The cyclothymia collective

The Kindling Effect

If you are resisting going on-- or staying on-- medications, please
take a moment to consider a phenomenon known as The Kindling Effect.
Each depressive/dysphoric or hypomanic/manic episode is worse than the
previous one. With time, the small flame eventually can become a
roaring bonfire. Treatment with mood stabilizers can slow down that
development, or maybe even stop it.

Statistically, for up to half of us (15-50%), Cyclothymia is only a
staging ground. A full half of us will go on to develop full-blown BPI
or BPII. And it is not at all clear which of us this will be.
Conscientious treatment with therapy, medications, and behavioral
changes can reduce the number and intensity of episodes and reduce our
chances of things getting much worse.

Like its definition, the treatment for Cyclothymia is by no means
standardized. Before 1980, Cyclothymia was classified as a personality
disorder and treated mostly with talk therapy. In the 1980s it was
officially classified as part of the Bipolar spectrum and work began on
seeing if Cyclothymics respond positively to mood stabilizers. Most of
the websites list talk therapy and/or medications as the treatments of
choice.

Talk Therapy

Since interpersonal problems are common in
Cyclothymia, given the "I must talk to everyone/I must talk to no one"
mood swings, as are irritability and a host of other really pleasant
quirks, therapy often focuses on behavioral techniques for more
satisfying social interaction. Cognitive therapy such as Rational
Emotive Therapy teaches you how to identify and overcome irrational
thinking. Other therapies might focus on family interaction, dealing
with workplace stress, or "comorbid" issues such as substance abuse,
spousal abuse, and other life traumas.

Medications

While Lithium seems to be most often listed as
the mood stabilizer used, it is joined by the other medications given
for Bipolar such as Depakote, Lamictal, Tegretol, or Topamax.

Successful treatment happens when we take responsibility for our condition.