Posted by Krysti on December 2, 2002, at 7:50:16
In reply to Anxiety/panic attacks - a different diagnosis?, posted by highanxiety on December 1, 2002, at 8:42:49
Hi highanxiety,
I had anxiety and anxiety/panic attacks (still not exactly sure what the difference is) daily for 6 years. I also had major mood swings going on, but didn't really recognize/acknowledge it. I just thought the anxiety was causing everything. I ended up going on Paxil for it and became manic and delusional. I was then diagnosed as bipolar. I was told SSRI's without a mood stabilizer, when you are bipolar, can bring on mania. Mood stabilizers have completely taken away my anxiety, thank god (they don't for all people from what I've read in other posts).
Now that I have been diagnosed and the anxiety is gone, I can look back and see that I had the signs of bipolar even before I went on the Paxil. I would at times be really up, want to talk, talk, talk and be very impulsive. At work, I would run around getting all my work done really fast and I would have periods of euphoria. Other times, I wouldn't feel like talking to anyone, would just lay around and do nothing. At work, I would just want to stay in my office. I suppose if I had thought about it, I would have recognized this as strange, but I just thought it was all due to the anxiety. Anxiety sometimes is a part of something else going on, but not always. I know quite a few people who have anxiety, but do not have the major ups and downs of moods that I had.
I do not have heart or lung problems and my blood pressure is on the low side. Although, when I went to the doctor in a manic state, it was very high (first time that has ever happened).
Hope this helps.
Krysti
poster:Krysti
thread:130095
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021127/msgs/130216.html