Rapid Network

Bipolar Disorder, Rapid Cycling is generally defined as a condition of bipolar disorder, when the individual experiences four or more episodes of hypo/mania and depression, in spite of the different patterns and combinations in which they may happen. Bipolar Disorder Rapid Cycling is a mental illness in which the person experiences two extreme opposites of behavior, hypo/mania and depression.

It is likely that more than half of the persons afflicted with Bipolar Disorder experience Rapid Cycling at the start of the mental illness.

Bipolar Disorder, Rapid Cycling refers to the occurrence of four or more episodes of hypo/mania and depression within 52 weeks. If four or more episodes happen within four weeks, this state is known as an ultra-rapid cycle and if the occurrence of the episodes is fast and a number of of them occur within weeks, it is known as ultra-ultra-rapid cycle.

There may be different types of Bipolar Disorder, Rapid Cycling that have to be taken into account to fully appreciate the meaning of the term. An extreme form of Bipolar Disorder, Rapid Cycling is known as a 'switch', the person may sometimes move from one extreme to another; let's say from mania to depression without an intervening normal phase. A person may have two switches in a year, or one switch and two episodes separated by a phase of normal behavior. The person may experience periods of normal behavior when mania and depression are absent.

The Rapid Cycling episodes and their frequency may occur in many different combinations and patterns because of different causes, but are included under the broad term of Bipolar Disorder.

Most people think the term Bipolar Disorder, Rapid Cycling is not helpful to describe specific patterns of the episodes. The different patterns of the episodes of mania and depression have different treatments and therefore should be called by different names.

Persons with Bipolar will go through an irregular pattern of highs and lows that play on their emotions. The highs are called episodes of mania.

During the episodes of mania, there are a number of symptoms that can be observed: a person may feel tremendously happy and positive; a feeling of exhilaration; overblown self esteem or ego; poor judgment; fast speech; excessive thoughts; you may feel agitated and aggressive; problems concentrating; problems sleeping;
You are easily distracted; have problems accomplishing tasks and take unnecessary risks.

Persons that go through the mania symptoms of bipolar will change into the depression side. These symptoms can include the following: feeling very sad; you may be irritable and lose your temper easily; feeling of hopelessness; you may be very tired; don't care about completing tasks; lack appetite and lose weight; lose interest in daily activities; unable to sleep; guilty or feeling all is lost; thoughts of suicide.

A person afflicted with Bipolar Disorder, Rapid Cycling usually exhibits varying degrees of moods, such as normal behavior to hypo/mania to depression and again to hypo/mania; though the level of severity of hypo/mania, depression and normal times may differ every time.

Have a great day,

Paul Mackie