: Could anyone give some info on this mental disorder. I understand it is
: somewhat like manic-depressive. I have a {*filter*}ager who is diagnosed with
: cyclothymia and is on Zoloft. The Zoloft seems to level out the mood swings but
: I still need more info on what exactly this disorder is!
I survived Cyclothymia, so it is survivable.
From "The Harvard Mental Health Letter" (don't know which edition)
"Cyclothymia is a mood disorder related to both personality disorders
and dysthymia. In this illness the alternating mania (uncontrolled
elation) and depression of bipolar disorder take a milder and less
disabling form. Cyclothymic persons endure short and irregular
cycles of energetic activity and lethargy, optimism and pessimism,
insomnia and oversleeping, joculatrity and tearfulness, arrogance and
self-pity, passionate involvement and sudden loss of interest.
Their marriages fail; they periodically abuse {*filter*} and other
{*filter*} and repeatedly change jobs and homes. Just as people with
dysthymia usually have episodes of major depression, people with
cyclothymia are vulnerable to both major depression and mania. But
ordinarily their erratic behavior and troubled family lives are
more obvious than any underlying mood cycle. Many of their
symptoms resemble borderline or histrionic personality, and
at one time they were given the diagnosis of cyclothymic
personality disorder."
I did have a copy of the DSM-III-R "description" of cyclothymia
but I am currently unable to locate it.
Although the symptoms may be recognizable, I don't know how
much weight should be given to the negative comments regarding
people with cyclothymia. I would think that with proper care,
these things would not occur. If you would like information
of a more personal nature regarding my progress (I was
diagnosed 7 years ago) please e-mail me directly. I would
love to help someone else with my experiences.
Joy
Cyclothymia