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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by allisonf on May 1, 2003, at 16:28:23
Has anyone heard of any CBT or other therapeutic interventions that work particularly well for someone who is rapid cyclying (that would be me right now)? Thanks for the input.
Posted by Dinah on May 2, 2003, at 20:32:20
In reply to Rapid Cycling: Therapy Techniques?, posted by allisonf on May 1, 2003, at 16:28:23
I wish I did. My cycles generally last eight to ten weeks. Are yours shorter than that? And do they have a recognizable pattern? I guess the only thing that helps me is to analyze them so I can say. "Ok, a day of obsessive rumination. My meltdown must be over. Now it's time for a week of grogginess." It doesn't make it easier, but it does help me put it in perspective. Nothing helps me with the meltdowns, but therapy keeps the results from being as bad as they might otherwise be.
Posted by allisonf on May 2, 2003, at 23:54:13
In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling: Therapy Techniques? » allisonf, posted by Dinah on May 2, 2003, at 20:32:20
You know, my cycles don't really have a recognizable pattern at this point. They have always been very short and frequent, which is why originally I was diagnosed with cyclothymia. Now the severity of my depressions has made that change to BPII-RC. Since the beginning of the year, I have been going thru complete cycles in about a week (tho I have some normal periods mixed in). I just started Wellbutrin in March (my 1st time on an AD) but I think this has been going on since before then.
Also,it is comforting that you talk about obsessive rumination b/c I do that a lot...and I know it is part of BP, but it's not something on my mood charts, so I'm never quite sure where it fits in. It seems like I do that when I'm up and down.
Posted by judy1 on May 3, 2003, at 13:25:05
In reply to Rapid Cycling: Therapy Techniques?, posted by allisonf on May 1, 2003, at 16:28:23
I don't cycle as frequently as you- months vs. weeks and bp1 vs bp2- but I kept a very careful journal and with frequent visits my therapist recognized manic symptoms before they became full-blown. She made me call my pdoc who would then talk me into taking meds to stop the episode- (this is recent, it took years! to establish the trust), and because manic episodes are very damaging in my case, this has helped a great deal. The depressions are all handled with psychotherapy (all ADs cause mania and worsen cycling for me) and that has worked fairly well. best of luck-judy
Posted by allisonf on May 4, 2003, at 19:39:14
In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling: Therapy Techniques? » allisonf, posted by judy1 on May 3, 2003, at 13:25:05
Posted by noa on May 21, 2003, at 18:18:46
In reply to Rapid Cycling: Therapy Techniques?, posted by allisonf on May 1, 2003, at 16:28:23
Hey, Allison. Wondering how you are. About the ruminations--I do that, too. Probably worth adding to the mood chart. I don't use a mood chart, but have done some informal charting in the past. I probably could benefit from using a chart. Not sure if I can committ to the effort, though. Sigh.
Posted by allisonf on May 22, 2003, at 23:03:22
In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling: Therapy Techniques? » allisonf, posted by noa on May 21, 2003, at 18:18:46
Thanks noa--it's very kind of you to ask. Things are going ok. I've still been rapid cycling, but overall I'm doing better than a few weeks ago. My pdoc decreased the Wellbutrin, so I'm hopeful that will help the cycling. (Altho we did increase the Wellbutrin b/c I was depressed...) How frustrating is this disease?? Do you have the med thing under control or are you still working on it?
What kinds of mood charting did you do in the past? My therapist is a cognitive type so she has me filling out the Beck Depression Inventory twice/day. Then I made my own manic scale just to keep track of that. It's tough keeping to the regimen, but I try to do it with the pills, so it works out for the most part.
Thanks for your post. Take care--A
Posted by noa on May 24, 2003, at 12:05:07
In reply to Re: Rapid Cycling: Therapy Techniques? » noa, posted by allisonf on May 22, 2003, at 23:03:22
Hi, Alison.
I just did some informal mood charting in my journal. It didn't last long. I couldn't get myself to write regularly enough.
This is the end of the thread.
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