Mood & Depression
Cyclothymia
Two years or more of shifting between mild highs and mild lows that never quite reach full episodes, but still unsettle stability.
What it can feel like
- Frequent swings between low and elevated mood
- Periods of confidence and productivity that do not last
- Irritability, restlessness, uneven sleep
- Difficulty settling on long-term plans
- Feeling dismissed because it looks less severe than it feels
Not everyone has every symptom, and you do not need a label to deserve support.
Things that help
Track it for a month
A simple daily rating of mood, sleep and energy turns a vague sense of instability into something you can discuss.
Anchor routines
Regular sleep, meals and exercise reduce the amplitude of the swings more than any single technique.
Plan around the swing
Notice what you tend to do when elevated, like overcommitting, and build a rule to slow those decisions down.
Want to actually do these? Save them to your practices and tick them off as you go.
Add to my practicesWhen to reach for more support
Speak to a GP or specialist if the swings are affecting work or relationships. Cyclothymia is treatable and worth taking seriously.
Often looked at together
Bipolar I Disorder
Episodes of mania, where mood and energy escalate far beyond normal for a week or more, usually alternating with periods of depression.
Bipolar II Disorder
Repeated depressive episodes with milder episodes of elevated mood (hypomania) that feel productive rather than out of control. Often mistaken for depression for years.
Depression
More than low mood: a flattening of energy, interest and pleasure that lasts weeks or months and changes how you think about yourself and the future.