Not sure what I'm experiencing here. So I'm not sure where to post it!

I have had DAYS of really excessive activity. Cleaning out the garage, cleaning the insides of the kitchen cabinets, exercising, getting caught up on registration forms for autism camps for my son, etc., etc., etc., etc. For a while, I felt like "wow! I'm getting a lot done!". Today that feeling is still there - I feel wound up, my heart is beating fast - but I'm tired of cleaning, etc. so I'm just left with this FEELING.

I always thought of it as anxiety. Maybe it's some kind of mania? What's the difference? I don't even know if it matters. But I feel stuck like this and it's really uncomfortable. I do have panic attacks and obsessive thoughts - so I know anxiety is an issue for me (I have PTSD) - but this isn't really associated with anything "bad" - just an "out of control" feeling.

I have xanax. Is this an appropriate time to take it? I always think to take it when I'm feeling BAD. This does feel bad, but in a different way. (I know no one here is a dr - just curious about other people's experiences)

Thanks for any words of wisdom

[sunrise]

Interesting question.

earthmama, I sometimes get manic periods where I am super productive and go go go. I consider them to be normal mood variations for me and they do not cause me any problems. I feel more "up" when I am in one of these periods. I don't need to sleep as much, I get a lot done, and I am able to brush aside worries that have been plaguing me.

I do have a lot of anxiety but how I am at these times is very different from when I am feeling "up" as I described above. When I am very anxious, I worry a lot, can't sleep well, get very stressed and irritable, feel overwhelmed, can't focus due to intruding thoughts about my worries, feel I can't cope, etc. When I am in one of my "up" periods, I am really not worrying about things and don't feel overwhelmed or like I can't cope. I feel very confident, and a bit empowered, like hey, I can do this after all!

I have taken Xanax for anxiety before, and it made me feel less anxious. But I've never taken benzos to try to tone down an "up" mood. I also have taken meds that made me feel more "up" and these did not contribute to my anxiety (didn't help it either). But sometimes on these meds, I have felt, "enough already, I just want to relax" but I can't because the meds are artificially making me feel "up." It can be a trade-off, taking meds. They can eliminate your natural variation in mood, which has its purpose--times of low energy to relax and contemplate, and times of higher energy to work and produce.

Anyway, for me, feeling manic/up and experiencing anxiety are two different things. Could be different for you.

I hope you can get back to what is most comfortable for you.

[DePressMe]

earthmama, I don't have mania, but I do have periods where I am much more active and sleep less. It comes with a sense that I "need" to do things. I think it is normal. I am not sure how extreme yours is...mania could be there. I think that is something you and your pdoc need to determine. I don't take xanax so I can't offer you advice there. But, maybe instead of the drug, you could get creative and come up with some fun things to do--if you are going to have excessive energy, you might as well have a little fun. What do you like to do for fun?

[BalishBun]

i think its possible mania. Don't quote me though.

I did end up taking 1/2 a xanax and it calmed me right down...although I did have a few passing thoughts of "I'm not getting anything done"

T thinks I'm running, running, running away from a feeling and that's why I'm so busy and hyper. Who, me?? Yeah, probably. Blah.

[bonaire]

We are so full of chemistry. Darn glands :-) What you may want to check out is why you think you need to get so much done? Instead of racing up the mountain of work - take slower and easier steps to congratulate yourself after each step is done. I've been there too - get 10 things done now now now. Then for a few hours after - nothing to do. You could do something really strange - you could penalize yourself when you get too much done. Meaning - you may be penalizing yourself (in your head) for not doing enough - but to keep yourself balanced, try penalizing yourself for doing too much - then you could possibly find some kind of balance in the middle. Just a thought.

As I read more about psych issues and learn "what we're made of" - hormones and neurotransmitters like Dopamine, Serotonin, Adrenalin, Cortisol, Tosterone, Etc... Lots of stuff that can go out of balance. Once you get out of balance, you feel sluggish or manic or whatever. I think the best thing to do is start with talking it over with your family doctor - then maybe a referral to a psychiatrist to consider looking at your medications + normal diet. Diet itself can make you manic for a while (high carbs.) followed by a drop in energy. Reminds me of kids on sugar. Anyone on sugar can act differently - as well as anyone on an imbalance of stuff in their brains and bodies.

Lately, when I'm feeling stressed out or tired, I try to check myself thinking "what could be out of balance right now?" Turns out it has helped me from getting mad at simple things I'd do - like make a mistake or drop something or instead getting upset I almost start laughing at things lately. There are times I'd feel manic too - usually after I eat well (good foods, not high carbs) - best feeling I had when I ate a lot of vegetables a year ago and lost weight (which I've added back on lately).

[elizabeth101]

It could be both! The only way to be sure is to seek a psychiatrist! It does sound like mania! But is this typical? Or has this just started?

[struggling931]

I'm not sure I know the answer, but I think I understand the dilemma (or confusion). I used to think that mania felt *good*, and anxiety didn't, and that was the way to differentiate—but then I read about "dysmorphic mania"!