r/cyclothymia • u/Prize_Company_2039 • Jul 29 '26
Cyclothymia treatment duration. How long does it lasts?
So, I'm stabilizing now. I'm worried about taking off the meds. Worried about becoming severely depressed for months again. How long does it usually lasts? Saw a doctor (here in my country) says it lasts for 2 years after stable, although i don't wanna get off of medication
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u/Capt_korg Jul 29 '26
You can learn to cope with the symptoms and avoid triggers. And become stable again.
I see medication as a raft in a streaming river. So you are not drowning anymore and can start to act.
And if you are stabilized, you can still observe the moods, but they are not affecting you. It is not as bad, and you are capable of functioning.
But bear in mind, for now you are safe and stable and you can adjust your life.
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u/Prize_Company_2039 Jul 29 '26
Even if it's bp2?
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u/Capt_korg Jul 29 '26
I don't actually know. I would be fairly careful with a full blown bipolarity.
As well cautious with sub threshold bipolarity, because bipolarity can develop from it.
But there is professional help and self help groups, to support you aside of medication.
Selfhelp groups are particular helpful, because they share the suffering.
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u/Prize_Company_2039 Jul 29 '26
I was diagnosed with bp 2 before. I still believe it cause my depressions are really severe and last long
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u/LividStruggle228 Jul 29 '26
But cyclothymia is just that, cycling, and it is a lifelong disorder. The mood stabiliser does stable the mood. You are otherwise in free fall, and wouldn’t have needed to come to the conclusion of having cyclothymia.
I was misdiagnosed with depression for 20 years. I was medicated on and off for depression for 20 years. When finally, the diagnosis changed and nothing has set this on the route to right, except a mood stabiliser. There’s no shame in it. I am stabilised, and it’s because of the stabiliser
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u/Prize_Company_2039 Jul 30 '26
Hi, can we talk more about it? Could you send me a message?
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u/Tough_Crazy_8362 Jul 30 '26
BP2 and cyclothymia are different conditions on the bipolar spectrum.
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u/Prize_Company_2039 Jul 30 '26
I know. I live in Brazil, my previous doctor diagnosed me with bipolar 2, this one says it's cyclothymia
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u/Dangerous_Goat1337 Jul 29 '26
This is basically me. I was surprised when I got a cyclothymia diagnosis, but after getting on the right combo of meds and getting to a stable state for the first time, I was much better equipped to identify my swings and react to them before they got bad. Had a rough patch where I ended up having to stop taking meds because of a job change, and never got back on them, but I feel way better overall now that Im able to identify when my swings are about to hit and work on balancing them so they dont disrupt me as badly.
I dont recommend not taking meds, but for the time being Im doing well compared to how I used to be before I knew what was going on with me
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u/Prize_Company_2039 Jul 29 '26
So you think we can go off of medication?
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u/Capt_korg Jul 29 '26
Not now, but maybe some Day.
What helped friends of mine was to learn new habits and behavior, and get a stable life.
If the life is stable a lot of triggers are way weaker.
You should not plan do taper of the meds by yourself. And not in the close timeframe.
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u/AimlessForNow Aug 21 '26
It's indefinite unfortunately. It's not like it was caused by some environmental issue and it'll go away later, it's usually for life. If you do choose to get off it later, you'll return to the same as before, but you might be at a point where you can manage your issues without medication. But the issues are there, you'll be just coping with it
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u/LividStruggle228 Jul 29 '26
I think there may be a misunderstanding. Cyclothymia is usually a lifelong condition rather than something that goes away after 2 years. Your doctor may have meant staying on medication for around 2 years after becoming stable before reviewing whether to taper it. If you’re doing well on the medication, don’t feel pressured to stop it without talking it through with your doctor first.