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Rapid Cycling

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Susan Baird

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Apr 16, 2000, 3:00:00 AM4/16/00
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Could someone please describe the signs and symptoms of a rapid cycler as
opposed to a regular Bipolar. I get confused by everything I read.
Thanx,
Susan Baird

--
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way
its animals are treated."~Ghandi~

lynx

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Apr 16, 2000, 3:00:00 AM4/16/00
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"Susan Baird" <scbki...@sprint.ca>, in
<QAuK4.10913$Bq2.1...@newscontent-01.sprint.ca>:

> Could someone please describe the signs and symptoms of a rapid cycler
> as opposed to a regular Bipolar. I get confused by everything I read.

basically, a "regular" bp might cycle between mania and depression once
or twice a month, or less, with each state lasting a week or so; a rapid
cycler sees states lasting a day or two, or less, and might go through a
full cycle between sunup and sundown. my wife has mostly these latter,
and it doesn't look like any fun at all.


lynx

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Apr 16, 2000, 3:00:00 AM4/16/00
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lynx <a@b.c>, in <zKuK4.1750$lw2....@news.corecomm.net>:

> basically, a "regular" bp might cycle between mania and depression once
> or twice a month, or less, with each state lasting a week or so; a rapid
> cycler sees states lasting a day or two, or less, and might go through a
> full cycle between sunup and sundown. my wife has mostly these latter,
> and it doesn't look like any fun at all.

then again, i could be entirely misinformed and utterly wrong. your mileage
might vary, and always remember what you paid for my advice, and that you
might have ended up getting your money's worth.


Roger F

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Apr 16, 2000, 3:00:00 AM4/16/00
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According to the DSM IV, rapid cycling is when you have more than four manic
and/or depressive episodes in a year.


"Susan Baird" <scbki...@sprint.ca> wrote in message
news:QAuK4.10913$Bq2.1...@newscontent-01.sprint.ca...


> Could someone please describe the signs and symptoms of a rapid cycler as
> opposed to a regular Bipolar. I get confused by everything I read.

> Thanx,
> Susan Baird

vernon

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Apr 16, 2000, 3:00:00 AM4/16/00
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Thanks for pulling up the DSM IV, we have to have a common language
when talking about this stuff. What did it say under "Normal Bipolar"
<tee hee>
Vern

"Roger F" <rog...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:8de13t$5ec$1...@slb6.atl.mindspring.net...
: According to the DSM IV, rapid cycling is when you have more than four

:
:


north_&_south_bipolar_connection......meet_me_half_way

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Apr 16, 2000, 3:00:00 AM4/16/00
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A rapid cycler is someone who has more than 3 or 4 mood swings a year.

Roger F

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Apr 16, 2000, 3:00:00 AM4/16/00
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You're welcome, but it was no effort because I have that one memorized.
Normal is less than four a year. I see the term "ultra-rapid cycling" a lot,
but I don't believe it's in the DSM(I don't have a copy), and I don't know
what the criteria are. I'm in the last category, as I often go through four
or more an hour. Does that mean I'm 365+ times worse than a rapid cycler?
Thankfully I'm BP II.


"vernon" <alex...@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:%iwK4.6184$Nm2.1...@news.swbell.net...


> Thanks for pulling up the DSM IV, we have to have a common language
> when talking about this stuff. What did it say under "Normal Bipolar"
> <tee hee>
> Vern
>
> "Roger F" <rog...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:8de13t$5ec$1...@slb6.atl.mindspring.net...
> : According to the DSM IV, rapid cycling is when you have more than four
> manic
> : and/or depressive episodes in a year.
> :
> :
> : "Susan Baird" <scbki...@sprint.ca> wrote in message
> : news:QAuK4.10913$Bq2.1...@newscontent-01.sprint.ca...

> : > Could someone please describe the signs and symptoms of a rapid

> :
> :
>

LyndaNP

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Apr 17, 2000, 3:00:00 AM4/17/00
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Susan Baird <scbki...@sprint.ca> wrote:
Hi Susan,

> Could someone please describe the signs and symptoms of a rapid cycler as
> opposed to a regular Bipolar. I get confused by everything I read.

Rapid cycling has at least 4 episodes a year

Ultra rapid cycling occurs more frequently...everyday, every few days,
every month etc.

Peace,
Lynda


> Thanx,
> Susan Baird
>
> --
> "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way
> its animals are treated."~Ghandi~


--
Lynda

Matt

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Apr 17, 2000, 3:00:00 AM4/17/00
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In article <QAuK4.10913$Bq2.1...@newscontent-01.sprint.ca>, "Susan
Baird" <scbki...@sprint.ca> wrote:

> Could someone please describe the signs and symptoms of a rapid cycler as
> opposed to a regular Bipolar. I get confused by everything I read.

> Thanx,
> Susan Baird
>
I think the official definition is 4 or more episodes (manic or depressive)
in a year. I can do 4 in about 15 minutes if I'm really unstable. It makes
for a very interesting ride sometimes.

Matt

--
"Apparently I'm insane. But I'm one of the happy kinds."

Scott Adams, "Dilbert"

wyn

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Apr 17, 2000, 3:00:00 AM4/17/00
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As for rapid cycling, I'm not too clear on this myself. It is
confusing. I just figure it's one of those things you understand
if you have it yourself!

However, I think it's important to remember that you can have a
range of emotions during the day, but on the whole, what you
look at is a trend over weeks. I.e., during my manic episode, I
seemed to "cycle" daily from hypomania to mania to mixed (which
felt like severe depression). But if you look at the overall
trend, it was one of progressive, predominant mania over a
period of 6 weeks. I would *not* call this rapid cycling.

jen

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