Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get StartedLifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffCyclothymia generally isn't an illness that you can treat on your own. But you can do some things for yourself that will build on your treatment plan. In addition to professional treatment, follow these lifestyle and self-care steps for cyclothymia:
- Take your medications as directed. Even if you're feeling well, resist any temptation to skip your medications. If you stop, cyclothymia signs and symptoms are likely to come back.
- Pay attention to warning signs. You and your caregivers may have identified a pattern to your cyclothymia episodes and what triggers them. Call your doctor if you feel you're facing an episode. Involve family members or friends in watching for warning signs. Addressing symptoms early on can prevent episodes from becoming full-blown.
- Avoid drugs and alcohol. Alcohol and illicit drugs may trigger mood changes.
- Check first before taking other medications. Call the doctor who's treating you for cyclothymic disorder before you take medications prescribed by another doctor. Sometimes other medications trigger episodes of bipolar disorder or may interfere with medications you're taking to treat bipolar disorder.
- Keep a record. Track your moods, daily routines and significant life events. These records may help you and your mental health provider understand the effect of treatments and identify thinking patterns and behaviors associated with cyclothymic symptoms.