General What Is Cycling?

[Atomic]

Can a sufferer please tell me what cycling is? I've looked all over the place and can't really find an explanation or description. There seems to be a frequent mention of rapid cycling with bipolar - is there only rapid cycling as opposed to just (ordinary?) cycling, or is cycling only associated with bipolar?

My sufferer said "I was cycling but really dislike admitting it."

If I run searches for ptsd cycling, it just gives me bipolar results. He's not in a place to answer these questions for me at the moment.

 

[Sideways]

In my (limited, but not completely ignoramus...I think) knowledge, cycling is a term technically associated with rapid changes of mood just in the bipolar context.

That said, there does seem to be a bit of a PTSD Urban Slang Dictionary, and if the person doesn't have bipolar, I think it (confusingly) gets used occasionally to explain rapid changing of symptoms generally, so a ptsd sufferer without bipolar might mean, for example, they are haven't frequent changes between having flashbacks, dissociating, etc.

When they are in the right headspace, definitely clarify with them what they were trying to communicate so that you know for next time. Communication is key for supporters to keep on supporting - helps to be speaking the same language:)

 

[Catching_him]

I'm a supporter with bipolar and long term trauma.
I definitely cycle. My vet be "cycles" also...I can see it so clearly. I can feel it start with the intense hyper-vigilant state...then down and plateaus for a while at "normal"....then angry agitated...then depression...then back up again. It usually will begin with a trigger...but sometimes he cycles faster than other times. Depends on his stress level (just like me). Don't know if it's the same with anyone else or not. I document it, just like mine.
I'm not a Dr, but it sure looks the same to me.

 

[Atomic]

Thanks, CH. This is what it looked like:-

Ecstatic to see me, couldn't sit any closer if he tried. Always touching me. Agitated, hands shaking, sleeping, I'd say something and he'd snap out of it and ask me to repeat myself, quiet, distant, hold my hand, put his head in my lap, agitated, distant, sit close so he could touch me, we'd have a deep 2 hour conversation, distant, tell me I'm more beautiful than the last time he saw me, shaking, not hold my hand, then wouldn't let it go on the drive to the airport.......and on and on. It was SO confusing.

 

[Catching_him]

Thanks, CH. This is what it looked like:-

Ecstatic to see me, couldn't sit any closer if he tried. Alway...

Yep, very similar, exact in some ways. Mine shakes constantly, unless he's in an upswing (hyper-vigilant) then he's overly sexual, will call 2-6 times a day through the night. Tells me how much he loves me (but today couldn't say he even liked me, depression - crying etc.).
Keep a log of dates and emotions(and events)...might help you see a pattern, if any. I hope this helps.

 

[Atomic]

We live a fair distance apart (airports are involved), so I can't see what's happening on a day-to-day basis. The only way he'll communicate at the moment is by email, and that feels precarious.

I couldn't get my head around what was happening at the time - to feel the distance and the silence, but have him constantly making physical contact, even in bed there were times I couldn't move because he was wrapped around me like an octopus. If it's a headf*ck for me, maybe that's about 1% of what he's going through right now. *heavy sighs*

 

[lostforgottensoul]

BPD has a type of "cycling" of emotions but thats more of a roller coster and not just highs and lows but the extremes of everything. Intresting term, never heard of it before.

I can see bipolar being called "cycling" of emotions, ups then downs.

Theres meds for that. Not sure if he's got a therapist and/or meds but i hear they help.a lot. Latuda is a known bipolar med...so much so that my psychritrist said no cuz i dont have bipolar (she apparently doesnt read my therapist's notes in my file) but seriquol and a handful of others have been known to work.

 

[Atomic]

He does have a therapist, we spent a lot of time talking about that. He went to the doctor and said he's on antidepressants. Which ones? No idea.

He's been dealing with this for many years, so have faith in him knowing what he needs at a particular time. He told me he knows what works and what doesn't.

 

[Atomic]

I hadn't heard from him yesterday after asking him to check in. So I messaged his sister asking if she's heard from him because he hasn't replied to me when usually he does. No....she hasn't heard from him for a few days. I call him, it goes straight to voicemail. I use my daughter's phone to call him in case he's blocked my number, it goes straight to voicemail. 2 hours later I message his sister asking if she's been over to check on him. No....he usually calls her if he's not doing well.

He emailed me at midnight to say he's pretty depressed and thinks he needs to go into hospital as an inpatient with vets (VA).

Wow. No wonder he has issues with his sister. Am I the only one who is worried about him?? I'm thinking if he recognises that he needs to be hospitalised, is he suicidal?

 

[Atomic]

I just asked him outright if he was thinking of hurting himself. He replied no, he thinks he needs intervention at a hospital.

There is no affection, but at least he replies with what is actually going on. I sure do miss him, though. If he didn't want anything to do with me I guess he'd just ignore me.

 

[Sideways]

Isolation, emotional numbing and difficulty communicating are all best friends with ptsd, and I can imagine that must be pretty rough on the receiving end. If he's asked to go into hospital he isn't necessarily suicidal, but it's usually a pretty good indicator that it's getting too hard to cope.

What I would say (& I happen to be in hospital myself at the mo!) is it's sooo incredibly hard having to say to someone "I think I should be hospital". The shame, helplessness, guilt and sense of failure that are tied to that statement tend to team up with the fact that you HATE hospital, and oftentimes a person who can ask once won't necessarily persist if no help shows up after the first plea for help.

Besides all that though, he told you. That would've been hard, and my guess is there aren't too many people in this world he will let himself be that vulnerable with. You're obviously a safe person in his eyes.

 

[Atomic]

Thank you, Ragdoll Circus. It's been a tough day for me today. Feel like everything is so hard. In the past, he's been loving but just cut me off. This time he communicates but there's no love.

Wishing you a speedy recovery and return to health with whatever is ailing you at the moment xo.