Cyclothymia, sudden mood swings

  • Jul 26, 2021
click fraud protection
Cyclothymia, sudden mood swings - why are they?

To have humor changes It is something normal, since although we can keep our mood, social, work and even hormonal factors stable, In the case of women, they can cause mood swings that make us go from joy to tears in no time weather. However, after a short period of time, we will regain the emotional balance that we had before the event.

However, there are people who suffer changes in mood constantly and abruptly, going from the euphoria to depression in a minimum period of time, although without suffering a major depression or a disorder bipolar. These people suffer from cyclothymia, a chronic mood disorder with variations of mild hypomanic and depressive episodes. Neither hypomanic nor depressive symptoms are severe enough for the person to be considered to be suffering from a manic or major depressive episode. In this Psychology-Online article, we explain in detail what is cyclothymia, what are the sudden changes in mood due toas well as its symptoms and treatment.

In the same way as with other mental health disorders,

causes of cyclothymia are unknown. However, specialists point out certain factors as predisposing to developing this disorder or increasing the chances of suffering from it. These are the ones we show below:

  • Genetic factors: People who have a family history of cyclothymia, major depression, or bipolar disorder have been found to be at higher risk for it.
  • Environmental factors: There are certain life events that can influence the development of cyclothymia, among them we find traumatic events, such as physical or sexual abuse.
  • Biochemical processes of the body: changes in brain chemistry.
  • Going through prolonged periods of stress.

Now that we know what causes sudden mood swings, let's see what the symptoms of cyclothymia are. Based on what the American Psychiatric Association (APA) establishes, so that a person diagnosed with cyclothymic disorder must present the next:

  • Periods with hypomanic symptoms (elevated mood) and periods of mild or moderate depressive symptoms for at least one year for children and adolescents and two years for adults.
  • Both hypomanic and depressive symptoms should present at least half the time of those two years without having more than two months in a row without presenting these signs.
  • There are no signs or symptoms that comply with major depression or single episode of hypomania.
  • Other mental disorders have been ruled out as causing these symptoms, such as schizophrenia, delusional disorder or schizoaffective disorder.
  • The manifestation of cyclothymia symptoms are not due to the consumption of drugs or other substances, nor are they due to other types of medical conditions.
  • The symptoms of cyclothymia have a negative influence on the social, work and personal environment of the affected person.

Hypomanic symptoms

Hypomanic episodes are characterized by presenting a state of euphoria and exaltation, in addition to symptoms such as the following:

  • Presence of a lot of energy and a significant increase in activity.
  • Reduced need for sleep and sleep disturbances.
  • Great predisposition to carry out activities and have social relationships.
  • Talk more than normal.
  • Increased or inflated self-esteem.
  • Heightened optimism and an exaggerated sense of well-being and happiness.
  • Psychomotor agitation.
  • Difficulty concentrating and easy to be distracted.
  • Hyperactivity
  • Exaggerated reactions to the occurrence of events.
  • Constant search for strong emotions.
  • Increased impulsiveness.
  • Greater irresponsibility.

Depressive symptoms

In cyclothymic disorder, depressive episodes are characterized by a depressed mood or mood, in addition to symptoms such as the following:

  • Lack of energy and reduced activity.
  • Sleep problems, such as insomnia.
  • Isolation and reduction of social relationships.
  • Loss of interest in performing different daily activities.
  • Reduced appetite
  • Low self-esteem.
  • Negative thoughts about yourself and the people around you.
  • Feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
  • You want to cry continuously for no reason.
  • Irritability.
  • Feelings of guilt
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Lack of motivation.
  • Loneliness.
Cyclothymia, sudden mood swings - why are they? - Symptoms of cyclothymia

The cyclothymia treatment Its main objectives are the following:

  • Reduce the risk of it resulting in a bipolar I or II disorder later.
  • Reduce symptoms in order to enjoy a better quality of life.
  • Avoid recurring symptoms.
  • Treat possible problems of alcoholism or drug use, as these worsen the symptoms of cyclothymia.

For this, specialists recommend the combination of drug treatment with psychotherapy:

  • Medicines: The use of drugs used in the treatment of bipolar disorder is usually prescribed to relieve symptoms and prevent them from recurring frequently. Antipsychotics and anticonvulsants, such as lithium and quetiapine, may be recommended. In this case, antidepressants have not been shown to be effective in treating cyclothymia successfully.
  • Psychotherapy: various psychological therapies can be carried out. Those that offer the best results are cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, and rational emotional therapy.

In addition to medical treatment, as in any other type of ailment, the support and understanding of the family and the environment is necessary for the affected person to overcome it.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Cyclothymia, sudden mood swings - why are they?, we recommend that you enter our category of Clinical psychology.

instagram viewer