[cashart10]

So...my pdoc said I was manic for the last month or more. While I agree that I started out that way, just several days into the episode, I adopted major agitation and anxiety which I would have thought was a mixed episode (especially because I became suicidal--then dangerously suicidal--so quickly), not a manic episode. Has anyone ever had a manic episode start out as a pure high and turn into pure hell? Is that what they call dysphoric mania? Or is it a mixed episode? I just wanted some thoughts on this. Thank you!

[vans1974]

Ya, I get them quite often from taking a high dose of Cymbalta and Provigil...ADs and CNS stimulants often cause them... But I just take Nerontin and Xanax to help, since I think it's better to be in a mixed state than in tormenting depression!

YES! My p-doc referred to it as a "negative mania." But he also called it a mixed state. I have never, ever, ever, felt such a hellish feeling in my life. Something like anxiety...dread...agitation...terror....NO PLACE I could go gave any comfort. I'm terrified of it happening again. Btw, a high dose of Zoloft worsened the dysphoric mania...it took me a couple of months to realize I needed to drop my Zoloft dose way, way down.

[Wander]

I can relate. I have had the pure high turn to pure hell and been diagnosed with dysphoric mania. It is a truly awful state to be in - irritable, agitated, mind racing and pacing and pacing my flat. I believe dysphoric mania is a type of mixed episode (there is also agitated depression). Did your psych recommend any new treatment options to get a handle on it. I wish you all the best, hang in there!

[Skitz13]

I've had the same experiences and my pdoc referred to them as mixed episodes. They are very hard to handle. I found I couldn't make plans because who knew would should show up. It was horrible. The mood shifts, I found were unmanageable. It lasted 4 months for me.

Try to keep your stress down the best you can. Eat healthy, walk and most of all and hardest of all try and get your sleep.

I found the more I tried to fight it, the worst it got. Everyone told me to ride it out.

[Angry1541]

Originally Posted by Sister Rags

I have never, ever, ever, felt such a hellish feeling in my life. Something like anxiety...dread...agitation...terror....NO PLACE I could go gave any comfort. I'm terrified of it happening again.

Yes! I too recently experienced this...while I think I have been running to the manic side for a few weeks, I had a day or two in there that I can say is only rivaled from a bad drug experience when I was a younger man. It was pure despair and despondency. It was hell and TOTALLY out of character.

[Tucson]

I do not know if this counts, but I had the symptoms of dysphoric mania for several days. Perhaps not clinically mixed episode in duration, but it was a real nightmare!

[Angry1541]

Originally Posted by Tucson

I do not know if this counts, but I had the symptoms of dysphoric mania for several days. Perhaps not clinically mixed episode in duration, but it was a real nightmare!

Yeah, my experience didn't last days on end...the manic/depressed swinging did....but the dysphoria only lasted a day or two....and gradually I started to get back into the normal 'swing' of things...see what I did there...normal "swing" of things...hahaha

[~Christina]

95% of my Mania's are not" happy puppy rainbow" kinda events .I get the angry , miserable ,irritated, hot mess. sucks

[pawn78]

I only had it a couple of times, but both times were induced by heavy psychedelic use. I thought I was literally in hell...the worst experience ever. I won't do LSD or any hallucinogens ever, ever, ever again. Bad combination with bipolar disorder!!!

[wildflowerchild25]

Mania always turns into mixed for me. That's why I hate mania. I like hypomania, it's awesome, but mania...no thanks.

[Alokin]

I feel your pain, 100% I spend a lot of my life in dysphoric manias. I try to ride it out, I run or pedal and lift heavy things, it helps!

[loophole]

What? I thought this was normal. Welcome to my life and add blackouts where I can't even remember 3 to 4 days... I periodically have blackouts... blackouts alone probably 15 times in a year... sux

[Disorder7]

Yep. I go from depression to dysphoric mania. Sometimes I'm baseline. But never the happy stuff you see in the movies.

[Tucson]

Agitation, panic, fear, overwhelmed, racing intrusive thoughts, helplessness...this is what I remember. I think this was my first case of what I think was extreme dysphoric mania. It was a very intense experience. I would go from detached amusement of my condition, laughing inappropriately at anything anyone said, feeling I had the power to manage it, to being overwhelmed and helpless with very intense visual experiences racing through my head, one right after the other, like a crazy disjointed movie. I could not focus on anything for any length of time. I found myself somehow driving on the wrong side of the road, wondering how I got there.

I thought I was going mad. I felt I had to get help. I began to panic. I could check in to a hospital, but who would take care of my daughter and my mother who has dementia? So I somehow hanged in there until it passed. This was the worst nightmare I ever had while being still awake. I imagine if it continued something terrible was going to happen to me.

Sounds familiar to anyone? I still am not very sure what happened to me.