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Anxiety or bipolar?

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 6/11/2018 11:22 AM (GMT 0)
As I have said in previous postings, I have suffered with anxiety and depression on and off all during my life. Most of my anxiety has been health related, always thinking I was dying of some terminal illness. Over these many years I have Learned tto manage my anxiety and overcome it for long periods of time. Lately howEver i've been wondering if I've been exhibiting more bipolar characteristics since I can be crippled with anxiety for part of of the day and then after talking to myself I tend to come out of it and feel good the remainder of the day and night. But it always seems I wake up with high anxiety the next morning. Is this just how anxiety works or is this more like bipolar disorder? I am currently not on any meds other than a very minimal dose of Xanax in the morning when my anxiety is the worst but I'm wondering if there's something else going on here. You should realize, of course, that my health anxiety also includes my mental health and I always think the worst about that too. Basically, I'm wondering if your anxiety ebbs and flows rather than just being there constantly. Would appreciate your input
Posted 6/11/2018 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know that much about being bi-polar other than one of the traits is mood swings from euphoric to dooms day. But, each person has his own unique disease and I'm positive that one person with it may have totally different SX.

Anxiety I do know and there are different types of anxiety. I personally, have GAD so it's with me always, sometimes more than others but it's always there. But, that's not the case for others. My therapist told me that OCD is actually under the anxiety title.

Really, and I know this isn't what you want to hear, only a healthy care provider can DX what you have. And, there are meds that really help. Do you have a friend that might go with you? Or maybe start out with a telephone session at home? Perhaps a bit higher dose of Xanax or something to help you get through it.

Sorry I don't really know the answer to your question. Hope you feel much better soon.
Posted 6/12/2018 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
Andwes,

Only your GP or P-doc can give you a dx....but from what you describe, I would say this is not typical of the mood swings caused by bipolar disorder, but rather, a pretty common anxiety pattern.

Anxiety that is higher in the morning is not unusual and due to Cortisol (a stress hormone) levels being at their peak upon awakening.

Try to focus your coping skills (as well as using your rescue med when needed) at this time, until you start feel relief in the afternoon.

Keep up the good work on finding the answers and management plan you need to feel your best.

S.C.
Posted 6/12/2018 9:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hi

I would speak with your doctor re your concerns.

My anxiety ebbs and flows and i don't have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder although I have been worried in the past that I do have it but that was down to my bad health anxiety.

Hibee
Posted 6/12/2018 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
As above, Dr will know better.

Your symptoms sound exactly like mine. I can overcome the anxiety and have long periods with no symptoms. Then a worry comes along, which throws me into that pattern you have of being anxious on a morning followed by settling down on a night.

It also sounds like your issues are similar to mine, worrying thoughts tend to trigger these waves. Mental health worries are some of the worst ones for me, and can spark a wave that lasts weeks until I somehow 'talk myself' out of it and recover.

I've just started undergoing therapy again to try and expose myself more to my worries to allow them to have less of a decider on whether I slip back into an anxious episode.

But no, it doesn't sound like bi-polar. Anxiety seems to fluctuate throughout the day based on stress AND time.
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