I have some questions for you

Have you ever felt like your emotions are on a rollercoaster?

Not the extreme highs and lows of a full-blown mood disorder – but just enough to make life feel unpredictable?

If so, welcome, dear reader. You’re in the right place.

Let me ask you a few quick questions:

Do your moods swing from high to low for no obvious reason?
Do you go through phases of high energy, followed by total exhaustion or apathy?
Have people told you that you’re “moody” or “unpredictable”?
Do you sometimes feel amazing, then crash for days or weeks?

If you said yes to most of these, you’ve probably brushed it off as just being emotional or sensitive. But while everyone has ups and downs, most people’s moods stay relatively stable.

So if this sounds familiar, you might want to learn more about something called cyclothymia – also known as cyclic mood disorder.

What is Cyclothymia

Cyclothymia is like bipolar disorder’s quieter, lesser-known cousin.
German psychiatrist Ewald Hecker first described it back in 1877, calling it a mild but chronic mood disorder.

Think of it as an emotional rollercoaster, just not as extreme as bipolar I or II.

People with cyclothymia swing between hypomania (mildly elevated energy and mood) and dysthymia (low, subdued mood). These shifts are unpredictable and don’t follow a clear pattern.

One day you’re optimistic, buzzing with ideas, ready to conquer the world…
The next day, one small disappointment can send you spiraling into sadness.

A Real-Life Example

Marry was all in on her AI course. She worked hard, never missed a lecture, and gave 110% to every assignment.
Then she scored 9/10 on her final project.

Most people would celebrate. But Marry’s mood crashed instantly.
She canceled her plans, retreated to the couch, and couldn’t shake the disappointment for a week.

That’s the thing about cyclothymia – tiny triggers can cause big emotional drops that last way longer than they should.

That leads us to the question…

Why Do These Mood Swings Happen?

That kind of overreaction to small events is common in people with mood disorders, especially perfectionists or those sensitive to criticism.

Marry’s 9/10 didn’t just feel like a small miss. It felt like failure.

From the outside, she just seemed moody. But inside, her brain chemistry was working overtime. These mood swings can seriously affect work, relationships, and motivation.

The cause?
It’s complicated – part genetic, part biological, sometimes environmental.

If mood disorders run in your family, you might be genetically predisposed.
If not, your brain might simply be wired to react more strongly to emotional stimuli.

External factors like stress, trauma, or even lack of sleep can make it worse, but they’re rarely the sole reason.

Cyclothymia Can Be Triggered by Small Things

It might seem random, but there’s usually a pattern, just subtle.

A minor setback, an offhand comment, a change in plans… any of these can throw you into a low.

High moods (hypomania) might come from a win — like acing a test or getting praise.
Low moods can come from disappointment — even something as small as a text left on “read.”

This can be confusing in relationships. What feels minor to your partner can feel catastrophic to you, and when they don’t understand, it creates even more emotional friction.

Scientists can identify common patterns in symptoms, but the root causes? Those tend to be unique to each person.

Given this…what can you do to minimise the damages of cyclic mood disorder?

First things first-sometimes, mood swings are directly linked to things like substance use. And that’s actually good news!

Because it means that once you tackle the root cause-whether it’s quitting smoking, cutting back on alcohol, or even reducing caffeine-your hormones (and in turn, your mood) can start to stabilise.

If quitting smoking is on your mind, I have some useful resources for you:

Another unexpected reason for your heavy mood swings may be your blood sugar levels. If they’re out of balance, your mood can take a serious hit.

It’s worth ruling that out because stabilising your blood sugar might help more than you think.

But if you’ve already done that and you’re still experiencing emotional ups and downs, then here’s the reality-your cyclothymia is most likely biological.

That means you’ll probably continue having these mood shifts, but that doesn’t mean they have to control your life.

With the right strategies, you can make these highs and lows manageable– so they don’t negatively impact you or the people around you.

Here’s what you can do.

Managing Cyclothymia: Practical Steps to Take Control

Track your moods – Start a 90-day mood diary. Write down how you feel daily, along with what happened that day.
Over time, patterns emerge – you’ll start to see what triggers your highs and lows. That self-awareness is gold.

Keep “emergency” mood lifters – Have go-to comfort tools ready: your favorite meal, a funny show, a cozy ritual, or a “reward” you’ve been saving. Pull these out during low periods, intentionally.

Challenge negative thoughts – If you’re logical by nature, ask yourself: “Is this really as bad as my brain says it is?” or “Have I felt like this before, and did it pass?” Sometimes logic cuts through the fog. Other times, emotion wins — and that’s okay.

Shift your focus outward – When your thoughts spiral, engage in something external. Watch a movie. Go for a drive. Play a game. (Gaming actually has proven anti-anxiety effects. )Volunteer.

You’re Not Alone

You’ve probably had moments where someone asked, “What’s wrong?” and you just couldn’t explain it. (My ex-boyfriend often asked me that).

When others don’t “get” you, it’s not because they don’t care – it’s because they’ve never felt it.

Cyclothymia affects roughly 0.4% to 1% of people. That’s rare, which is why so few understand it.

You can absolutely live a fulfilling, balanced life with cyclothymia.

Like anything in self-growth, it all comes down to better self-management.
You don’t have to “fix” yourself — you just need to learn how to work with yourself.

Are you dealing with emotional highs and lows?
Share your story, someone out there needs to hear it too.

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TheThinkAbout is a website based on psychology in practice and experience.

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