Posted by SLS on April 6, 2006, at 8:11:06
In reply to Anxiety vs. Mania, posted by AnotherAnon on April 5, 2006, at 16:03:31
> Can someone please describe the difference? I think I am feeling a sort of generalized anxiety, where I feel a points during the day that I could have a panic attack. I have an almost constant "nervous stomach"...trouble sleeping, general feeling of uneasiness and dread, worry, and when I try to sleep I have had racing or pervasive thoughts. This comes on the tail end of some pretty traumatic events the past two weeks or so. My doctor thinks it's mania, but I'm not bipolar and don't think I've ever experienced mania.
I agree with the other posters that what you have described does not sound like mania or hypomania.I am disturbed by the notion that some doctors express that the mere presence of anxiety with depression is sufficient for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. I think it represents laziness on the part of the physician to not attempt to tease-out a differential diagnosis by performing a thorough interview and perhaps some life charting and a review of family history.
As Linkadge has indicated, the description of "racing thoughts" is not sufficient to diagnose a manic state. Fear and anger can produce racing thoughts in mentally healthy people.
Although it is probably understudied, there is such a diagnosis as unipolar depression with racing/crowded thoughts. It seems to have a younger age of onset and a higher incidence of suicidal ideation. Still, this diagnosis remains contraversial, as some researchers place this presentation along a bipolar spectrum.
Speaking from experience, I think the content of the thoughts is as important as their rapidity. I tend to find manic thoughts to be "expansive", although not necessary positive. It isn't insomnia per se that is an indicator of mania. It is that there is a reduced need for sleep. People with mania and hypomania can average 3-4 hours of sleep per night and still feel energetic.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:629340
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060403/msgs/629562.html