Definition

A mild mental health condition where a person experiences mood swings that include both high (elevated) and low (depressed) feelings.

Example

She was diagnosed with cyclothymia after experiencing frequent mood changes for several years.

Conversation

I was reading about mood disorders and came across cyclothymia.

Oh really? What's that about?

It's a condition with mild mood swings, like ups and downs.

That sounds tough, but at least it's not as severe as some other disorders.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cyclothymia → It is formed from "cyclo-" (from Greek "kyklos", meaning circle) and "thymia" (from Greek "thymos", meaning spirit or emotion). The word describes a mood disorder characterized by cyclical changes in mood, reflecting the circular nature of emotional highs and lows.

Memory Tip

Imagine emotions moving in a 'circle' ('cyclo-') — that's why cyclothymia refers to the cycle of emotional ups and downs.

Visually Confused Words