Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

8,884 Members

129,554 Posts

0 Online

openroad 10/03/2013

For more time than I can remember right now I've been going through some pretty bad depression mixed in with a lot of anxiety which I've been mistaking as mania sometimes. The problem is when I get into a manic phase I feel pretty good, you all know what I mean. and this anxiety is just another step in my increasing depression. The last time I saw my latest new psychiatrist we dropped nortriptyline from my med cocktail and it's been getting worse. It could be the change in the seasons coming or it could be just my brain deciding to do another nose dive. I wonder how many others have mistaken anxiety for mania just because it feels so different than depression? What meds have really controlled your anxiety? I take clonazepam as the main cannon but right now I'm in a tailspin and the ground is coming up to meet me in a hurry.
Any advice? Even just offhand is good enough for this mess I call me.
Thanks all.

deleted_user 10/03/2013

Great topic. This is really current for me. I generally deal with high anxiety and once, when I was still drinking, went through a period of daily panic attacks that made be agoraphobic for a while. Those resolved on their own. This last manic episode was subtle even though others saw the signs. For me, it wasn't until I began having panic attacks again -- first on the train, then at the ballgame, then anywhere -- that I began to think something was awry.

Since the episode, I have been fighting the crushing anxiety. I haven't had any panic attacks (which I attribute to depakote, and simply that the manic episode has passed), but I get dizzy badly, really nervous that something is wrong with me, and expect the worst, when I am in public. I don't take benzos because of my alcoholism, and also because, for me, I'll never find a way to face the anxiety w/o meds if I don't fight through it.

I feel you on the ground coming up in a hurry. I just thought today how I'm going to start listening to this very calming self-hypnosis CD on anxiety and panic and hope it has a cumulative effect. But, bottom line for now, I fight the anxiety and pre-panic with lithium/depakote/weaning-off risperdal (since risperdal is known to cause anxiety, like all AAPs) and gritted teeth. It's not the funnest thing, as you know :(

Hope that helped.

tommymott 10/03/2013

In my experience I'd never mistake anxiety for mania, although anxiety can certainly be a component of mania. For instance, when I was hospitalized with mania and placed in full restraint I developed a lot of anxiety. Using anti-psychotics and tranquilizers helped control mania and anxiety for me, until I began lithium then mania was eliminated and anxiety was greatly reduced.

evildoer 10/03/2013

Running helps my anxiety. I have a severe anxiety disorder ever since I can remember and not much helps other than exercise. I do take Klonopin nightly too. Cheers :D

kryslalee 10/04/2013

Atarax worked before for my anxiety, even when it got really bad. I just had to take a high dose.

I am starting Cymbalta tomorrow for my fibromyalgia pain, but it also helps bipolar and generalized anxiety. I will let you know if it helps.

irishwriter 10/04/2013

xanax, stock answer I know but I swear by it.just be careful to take it 'as needed' as one can become addicted to this drug. It is one of the best ones out there for anxiety that i have tried with no side affects. keep the dose as low as you can and as infrequent as you can. combine with breathing exercises, meditation and listening to classical music.

Join the Conversation