According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “An estimated 4.4% of U.S. adults experience bipolar disorder at some time in their lives.” Furthermore, there are different types of bipolar disorders: cyclothymic disorder, bipolar I, and bipolar II. The differences between cyclothymic disorder vs. bipolar I and II make it more challenging to identify.

North Atlanta Behavioral Health offers treatment for all types of bipolar disorder as well as several other mental health disorders. Visit our admissions page today to get started.

What Is Cyclothymic Disorder?

Cyclothymic disorder (cyclothymia) is a rare form of bipolar disorder with mixed episodes of hypomania and depression.

Although cyclothymia is a type of bipolar disorder, it is much milder than other types of the disorder. It’s characterized by noticeable up-and-down shifts from your baseline mood.

Everyone has ups and downs in life. Stress and challenging life events can trigger periods of low energy that differ from your baseline mood. Conversely, positive life changes can boost your mood for a period of time.

However, if you have cyclothymic disorder, your mood will shift seemingly out of nowhere. And you’ll only experience a stable, baseline mood for a short time between cycles of low and high moods. These frequent shifts in mood can create significant challenges in your life.

What Are the Symptoms of Cyclothymia?

Symptoms of cyclothymia include hypomanic and depressive symptoms.

People with cyclothymic disorder experience changes in mood that deviate up and down from their baseline. Hypomania occurs during the “ups” whereas depression characterizes the “downs.” Furthermore, you’ll have brief periods of your baseline mood between these episodes.

Hypomanic Symptoms

Hypomanic symptoms of cyclothymia include the following:

• Exaggerated feeling of happiness
• Euphoria
• Restlessness
• Needing less sleep than usual
• Impulsive and reckless behaviors
• Elevated self-esteem
• Agitation and aggression
• More talkative than usual
• Increased motivation and energy

Depressive Symptoms

Depressive symptoms of cyclothymia include the following:

• Fatigue
• Low levels of energy
• Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness
• Trouble concentrating
• Isolating from friends and family
• Loss of interest in activities
• Sleeping more than usual
• Irritability
• Changes in weight
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide

Cyclothymic Disorder Vs. Bipolar I & II (What Are the Differences?)

There are significant differences between cyclothymic disorder vs. bipolar I and II.

The main differences between cyclothymia and bipolar I & II are the severity of symptoms and the cycles of shifting moods. Mood shifts among those with bipolar I or bipolar II last for days or even weeks.

However, among those with cyclothymia, changes in mood are much more rapid—sometimes going from low to high within a single day.

In addition, mood swings from cyclothymic disorder vs bipolar I and II occur more often. In fact, with cyclothymia, you’ll likely have more days with symptoms than without.

Furthermore, because cyclothymia is milder than other types of bipolar disorder, many people don’t get treatment for their symptoms. Oftentimes, people with this disorder are considered “moody” by others.

By contrast, symptoms of bipolar I and II can be severe, leading to significant mood swings, insomnia, hallucinations, delusions, and suicidality.

In summation, cyclothymic disorder causes subtle but noticeable shifts in mood, resulting in rapid cycles that occur frequently. Conversely, bipolar I & bipolar II disorders cause longer-lasting mood changes with more severe symptoms. However, unlike cyclothymia, people with bipolar I and II have more days at their baseline mood than not.

Dual-Diagnosis Disorders: Cyclothymia & Addiction

Having cyclothymia—or any mental health disorder—puts you at a higher risk of developing a co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD).

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “7.7 million adults have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders.” Mental health disorders and addiction have similar causes and risk factors, which is why these disorders tend to overlap. However, it can be difficult to tell which disorder occurred first.

A person with cyclothymia, for instance, might abuse drugs or alcohol to self-medicate for their mood shifts. On the other hand, long-term substance abuse can alter the way your brain functions—leading to mental health disorders.

If you have cyclothymia with a co-occurring addiction, you need dual-diagnosis treatment to address both disorders at the same time.

How Is Cyclothymic Disorder Treated?

Cyclothymic disorder is treated with psychotherapy, medication, and holistic approaches.

The most effective way to treat cyclothymic disorder is with a comprehensive treatment plan addressing multiple areas of health and well-being. That is why North Atlanta Behavioral Health offers a range of services and outpatient levels of care to meet your treatment needs.

Treatment plans for cyclothymia include the following:

• Psychotherapy: Individual, group, and family therapy are all effective ways of treating cyclothymic disorder. During therapy, you’ll learn healthy ways to cope with stressors and symptoms.
• Medications: Psychiatric prescription drugs help to stabilize your mood when you have cyclothymia. Typically, mood stabilizers work better than antidepressants, even for depressive symptoms of cyclothymia.
• Holistic Approaches: It’s critical to find multiple pathways through holistic approaches to health and well-being. This is because cyclothymia affects your physical, emotional, and spiritual health as well as your mental health.

Cyclothymic Disorder and Bipolar Treatment in Atlanta, GA

Treatment programs for cyclothymic disorder vs bipolar I and II are similar and include comprehensive approaches. If you have cyclothymia or other types of bipolar disorder, we can help you achieve mental health and well-being. North Atlanta Behavioral Health provides outpatient mental health treatment in Atlanta, Georgia.

Contact us today to begin treatment for cyclothymia and bipolar disorder.

Mood disorders, like bipolar disorder and depression, are fairly common types of mental health disorders in the US. According to MedlinePlus, “Nearly one in ten people aged 18 and older have mood disorders.” Mood stabilizers, such as lithium, Seroquel, and Depakote, work to treat symptoms of these disorders by restoring the chemical imbalances responsible for mood swings.

North Atlanta Behavioral Health provides treatment options for mood disorders as well as other common mental health disorders. Visit our admissions page today to get started.

How Do Mood Stabilizers Work? (And Why Do They Help?)

Mood stabilizers work by decreasing abnormal activity in the brain. This abnormal activity can deplete or flood the brain with important chemicals called neurotransmitters. These chemical imbalances can cause symptoms like depression, mania, psychosis, and seizures.

Mood stabilizers, like other psychiatric medications, treat mental health conditions by restoring chemical balances in the brain. By balancing these chemicals, you will notice relief from psychiatric symptoms.

What Conditions Do Mood Stabilizers Treat?

Mood stabilizers treat the following psychiatric conditions:

• Bipolar disorder: Mood swings are the defining characteristic of bipolar disorder. Stabilizers help to keep your mood from going into manic and depressive states.
• Schizoaffective disorder: This disorder is similar to bipolar, except that you will also have symptoms of psychosis. Antipsychotics with mood stabilizing properties can treat both the psychotic symptoms and mood swings present in schizoaffective disorder.
• Borderline personality disorder (BPD): Significant mood swings and difficulty regulating emotions are common symptoms of BPD. Therefore, mood stabilizers can help you control your moods and emotions.
• Depression: Sometimes, mood stabilizers treat depressive disorders. Generally, your psychiatrist will prescribe mood stabilizers if antidepressants don’t treat your symptoms.
• Anxiety: Like depression, your psychiatrist could prescribe mood stabilizers if other types of medications don’t reduce symptoms of anxiety disorders.

3 Most Common Types of Mood Stabilizers

The following are three of the most common types of mood stabilizers:

1. Lithium

Lithium is a naturally occurring element, which treats mood swings in people with bipolar disorder. It helps to stabilize your mood and prevent manic episodes. However, lithium has a limited therapeutic range, so you will need blood work regularly to ensure you don’t have too much or too little in your system.

Common side effects of lithium include:

• Drowsiness
• Tremors
• Nausea and dizziness
• Weight gain
• Increased thirst and urination
• Headaches

The above-mentioned side effects tend to decrease in severity over time as your body becomes accustomed to lithium. Still, there is a risk of severe side effects, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and confusion.

2. Anticonvulsants

Anticonvulsants typically treat seizures and epileptic disorders. Since they reduce brain activity, some anticonvulsants also treat mood disorders. Some of the most commonly prescribed anticonvulsants that work as mood stabilizers include: Tegretol (carbamazepine), Lamictal (lamotrigine), and Depakote (valproic acid).

Tegretol and Depakote reduce symptoms of mania, whereas Lamictal helps with depressive episodes.

Common side effects of anticonvulsants include:

• Headaches
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness
• Weight gain
• Fatigue and drowsiness
• Skin sensitivity/rashes

Similar to lithium, regular blood work will ensure you have a therapeutic level of your medication in your system. By remaining within therapeutic ranges, the risk of side effects lessens. Severe side effects, however, could occur, including vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, vision problems, confusion, jaundice, and liver damage.

3. Antipsychotics

Antipsychotics treat symptoms of psychosis—hallucinations and delusions—which sometimes occur in people with mood disorders, especially during acute manic episodes. Psychosis is also a hallmark of schizoaffective disorder.

Like anticonvulsants and lithium, antipsychotics also reduce activity in the brain. Thus, they can also work as mood stabilizers for those with bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder.

Antipsychotics that also stabilize mood disorders include:

• Risperdal (risperidone)
• Abilify (aripiprazole)
• Seroquel (quetiapine)
• Zyprexa (olanzapine)
• Haldol (haloperidol)

Common side effects include:

• Weight gain
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Agitation

Some people have severe side effects, such as low blood pressure, tics and tremors, blurred vision, vomiting, and low white blood cell count. Therefore, like other mood stabilizers, it’s critical to have routine monitoring and blood work.

Do I Need a Mood Stabilizer?

If you struggle with manic, hypomanic, or depressive episodes, you could benefit from a mood stabilizer. These episodes are indicative of a mood or personality disorder, such as bipolar, depression, schizoaffective disorder, or borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Most mood stabilizers help to regulate manic or hypomanic episodes. However, some mood stabilizers also help those with depression or anxiety when antidepressants aren’t effective.

You might need a mood stabilizer if you experience the following symptoms of mania or hypomania (similar to mania, but less intense):

• Racing thoughts
• Pressured or rapid speech
• Hallucinations or delusions
• Trouble focusing and easily distracted
• Oversharing personal information with people you just met
• Difficulty maintaining or establishing healthy boundaries
• Insomnia
• Impulsivity
• Overindulgence in certain behaviors—like shopping, gambling, drug and alcohol use, and sex—leading to negative consequences

While mood stabilizers are more commonly used for mania and hypomania, they could also help with depressive symptoms, such as:

• Low mood or lack of energy
• Loss of interest in pleasurable activities
• Feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness
• Overwhelming shame, guilt, and doubt
• Irritability
• Appetite changes
• Unintended weight gain or loss
• Thoughts of death
• Suicidal ideations

In addition, if antianxiety and antidepressant medications don’t relieve symptoms of anxiety, a mood stabilizer could work for you.

Regardless of the mental health condition you have, it’s also important to have a well-rounded treatment plan with psychiatric medications, therapy, peer support, and holistic approaches.

Get Help for Mood Swings Today

At North Atlanta Behavioral Health, we’re here to help you find mood stabilizers that work for whatever disorder you have—bipolar, schizoaffective, depression, or anxiety. We also offer comprehensive treatment plans that focus on all aspects of your health and well-being. This approach leads to the best outcomes for mental health disorders.

Contact us today to get your mood swings under control and start living the life you deserve.