I had an episode of mania in late June-- the only one I have ever had. It was determined to be a side effect of a medication I was taking for asthma. I was also under EXTREME stress which likely contributed to the mania. It was recent enough ago that it still scares the heck out of me. I was psychotic and extremely paranoid. I was awake for 7 days! It was a terrible experience I never want to repeat. I can't remember half of it, but what I do remember isn't pleasant. If not for my therapist I would have been hospitalized, and I know I scared the hell out of him.

My manic experience scares me for another reason--- I DO NOT have Bipolar Disorder--I have ADHD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Panic Disorder.

I have never exhibited any symptoms of Bipolar Disorder other than the one recent manic phase, but my doctor and therapist think that the cause of the Bipolar was the medication and the extreme duress I was under at the time. My circumstances have changed somewhat since then though, as my sister was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder a few days ago!!!!

What if it the medicine was just a trigger to underlying Bipolar Disorder, and not just a side effect to the asthma medicine I was taking? What if my sister's diagnosis is accurate-- what if this is in our family and I have it too? ! ! ! ! ! The slightly amusing part is that I am confirmed diagnosed with ADHD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder... and the problem is that I can't tell if I'm having over-exaggerated worry and this is a part of the anxiety I experience from the GAD----

Or if...it's more than that, as ADHD is often misdiagnosed as Bipolar and is even commonly comorbid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!