be triggered by emotional trauma that affects the person in adverse ways. To be classified as rapid cycling bipolar disorder the person must complete at least four cycles per year. For some people they complete four or more cycles in only one month or even in just one week. These types of cases are often called ultra rapid cycling bipolar disorder.

It is hard to fully define the behaviors of someone who is going through rapid cycling bipolar disorder. They may exhibit normal behaviors and then move into depression and mania again. Others continually move from one extreme to another. Still yet other individuals experience a slow and gradual movement from one end of the spectrum to the next.

If a person moves from mania to depression with nothing in between it is called a switch. There can be as few as two switches per year or as many as two per month for more sever cases. There are so many different patterns of behavior that can take place during rapid cycling bipolar disorder that it is hard to find the right treatment for them initially.

Since there are so many variables with rapid cycling bipolar disorder people often classify it incorrectly. Only a doctor who is able to monitor the patient can correctly identify the level of cycling and the right way to treat it. This is often done after carefully assessing the individual. This is one area of mental illness that still has plenty of research to be completed.

If you found this information on Rapid Cycling Bipolar useful, you'll also want to read about Bipolar Divorce.

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Types of Bipolar - Bipolar I Disorder and Bipolar II Disorder

When diagnosing bipolar disorder there are two main types of bipolar that medical professionals refer to.

They are known as bipolar I and bipolar II but you may also see them referred to as:
-bipolar 1, bipolar i, bipolar type 1, or bipolar i disorder
-bipolar 2, bipolar ii, bipolar type 2, or bipolar ii disorder.

If you are interested in what bipolar disorder is, some common symptoms, and what the differences are between the two main types of bipolar they can be differentiated as follows:

Bipolar Type 1 (I)
Bipolar I, indicates that a person experiences mania, the more marked form of mood elevation.
Mania in bipolar I disorder is a period of elevated mood or a "high" mood swing that lasts for at least a week. During an episode of mania, a person becomes very self confident, needs less sleep, and pursues goals and projects or may become totally preoccupied with activities that they find pleasurable.

Energy and drive is increased. This can be expressed by spending sprees, overt self-confidence, sexual indiscretion and increased activity in pleasurable activities. The high mood of mania is also accompanied by racing thoughts and speech.

Manic episodes can also involve irritability or periods of psychosis (a loss of touch with reality). The mood swings of mania can be so severe that hospitalization is required.
For Type I bipolar disorder an episode of elevated mood (mania) impacts significantly on life, such that continuing work and maintaining relationships when unwell can become very difficult.

Bipolar Type 2 (II)
Bipolar II also involves episodes of elevated moods, but this mood elevation is of a lesser severity and for a shorter period (around 4 days), than in bipolar I. While these periods are clearly different from what is normal for the person, impairment in behaviour does not occur, in contrast to mania.

Bipolar II characteristically involves periods of depression where the person can lack energy and motivation, feel sadness and perhaps guilt over things that they are not responsible for. There can also be changes to sleep patterns and appetite.

So for those with Bipolar I, depression may or may not be a part of the symptoms experienced but to be diagnosed with Bipolar II a person must also experience episodes of depression.

If you are asking yourself, "Am I bipolar?", or if you feel that you are experiencing bipolar behaviours then please seek the advice of a doctor.

For more articles on Bipolar Disorder and for an Online Bipolar Self-Help Program visit MoodSwings.

Sue Lauder is a psychologist who has worked in the area of bipolar disorder for the past 6 years.

She has worked on the development and implementation of a group program for bipolar disorder and is a co-author of Living with Bipolar published by Allen and Unwin.

MoodSwings adapts the effective group program to an online format and is the basis for her PhD.

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