[Victoria'smom]

My t was/is trying to say my mood swing was just anxiety? Anyone who's been reading my posts was it anxiety?

[jacky8807]

Idk....my anxiety and my hypo/mania are completely different. Although I think you can have anxiety in a hypo/manic episode there will be other traditional things as well
You have had both before so what do you think?

[Victoria'smom]

I don't really get anxiety but I'm saying it's hypomania. He's argument is the kolotopin knocked me down.

[Nammu]

If the medicine worked does it matter what it was called? I'm glad it's better.

[smallwonderer]

Do you guys get better at recognizing your moods the more times you go through them? I feel like I'm still trying to figure myself out and hope that there's a way I can increase my awareness of when I am not doing well and my triggers.

A few things said I agree with. Does it matter to you if it was one or the other? Are you able to look back in hindsight and maybe see how your moods have cycled before?

I haven't read all your posts. But, for me there is a huge difference between anxiety and hypomania. In my opinion the difference between hypomania and anxiety is whether or not the individual is experiencing elation.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Rcat-The problem with the elation thing is that there is dysphoric mania and that just doesn't feel good. My mood is rarely happy no matter how high I am. I wish I had that part of this but I just don't. So anxiety and hypomania can look pretty similar and have been confused for one another before.

[jacky8807]

But even if there is no elation there has to be the other signs in the DSM. It can't just be irritability or anxiety

[jacky8807]

Dysphoric mania is also called mixed mania and symptoms seem more mixed than a pure hypo episode

[Victoria'smom]

I need to plan for the down. It was kinda comforted it was hypomania as my electric was unexpectedly cut yesterday.

I've found that if it's fun and I'm feeling good and hoping that it doesn't end, then it has to be hypomania.

I definitely don't feel that way with anxiety and dysphoric mania, of which both can like just never happen. Anxiety feels like I'm very nervy and anxious and flat whereas dysphoric mania has an irritated disgusting anxiety feeling.

Originally Posted by smallwonderer

Do you guys get better at recognizing your moods the more times you go through them? I feel like I'm still trying to figure myself out and hope that there's a way I can increase my awareness of when I am not doing well and my triggers.

Hi smallwonder....now that you are tuned into yourself (most bipolar affected persons are), you'll definetly figure your moods out. A mood chart will help you register your mental state. Keep asking questions and keep reading up on this MI.

[jacky8807]

Originally Posted by AlwaysChanging2

I've found that if it's fun and I'm feeling good and hoping that it doesn't end, then it has to be hypomania.

I definitely don't feel that way with anxiety and dysphoric mania, of which both can like just never happen. Anxiety feels like I'm very nervy and anxious and flat whereas dysphoric mania has an irritated disgusting anxiety feeling.

Me too!!!

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I have times, usually when I am not in an episode, that if asked how I am feeling I will say anxious, although in a day or two I clearly was hypomanic. Generally if my therapist or pdoc are the ones I'm telling I am anxious they ask enough questions (and know the reality) and I'll realize my speech and thoughts are fast, I can't sit still, I can't focus, I'm agitated, irritable, bouncing from one thing to another, etc but without help I do not always have the ability to differentiate in the very early part of hypomania without help. Maybe I'm lying to myself when that happens and am just hoping it is anxiety instead but whatever the cause I do occasionally have it seem very similar to me, whether it does to anyone looking at me or not. I will say that never lasts more than a day if that long. But "I thought I was anxious but..." has definitely been said more than once by me.