How To Battle Cyclothymia?

15 July, 2009 No Comment

Cyclothymia is a mood disorder that is considered to be a milder version of Bipolar Disorder. It is marked by cyclical mood changes wherein the affected individual might feel elated at times or extremely depressed on other occasions.

There are two types of moods that are characteristic of Cyclothymia- Hypomania and depression. The former is marked by feelings of elation, inflated self-esteem, excessive excitability, euphoria and the assumption of great powers and the latter is marked by feelings of sadness, excessive crying, insomnia or hypersomnia and feelings of worthlessness and despair.

Symptoms of Cyclothymia:
In Cyclothymia the patient does not experience any psychotic symptoms or delusions and the disorder is not likely to impair the normal functioning of the individual.

During the depressed phase of Cyclothymia, the patient might experience an extremely dejected mood followed by feelings of low self-esteem, inadequacy and loss of interest in otherwise pleasureable activities. He/she might also exhibit symptoms of social withdrawal, decline in sexual desire, negative outlook towards life and an extremely pessimistic attitude.

Some patients might even show notable sleep pattern disturbances marked by insomnia or hypersomnia, talkativeness, crying spells and decreased efficiency at all levels. During the hypomanic phase, the patient experiences lack of sleep, euphoria and inflated self-esteem.

How to treat Cyclothymia?
It is often very difficult to treat this disorder as the cyclic mood swings tend to wreck havoc on the patient’s mind. The causes of this disorder can range from hereditary factors and biological issues to socio-economic and cultural factors. Thus, it is essential for you to consult a professional psychologist, psychiatrist or clinical social worker if you feel that you or a loved one is suffering from this disorder.

The conventional treatment for Cyclothymia makes use of anti-depressants and other drugs for combating this disorder, but the flipside is that these drugs have a host of harmful side effects and can be ineffective over a period of time.

Electroconvulsive therapy is also recommended in some cases however, psychotherapy and cognitive behavior therapy seem to be better options. Family based therapy is another great way by means of which you can help your loved one overcome this disorder.

Self-help: If you feel that you are in the grips of depression or any other mood disorder, the first step would be to help yourself. You must remember that there are millions of individuals out there who are suffering from depression and you are not alone.

Even famous people like Abraham Lincoln, Beethoven and Marilyn Monroe were diagnosed with depression and it can affect anyone at any point of time. Talk to someone about your mood swings and try to seek help at the earliest.

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