Cycloid (cyclothymic) type of character accentuation: features of the psychotype

Since elementary school, parents could not get enough of their son: capable, calm, balanced, polite, obedient. In communication - cheerful, cheerful, open. At school, I never had any problems with my studies or behavior. He was interested in chess. At home he always helped and was not rude. Even adolescence began relatively smoothly. He became more impulsive at some moments, but still kept himself under control.

But one morning he did not leave his room for breakfast. Gloomily he said that he did not want to go to school and would stay at home. His parents had never seen him so depressed and irritated. They started to find out what was going on, but he didn’t have a girlfriend, there was still a year before the exams, there were no conflicts with teachers or classmates. Every day he became more and more gloomy, did not want to talk to anyone, refused to eat or go out anywhere. A week later he was almost forcibly taken to a psychologist. With the help of testing, the reason for this behavior was identified - the cycloid (cyclothymic) type of character accentuation.

general characteristics

In psychology, a cycloid is a psychotype (accentuation of character), which is distinguished by the alternation of two phases - hyperthymia and subdepression. The first usually lasts several months (in some cases even years), the second - several days or 2-3 weeks. The duration of these periods is very individual for each person. Most often the scheme looks like this:

3-4 months - calm state, openness to communication and cheerfulness (hyperthymic phase);
2-3 weeks - depressed, gloomy state, refusal of communication and hobbies (subdepression phase).

But it also happens that a cycloid lives as hyperthym for several years, until a stressful, traumatic factor appears. This could be the death of a loved one, a serious illness, divorce, or changes in hormonal levels. All this can become an impetus for a change of phases. For some, subdepression goes away in 3 days, others remain in this state for 2-3 weeks. If you do not fight it, the development of cyclothymia is quite possible. This is a mental affective disorder characterized by frequent mood swings between depression and hyperthymia. In this case, psychotherapeutic treatment is prescribed.

The cycloid type according to Lichko corresponds to the dysthymic type according to Leonhard.

Leading features

The cycloid type of character accentuation is determined by the following leading features:

change of mood - can be dictated by external or internal factors or completely unfounded;
during the hyperthymic phase, mainly only positive character traits appear;
During the period of subdepression, depressive moods up to and including suicide are observed.

Speaking in Jungian terms, a cycloid in the hyperthymic phase is a prominent representative of extroverts. He is open to the outside world and willingly communicates with everyone, makes contacts, and builds relationships. During subdepression, he changes this orientation to a polar one and becomes an introvert, all of whose thoughts are only about his inner feelings and experiences. He seems to forget about those around him and is inclined to perceive them with hostility.

Features of the central nervous system

The cyclothymic personality type is determined by the specific work of the central nervous system. It can be represented as a cycloid. This is a circle that rolls in a straight line. Each point of its radius at some moments appears at the top (and then the hyperthymic phase lasts), and at some moments at the bottom (the period of subdepression begins). Since it moves quite smoothly, the transitions are not abrupt. The speed and amplitude depend on individual characteristics - therefore, the duration of sessions is different for everyone: from several days to several years. The diagram looks like this:

at the top point of the cycloid, the central nervous system is stable and able to cope with periodic stress that occurs in areas of the cerebral cortex;
when the cycloid begins to move from the top to the bottom, the stress gradually accumulates;
at the lowest point it spreads to neighboring areas, and the person falls into a depressive state;
As the cycloid moves further, a gradual rise from bottom to top occurs again, and the central nervous system is once again able to cope with problems on its own.

In psychotherapy, taking into account the characteristics of the central nervous system in people with a cyclothymic personality type, there are special techniques that allow you to keep the cycloid for as long as possible at the top point and quickly remove it from the bottom.

Negative traits

Subdepression phase

The cycloid type of character accentuation manifests its negative features mainly in the subdepression phase. The most common of them:

reluctance to communicate, difficulties in establishing contacts and relationships;
inability to make a final decision due to constant doubts;
pessimism, confidence in the hopelessness and meaninglessness of everything that happens around;
powerlessness, weakness, confusion;
minor memory lapses;
hatred, irritability, disgust not only for others, but also for oneself;
weakness to bad habits: alcohol abuse or smoking a large number of cigarettes;
pathological overeating or, conversely, complete refusal to eat;
increased fatigue, weakness, chronic fatigue;
during the day - decreased performance and drowsiness, and closer to night - increased excitability and insomnia.

In this phase, a person with a cycloid type of character accentuation experiences a sharp decrease in self-esteem. He begins to torment himself with increased demands, and an old feeling of guilt for something returns from the past. This can end not only in self-destruction of the individual, but also in suicide. The fruits of creativity that were created during hyperthymia are often destroyed. Such people are capable of breaking a guitar, burning books, tearing their favorite clothes, throwing away something valuable, not going to work, without thinking about the consequences.

Hyperthymic phase

Negative features of the cycloid also appear in the hyperthymic phase:

fast, emotional, but incomprehensible speech;
heightened self-esteem;
excessive familiarity: cycloids often violate the personal space of others and do not show due respect;
tendency to shock;
illegibility in contacts;
constant change of interests: before subdepression they can play hockey, and after it switch to a passion for rock music;
superficiality, frivolity;
lack of self-reflection.

During the hyperthymic phase, people with the cycloid type of character accentuation experience excessive excitability. They are too mobile and irrepressible - not everyone around them can perceive this behavior normally, which makes socialization difficult.

Positive features

The strengths of cyclothimmic are as follows:

constant emotional uplift, energy, and cheerfulness allow you to solve many problems during the day;
optimism, cheerfulness;
increased sexuality;
uncontrollable activity, initiative;
the ability to perform a memorable act and even a feat;
quick adaptation to a new environment;
comprehensive love for absolutely everyone around, goodwill, hospitality;
constant readiness to help even a stranger, not to mention those who are dear.

Despite their superficiality and unreliability, cycloids are still loved and appreciated by many for their positivity and constant willingness to help in difficult times.

In short, the cyclothymic type of character accentuation is the change from a long phase of good mood to a short but deep depression. The changes are so striking that even family members may feel as if two different people live in one body. One is a cheerful, sociable, kind, cheerful optimist. The second is a gloomy, irritable, depressed, bilious and pessimist who strives for loneliness.

Labile personality type

In childhood, such individuals, as a rule, do not stand out among others. Only a few exhibit neurotic reactions. The main feature is the extreme variability of the emotional state. If the mood changes extremely abruptly, and the reason for this is a very insignificant reason, the formation of a labile personality type is evident.

Representatives of this personality type are characterized by sensuality and loyal friendship. They are capable of sincere affection for their loved ones if the latter reciprocate (with love and care), even despite frequent petty quarrels.

Labile teenagers like praise, various signs of attention, and encouragement. But they endure reproach, criticism, condemnation hard, deeply worrying, which leads to despondency. Teenagers of this personality type are familiar with the characteristics of their character, they know that they belong to “people of mood”, everything depends on the latter. They invite others to perceive them as they are.

Compatibility

Cycloids get along well with only two psychotypes:

asthenoids of any type are kindred spirits who are united by one goal - to overcome all obstacles in their path;
hyperthymic - this tandem together will save the whole world by working as volunteers and creating charitable foundations.

Absolutely not compatible with:

epileptoids, who are irritated by frequent mood swings, and cycloids are constantly nervous because of their excessive pedantry;
schizoids who will drive them crazy with their pretentiousness;
hysterics, in which they are not satisfied with theatricality and posturing.

Conditional compatibility with other psychotypes.

Stages of treatment

After diagnosing the disease, establishing the exact indicator of the disorder, and if there are obvious signs, a course of therapy is prescribed. It involves, first of all, turning to a psychologist, who will create a certain interaction between himself and the patient. This is necessary so that the doctor understands the severity of cyclothymia. Symptoms of the disease have a wide range of indicators, so a specialist must conduct a detailed study of the patient’s actions, his behavior, level of suffering, etc. Afterwards, a course of medication is prescribed, and it is recommended to quit smoking and drinking alcohol.

In inpatient facilities, comfortable conditions are created so that there are as few irritating factors as possible. Negative and harmful influence from the outside can awaken a relapse of the disease. If there are indicators of a depressive state, a deprivation technique is used, i.e. artificial awakening, interruption of sleep. For this, the patient is forced to stay awake up to 38 hours a day. Nitric oxide is used, which is applied to the patient in a hot stream, which helps to normalize and calm the nervous system. In the future, to introduce and introduce into society the desire to communicate with people, group psychotherapy is carried out.

Classification

Based primarily on adolescence. However, as practice shows, it is quite applicable to many adults with a cyclothymic type of character accentuation. It just needs more scientific research to confirm.

Typical cycloids

Until adolescence, character accentuation does not manifest itself in any way. Then a change of phases begins, each of which lasts an average of 2-3 weeks. All the negative and positive traits characteristic of this type and described above are clearly expressed.

Labile cycloids

The phases differ in their short duration: from 2-3 hours to 2-3 days, but not weeks, like typical ones. Character accentuations are no longer so pronounced. That is, this is not deep depression with suicidal thoughts, but some despondency with philosophical reflections on the futility of existence. Not excessive sociability, reaching the point of familiarity, but simply an elevated mood.

More about adolescence

It is during this period that children experience the first major fragment of low mood. In girls, for example, this phenomenon may coincide with the onset of menstruation. Irritability appears, interest in studying, playing and communicating with peers disappears, and fatigue sets in.

During periods of low mood, you should not ask teenagers with questions, as they may answer rudely. They themselves don’t like it, since they were previously completely different and found a common language with their parents.

Reasons for formation

Like other accentuations, the cycloid personality type is formed from birth. But here it is important to understand what factors can provoke a phase change:

hormonal changes: adolescence, pregnancy, menopause, hormonal therapy;
physical and emotional overload;
psychotraumatic situations: death of someone close, divorce, dismissal, loss of housing, serious illness;
climate change;
disturbances in sleep and rest patterns and others.

There are also more dangerous factors that can provoke the development of cyclothymia:

serious neurological diseases;
psychopathy;
mental personality disorders that are inherited and present in one of the relatives;
traumatic brain injuries;
addiction;
infections with pathologically elevated temperature and severe intoxication.

Such factors can provoke the development of a serious mental disorder that will require long-term treatment.

Therapy

Initially, you should find a good psychologist or psychotherapist who, with the help of individual sessions, can identify the true cause of the pathology and begin to work on it.

If the disease progresses, then you cannot do without communicating with a psychotherapist, and you will also need to use special medications. They may prescribe a complex of B vitamins, mood stabilizers, in particular lithium salts, antidepressants, Escitalopram, Sertraline, and in the presence of severe agitation and aggressiveness - antipsychotics.
Experts also recommend making certain changes in your life:

engage in spiritual practices, for example, dedicate your time to meditation, yoga;
make sure that you have a balanced diet that includes all the beneficial microelements and vitamins;
preventing stress, isolating yourself from it - a psychologist will help you learn to react calmly to external stimuli;
reducing the intensity of physical activity;
use of aromatherapy.

Often, during the treatment of cyclothymia, long periods of intermission are observed.

Traditional methods

Traditional medicine methods can also be used as an integrated approach to the treatment of this disease. However, you should consult a specialist before doing this.

Motherwort decoction. To prepare, you will need 30 grams of dried plant and 250 ml of boiling water, combining which you need to infuse for an hour. After this, the tincture is consumed before meals, 50 ml, straining from the total volume. This remedy helps fight depression, insomnia, and overwork.
Valerian tincture. For preparation, use 50 g of root per glass of vodka, combining which the solution is left to infuse in a cool place for 12 days. After this, the infusion is filtered, and a maximum of 15 ml is taken before each meal. It has a sedative property, normalizes sleep, and calms.
St. John's wort infusion. Take a glass of boiled water and 50 g of dry herb, mix, leave to infuse for half an hour, then filter. This infusion should be drunk before meals in a volume of 70 to 90 ml. It has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system.

Now you know what the manifestations and treatment of cyclothymia are. If you notice characteristic symptoms, then you should not delay contacting a specialist.

It is important to remember the possible consequences in the absence of proper therapy

Peculiarities

Gender

The hyperthymic phase lasts longer, and the subdepression phase is correspondingly shorter. However, the latter is much more difficult. Experiences differ in depth and seriousness. Many try to hide their depressed state: they continue to go to work, smile, and seem cheerful. In the evening they come home and lock themselves in their room, either drink or lash out at their wife and children. Their hyperthymic period is calmer and more balanced.

Women

For cycloid women, everything is exactly the opposite. During subdepression, they become hysterical, capricious, and annoy everyone at home. This can last for weeks. But it almost never comes to despair and suicide. The period of hyperthymia is a time of unbridled emotions, fun, parties, new acquaintances, endless shopping and other entertainment events.

Age

Children

In children up to adolescence, it is difficult to recognize the cyclothymic type of character accentuation. Each child changes 10 moods per day. They do not yet know how to hide their emotions, so they are sad after bad news and happy after good news. The only sign by which parents can recognize a little cycloid is an inexplicably bad mood coupled with physical fatigue. Such attacks at an early age are rare, but they are worth paying attention to so as not to miss the moment during the teenage crisis.

Teenagers

The most dangerous age for the cyclothymic type. For the first time, the subdepression phase is expressed so clearly that it frightens not only the parents, but also the child himself. This is often the reason for suicide attempts. The inability to cope with one's own emotions leads to a loss of control over oneself. In such cases, adults should always be there and ready to help.

Adults

If in adolescence cyclothymic accentuation was correctly directed towards hyperthymicity, in the absence of provoking factors, the life of adult cycloids develops quite successfully. Many people learn to live with mood swings. Relatives and friends are getting used to it. Otherwise, subdepression may become longer and deeper. The critical point is the development of cyclothymia as a mental disorder.

First about accentuations

Classifications of character accentuations were presented by A. E. Lichko and K. Leonhard. The typology of the first consisted of 11 personality types, each of which has special manifestations observed in adolescence. He also identified types:

Explicit accentuation. This is when a person's character traits are expressed throughout life.
And hidden. Acute characteristics emerge in difficult environments and situations.

Leonhard identified 12 species, some of which coincide with Lichko’s classification. Divided into the following groups:

Emotionality.
Character.
Personal level.

He studied the typology of adult characters.

Accented disposition is formed and developed under the influence of many factors. These include a lack of communication with peers and parents. The main reason is heredity. The appearance of acute character traits in a child is influenced by the environment (family and friends), the wrong parenting style (excessive care or lack of attention, love and care).

Features of communication

Since the cyclothymic type is characterized by changes in mood, this determines his communication and relationships with others. On the one hand, many people love such people for their openness, optimism, sincere desire to help and initiative. It is they who will be the first to arrive at the hospital, lend money and save the drowning man. But this is all only during the hyperthymic phase. On the other hand, during this same period they can greatly irritate others with their shockingness and excessive energy, which tires calmer and more measured psychotypes.

The situation becomes more complicated when a subdepressive period occurs. Cycloids cut off all communication and prefer loneliness. This causes breakups with near and dear people, who are not always able to understand what is happening, get offended and leave. Those who remain become victims of an unbearable mood. At such moments, it is better for people with a cyclothymic type of character accentuation not to express any criticism and not to try to direct them somewhere. Everything will be received with hostility and can provoke a series of quarrels.

In psychology, the cyclothymic type of response is a reaction to ongoing events depending on the phase. In hyperthymic times, one can expect help and support, lively participation and sincere sympathy from a person. In a subdepressive situation, everything will be exactly the opposite: the boss will not sign any papers, the subordinate will refuse to do his own work; the husband will not allow me to go to my parents, my wife will not let me go to football with friends.

On the one hand, cycloid people are quite difficult for relationships. On the other hand, if you learn to understand the change of these phases, you can completely fit into their mood. When it’s bad, leave it alone, mind your own business and wait for the “storm” to end. When it’s good, take advantage of it, solve pressing problems and enjoy the optimism and cheerfulness of this psychotype.

Examples of the cycloid type of accentuation in art are Don Quixote of La Mancha and Alice from Through the Looking Glass. These characters are sometimes optimistic and joyful, sometimes sad and touchy. Either they are ready to move mountains, or they are completely unsure of themselves. Among historical figures, one can note N.V. Gogol, who suffered from prolonged depression. It was during one of them that he burned the second volume of Dead Souls. The rest of the time he was a witty, cheerful and kind person.

Advantages and disadvantages

This accentuation of character is useful in that it increases the ability to adapt to change. A cycloid person is quite flexible; he can be among completely different people, both in terms of temperament type, social status, health, finances, and so on.

He has fairly developed empathy, that is, the ability to sympathize with those who are in an unpleasant situation and need support.

He values his life because he experiences the full range of emotions and knows how bad it can be. Why, when a “bright streak” comes, he appreciates it, receives satisfaction and saturation, and does not ignore or devalue it, like others.

This ability provides a tremendous resource when providing support to others. After all, he can teach you to rejoice simply in the fact that nothing terrible happens in life for some period.

And that any failure doesn’t matter as long as, for example, close people are alive. And in general, troubles are an opportunity to overcome your own limitations, become better and stronger.

But the disadvantage of the cycloid type of character is that it is usually unknown when one stage will replace another, which is why the usual way of life and work capacity suffer.

For example, in the excitement phase, a person scheduled a large number of meetings and outlined the amount of work he was going to do. But then despondency set in and a reluctance to see anyone in such a state.

Therefore, I did not accomplish anything planned, plunging into even greater sadness against the backdrop of disappointment in myself.

Condition correction

What should cycloids do to correct their behavior in order to normalize life and relationships with others? Psychologists give the following advice:

Keep a personal diary to analyze your condition and learn to reflect.
Find out what factor triggers the phase change. Try to avoid him.
Learn to clearly formulate your thoughts. Take a rhetoric class.
Finish every task.
Learn to control your own emotions.
Take responsibility for every word spoken.

If you cannot cope with the differences on your own, you will need the help of a specialized specialist. In psychotherapy, antipsychotics may be prescribed for psychomotor agitation and antidepressants during periods of decline.

A teenager with a cycloid (cyclothymic) type of character accentuation, with whose story the article began, with the help of psychotraining and with the support of his parents, was able to quickly return to the hyperthymic phase. Having received detailed instructions on how to act in the event of subdepression, they were now prepared for such a turn of events and took all necessary measures to ensure that this period ended as soon as possible. This knowledge was useful to the boy in adulthood: he never led to the development of deep depression and psychopathy, as often happens with cycloids. This is a living, clear example of how you can take control of your own character, and with it your future.

Field of activity

Typically, cycloids are creative individuals; they need freedom to express their own talents and impulses. Most often, they manage to build a career as a writer, artist, musician, or even journalist.

Working with rigid boundaries is absolutely not suitable. After all, today such a person may be in a great mood and will have time to do a large amount of work, and then throughout the week he will force himself to complete at least one small task. And all because an unpleasant event occurred, and the subdepression phase began.

When choosing a profession, it is recommended to rely on project work. So that, having made a breakthrough, you can spend some time in a pause.

In this case, it will be possible to avoid layoffs and subsequently excessively low self-esteem due to one’s own inability to provide for a family and build a career.

Notes

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↑, p. 609.
Schneider K.
Klinische Psychopathologie fϋr Artzl. 2 verbesserte und vermehrte Auflage. — Leipzig, 1956—1965
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↑
Levin Ya. I., Artemenko A. R. Phototherapy in neurology and psychiatry // Journal. neurol. and a psychiatrist. - 1996 - T. 96, No. 3. - P. 107-112.
↑ Lader, Malcolm Harold;
Herrington, Reginald N. "Biological treatments in psychiatry." - Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 1990. - P. 403. - ISBN 0192616447.
↑, p. 630.
Zhislin S. G.
Essays on clinical psychiatry. - M.: Medicine, 1965. - 320 p.
Priest RG, Baldwin DS
Depression and anxiety. - London: Martin Dunitz, 1994. - 82 p.
, With. 600.

Which doctors should you contact if you have Cyclothymia (mood fluctuations):

Psychiatrist

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Cyclothymia - symptoms

Symptoms are usually not perceived by the sick person as signs of illness. They note mood swings: from deep depression to suddenly elevated mood, not realizing that the disease cyclothymia is beginning to progress. At the same time, they react adequately to joyful and difficult events that happen in life. However, over time, psychological problems make themselves felt, and the symptoms of the disease become more pronounced:

repeated unmotivated attacks of aggression;
reassessment of capabilities and self-worth;
what recently caused joy is perceived with indifference;
Insomnia is becoming increasingly common;
a state of weakness and apathy often appears;
a feeling of self-doubt is formed;
the level of concentration decreases;
the patient becomes more and more taciturn and withdrawn from life;
loss of interest in your favorite hobby;
thoughts are increasingly common that if today is bad, tomorrow will be even worse.

Cyclothymic depression

The depressive phase is primarily due to a certain emotional inhibition. The mood gradually worsens, a feeling of depression arises, and physical activity decreases. Ordinary laziness occurs against the background of constant fatigue. At such moments, the patient often gets irritated, lashes out at others, sleeps restlessly, he doesn’t like everything and gets in the way.

A person analyzes what happened to him before, worries, worries, desponds, worries, all this happens at the beginning of the day, by the evening the condition more or less normalizes, the patient calms down. But bad thoughts do not leave your head, short-term signs of depression appear from time to time.

Such cyclical transitions indicate characteristic signs of the disease. At a young age, cyclothymia, the symptoms of which have little connection with life circumstances, develops rapidly and gradually becomes chronic. In the morning the patient feels unwell, thoughts and motor activity are inhibited, by lunchtime it becomes easier, but it still becomes difficult to perform usual functions

New information is poorly absorbed, it’s hard to think, the sequence of actions is not visible, memory and attention decrease