What's the Difference?

[historyteach]

Can someone tell me the difference between a major anxiety disorder, and the manic stage of bipolar? Especially if it's the low level bipolar.

Thanks. I put this here in the general area to try and get as much information and experience as possible.

Shalom!

[ranae1221]

Here is some info I found:

Hypomanic Episode:

A distinct period of persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting throughout at least 4 days, that is clearly different from the usual nondepressed mood.

During the period of mood disturbance, three (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted (four if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree:

Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity.

Decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep).

More talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking.

Flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing.

Distractibility (i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli).

Increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation.

Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., the person engages in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments).

The episode is associated with an unequivocal change in functioning that is
uncharacteristic of the person when not symptomatic.

The disturbance in mood and the change in functioning are observable by others.

The episode is not severe enough to cause marked impairment in social or occupational functioning, or to necessitate hospitalization, and there are no psychotic features.

The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication, or other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).


Anxiety Disorders


Symptoms
Panic attacks and/or anxiety may include
Electric current thru body Excessive perspiration
Rush of energy thru body Sweating hands
Tingling feeling thru body Giddiness / Light-headedness
Hot prickly feeling thru body Frequent need to urinate
Intense heat thru body Diarrhoea
Wave of energy thru body Sleeping difficulties
Ice cold moving thru body Night sweats
'Ants crawling' sensation Unexplained rashes
Dissociative symptoms Weakness in left arm
Depersonalisation /Derealisation:
Feeling detached from body Lack of concentration
As if looking through a mist Extreme exhaustion
As if you are not real Loss of feelings and/or libido
As if surroundings not real Short term memory loss
Stationary objects appear to move Major Fears
Sensitivity to light / sound Fear of dying
Dizziness Fear of having a heart attack
Fight and Flight Fear of going insane
Heart Fear of losing control
Racing / Pounding heart Fear of embarrassment
Missed' heart beats Fear of making a fool of self
Breathing symptoms Digestive problems
Breathing difficulties Nausea and/or vomiting
Hyperventilation Churning / burning stomach
Tightening of the throat Indigestion
Choking sensation
Muscle Tension Pins and needles
Chest pain Hot and/or cold flashes
Headaches Shaking
Neck pain Trembling
Lower back pain
Aching jaw
Muscle pain
Sciatica





From what I know and have read, Hypomania is simular to mania, but not as severe. When I am in a "hypomania" stage, it is a really good feeling! You feel happy, energetic, and can handle a million things at once. It is not a good thing because that is when I tend to become a little reckless, not caring about consequences (which is how my checking account became overdrawn by $700 a few weeks ago!), but overall you feel good.

With anxiety, it is not a good feeling. I have only had an anxiety/panic attack 1 time several years ago, and I thought I was having a heart attack. My chest hurt, it hurt to breathe. From the symptoms listed above, it is not a pleasant thing.

I hope this helps!

[amandajane]

I have generalise anxiety which affects just about everything I do. I am constantly thinking ahead so I can work out how to avoid stressful anxiety provoking situations. It's a constant nagging about everything and when something major happens my anxiety goes through the roof.

Mania isn't the same as anxiety - as has been mentioned there is a lot of good feelings, sometimes it can take over and cause financial and business issues. I have a friend who has Bipolar Disorder and it presents in quite a different manner.

:-)