Why Mood Swings: The Method's View on Cyclothymia

When mood "jumps" — one day great, two days sad — it isn't necessarily a dramatic illness. Dr. Saulitis separates the concepts: bipolar disorder produces very bright swings that are impossible to miss, while mild swings that don't attract anyone's attention are more likely cyclothymia. This brochure is about why such swings happen at all, from the method's standpoint.

Cyclothymia is not "wild" swings

The key distinguisher is whether others notice. If a phase is so bright that it "attracts the attention of orderlies," it's bipolar; a mania that those around wouldn't notice the doctor "has never seen in his life." But if the swings are quiet and inconspicuous — that's the realm of cyclothymia.

"Bipolar — only very bright swings. If it doesn't attract those around you, then it's cyclothymia."

The northern factor and seasonality

The method links mood swings in northern people to seasonal rhythms. By this logic cyclothymia "is given to us by definition" — meaning that for a northern person a certain amplitude of mood is partly natural, tied to the change of seasons and light.

Why it happens: neurochemistry and thoughts — a loop

The core of the method's explanation is a two-way connection. Neurochemistry determines thoughts, and thoughts determine neurochemistry. When they work in concert, good neurochemistry produces good thoughts; you choose a thought that further improves neurochemistry, and it lets you choose a higher-level thought — that's how a person climbs upward. Or the reverse: the circle spirals down.

"Neurochemistry determines thoughts, thoughts determine neurochemistry." "Either you kill yourself, or you raise yourself up — that's all."

Lifestyle first, not "psychologizing"

The method is cautious about contrived concepts and digging for causes in childhood: for the doctor there are healthy people and there is mental disorder. When a person is healthy, they're absorbed in their work and perceive past situations as a natural phenomenon. So with mood swings the first step is to fix neurochemistry through lifestyle — this should give most of the improvement. Only if that doesn't help is it worth going to a proper psychiatrist.

"First try lifestyle… this should give 80 percent of the improvement."

To be "born" each morning

The method proposes consciously bringing yourself up to the neocortex level every day, rather than staying under the power of the "monkey" limbic brain. In the evening — tune in for the next day, calmly "drift into clarity"; in the morning — rise again from waking to a clear state. A tired, "wrecked" body won't switch on the neocortex — you need bodily energy.

Practice: a checklist for mood swings

1. Lifestyle first. Remove sugar, add B-group vitamins, walks, fix sleep — the expected bulk of improvement.
2. Evening tuning. Half an hour to an hour before sleep, calmly let go of the limbic system and drift into clarity, with no plans.
3. Morning rise to the neocortex. After waking let the body wake up, then use calm music and movement to lift yourself into a clear state.
4. Protect bodily energy. "Heal before you fall ill, rest before you tire" — without bodily energy the neocortex won't switch on.
5. If it doesn't help — see a specialist. Before visiting a psychiatrist, do an electroencephalogram; look for a true professional.