Hey, thanks for your reply
Originally Posted by
random.swirls
I am not an expert but hum if your moods are far less severe at the moment then it sounds like cyclothmia is the right diagnosis to work with now even if in time you end up getting treated for bipolar ii.
My understanding on upgrading a diagnosis is that it can happen e.g. someone diagnosed with bipolar ii has a manic episode they would then have a change of diagnosis so if you had another depressive episode then your diagnosis may change at that point.
This is why I am confused. I have always been diagnosed with and treated for unipolar depression (although have always been honest about, and actively monitored my mood swings with my psych; until he left that was) and had thought that my depression lifting slowly as it has done mean't that I was getting better.
I will be honest - the way that my mood can randomly fluctuate does frustrate me and I struggle to ascertain whether it is purely happiness (which I am unfamiliar with thanks the depression) or if it is indeed hypomania. But, according to the diagnostic criteria, if you've had an episode of MDD, you cannot be diagnosed with cyclothymia.
I'm sure that diagnoses can jump from one to another, but I was diagnosed as cyclothymic by a locum psych whom I'd never seen before. He spoke to me for 15 minutes and had a glance through my (thick) notes. I can't help but worry. I saw my previous psych for around three years and he was so careful and respectful. Not once did he slap a label upon me, he was always more concerned about alleviating my symptoms, although obviously wasn't blind to any potential diagnoses.
Thanks for your reply, hope you're well xx