As you can read in my other post in here, I've been treated for recurrent major depression since 1998, but for the last 4-6 weeks have been scoring off the charts on the bipolar quiz (actually, I've taken 2 or 3 different ones, and scored off the charts on all of them).

I just would like to know how to differentiate "mania" from, say, the agitated anxiety that comes with a panic attack. I have never felt this way before that I can recall, and so I don't know what to make of it. I can't sit still to save my life -- if it weren't for Tivo, I wouldn't be watching TV at all, because I can't sit still through even my favorite half-hour program. I'm agitated as all get-out, feel like I want to jump out of my skin all the time. I talk fast normally, but have had to make a conscious effort to slow it down lately because several people have commented that they can't understand me. Those are the ones that come straight to mind, but I know there's more.

I'm new to this area and can't see the new pdoc I've chosen till Jan. 3, and I'm not sure I'm going to last that long. This is easily the most uncomfortable I've ever been, even when I was suicidally depressed. I guess I don't understand how this can happen after all these years of being dx'd just plain depressed, but I could really use some real-world experiences and some reassurance!

thanks

Candy