What is Bi-Polar 'Rapid Cycling Mood' and 'Mixed State Bi-Polar'?

This is proving difficult for me to understand!



How quickly can moods change for people with Bi-Polar disorder? Could it be Hour to Hour?

Also is highly elevated mood a distinguishing factor in all people who have Bi-Polar Disorder? if not what makes this disorder different from Depression?



Thanks for your Help.What is Bi-Polar 'Rapid Cycling Mood' and 'Mixed State Bi-Polar'?
In rapid cycling the persons mood can change anywhere from every few weeks to daily, to hourly. For example they could wake up extremely depressed and sad antisocial maybe even suicidal, then by the evening these feelings evaporate %26amp; they could feel like the world is ok again. It is a chemical change, that happens without reason. You cant control how long you feel sad for, you cant keep yourself ';happy'; because you will always crash back down.



In mixed state, this means that the person is feeling depressed yet happy at the same time. For example they could be crying and depressed about their life but want to go out dancing and celebrate.



Depression is simply, depression. The person is sad, and stays sad for 2 weeks - years. In bipolar, the person suffers from severe depression, but gets breaks (fake breaks) where they feel happy, and on top of the world, that everything is OK before they eventually crash back down into depression. It is an unhealthy and harsh flow of emotions, not the normal oh im sad today, maybe im pmsing, im depressed my boyfriend left etc. These mood swings can destroy good things, and also cause you to do bad things. The depression can cause you to ruin things that should make you happy, like relationships, marriage, parties etc. They just cant control it.What is Bi-Polar 'Rapid Cycling Mood' and 'Mixed State Bi-Polar'?
The Alliance for Bipolar Disorder offers a very good explanation. I have noted the web site below. You are having trouble understanding because diagnosis of bipolar disorder is difficult to begin with for mental health professionals and diagnosing cycling is even more complex. This site will also give you good explanations of the different mood states.



http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServ