GAD or Hypomania

Sorry for reposting. I've also posted in the Anxiety section of the forum
So I've had anxiety and very mild depression for about 20 years. I am 37 now
It's been more or less stable for the better part of 20 years, but last few years have been very stressful because of some family deaths and other issues
I went back into therapy. For now its just a psychiatrist and she put me on Zoloft. First 25 mg, then 50 mg, and now 100 mg
50 mg made me feel great and no major side effects. After going to 100 mg, I stared feeling pretty crappy with a number of side effects (its only been 5 days on 100 mg)
I called the doctor and she thinks I might have Hypomania. A very light version of Bi-Polar disorder
I am having a hard time understanding it. I've researched this a bit and while the general symptoms of Hypomania don't apply to me, there are some things that I've read and experience that point me in that direction.
The problem is that these "symptoms" of possible Hypomania could also be assigned to GAD.
I am convinced I have GAD, but she thinks I might also, or instead, be Bi-Polar.
I know I don't have Mania, but Hypomania is a lighter version is often harder to diagnose
if anyone has experience with this and can either clear this up for me or recommend where I can research this further, I would really appreciate it!

What kind of symptoms are you experiencing?

Its not anxiety, per say. Its more like nervousness and inability to concentrate or stay in one place. Irritated and short with people. Not feeling sad or happy. More like tired and lazy. Not depressed or anything, but don't feel like doing anything. Muscle tension all over

I can only speak from personal experience.

Because I believe you have asked a great question!

I have both GAD and BP and really they present differently. I'm not sure how to explain.

My feeling of anxiety is pretty much constant.

But it can be exacerbated during an episode.

It's much worse during depression.

Because at certain times during mania all my "general" anxiety disappears.

There are certain criteria; a minimum one must meet out the DSM in order for a diagnosis of BP to occur.

I just can't say on the basis of what you have written in the post if, in my personal (and certainly far from professional opinion) if what you have described may be very mild hypomania.

I simply do not know.

I hope that you find the answers that you seek.

First of all Zoloft is a very potent drug! It gets me high! I feel like I just smoked a joint on zoloft, plus I get really jumpy, nervous, sensitive to noise and hear things. It's the only AD that ever got me high in a bad way. So it could just be the zoloft!

As for GAD, for me, I get it all, GAD and SAD and panic attacks. Plus paranoia too. These are just in addition to my bipolar. Everything is magnified and 10x worse when I am in a mixed episode.

I would ask your pdoc to try another AD and possibly a mood stabilizer. I also take Klonopin for my anxiety too. Good Luck!

Read this: Anxiety: A Core Feature of Bipolar? - Talking about Bipolar Disorder - Bipolar

Sounds like GAD.. docs a quick to jump on the BP train cos then they can give you what ever drugs they feel like til you're a fatarse zombie but not causing anyone any trouble.

I get that way sometimes. I've been that way recently with being incapable of concentrating, etc., and my doc said it was caused from anxiety. When I was put on zoloft many years ago it really DID make me hypomanic. I was pretty euphoric feeling. I don't know. This stuff makes me feel confused too.

Feeling "tired and lazy" and not feeling "like doing anything" don't sound like hypomania to me. If those feelings last for at least six months, it could be GAD. IDK, though. I'm not a doctor.

Tired and lazy is the exact opposite of hypomania...

Yeah, when zoloft made me manic the LAST thing I felt was tired or lazy. Exact opposite, to an extreme.