Rapid Cycling or just Stress?

I just have a quick question.  I know that there are different diagnosis within bipolar disorder.  I have been diagnosed as having bipolar 1, with no history of rapid cycling.  Lately I have been having severe rapid fluxes between mania and depression.  Is it possible that because I am going through a severe stressful situation that my moods are fluxuating so rapidly?  Or is it possible that this has always been the case, the symptoms are just now much more obvious?  I'm not sure which is more likely.

[delphinec]

usually rapid cycling is more a "profile'.I know it is for me, but it's not like you cycle rapidly 24/7,you only do while you're having episodes and yes most episodes are triggered  by stress, a good way for you to keep tracks of your cycle is through journaling, you should come up with a pattern.
Also, just so you know, although there is no progression per se with bipolar disorder, meaning , it does not get worse with age, it does get more and more difficult to manage over the years if you don't seek help, and it is not rare to see someone having more frequent or more  pronounced episodes.Are you in therapy right now? If you are, what does your therapist say? Cognitive therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy are great ways to learn to anticipate and prevent upcoming episodes.have you heard of those methods?

[RainaD86]

The funny thing is, I can't remember a time I haven't been rapidly cycling. Seems I'm always one or the other or drifting somewhere in between, sometimes I'm lucky enough to recognize the signs but I can't afford any kind of insurance so I'm not in any sort of counseling. Not sure I'd go anyway, even if I could benefit it. I've changed meds so many times I barely remember the names, sometimes they slow them down, other times they seem to do nothing at all. I hate cycling.