New Member - Mania verses Anxiety and Panic Attacks - are they all the same thing?

[LingYuk]

Hi Everyone,

I'm very new to the 'forum' style of communication but hope to get support concerning some serious panic attacks and acute anxiety that I have been experiencing over the past week. I feel like I am about to loose control at times and that no-one could really understand what I am experiencing. I can't focus or concentrate when conversing with colleagues and I'm terrified of saying the wrong thing and embarrassing myself. I am involved in a new and very complicated project at work and am having difficulty grasping my new job scope. I'm feeling very stressed and fearful that my boss will decide I'm not the right person for the job and terminate my contract. I know I can do the role if I can just relax, settle down and focus, which I am finding very hard to do at the moment.

I have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder which I understand to mean cyclic bouts of depression and mania. The mania frightens me the most as it has led to some very embarrassing and regrettable actions in the past, which have landed me in serious trouble. The anxiety and panic attacks I am experiencing at the moment feel very much like the manic episodes I have experienced in the past. Is mania, anxiety and the panic attacks all part of the same syndrome?

I am on meds now which I have used in the past only when I feel I am starting to experience manic symptoms. I started these meds again about 2 weeks ago and consulted my GP a week ago. Normally I feel completely symptom free after a week on medication but now after two weeks I am still experiencing panic attacks and anxiety which is distressing. I will make another appointment to see my GP as soon as he can fit me in.

Thank you so much for accepting me into the group and listening to my concerns. I look forward to reciprocating.

[Peppermintbach]

Hi LingYuk,

I hope it’s alright if I give you a caring welcome to the forums. Thank you so much for giving posting a go as it can be difficult submitting your first post 🙂 If it reassures you a little, you seem to be doing a great job communicating/expressing yourself on the forums so far so I wouldn’t worry too much about your communication style.

Your anxiety must be so very distressing and unsettling. You sound like a highly capable and skilled worked. But having that, I also hear you on your work fears and stress as well.

I think you show great self awareness when it comes to your mania and seem to be really driven to manage it. Well done. I’m glad you plan to make an appointment with your GP. Perhaps you could ask him or her for strategies to help you improve focus and concentration at work or even discuss the possibility of seeing a psychologist, for example? Just an idea.

You’re always welcome to continue writing about yourself and sharing with us. We would love to hear from you again but there’s no pressure of course (only if you feel comfortable doing so).

Caring thoughts,

Pepper

[quirkywords]

Hi LingYuk,

I too welcome you the forum.This is a friendly caring and supporting place.

I was diagnosed with bipolar over 40 years ago, an it can be confusing. I agree with Pepper about seeing your doctor and discussing medication and your thoughts and maybe a psychologist.

Everyone is different . I sometimes get a bit worried an anxious but have not had a panic or anxiety attack butI have experienced mania.For me mania is full of over the top grandiose and exaggerated feelings. I too have regretted embarrassing things I did when manic as I had no inhibitions but at the time I loved being manic as I had no idea of how I affected others.

Panic attacks and anxiety seem more stressful and disturbing than Mina but thats only my experience.

Thanks for your post. Feel free to post again/

Quirky

[LingYuk]

Dear Pepper,

Thank you very much for your warm welcome and reassuring advice. This is very soothing and encouraging for me and I'm most grateful 🙂

[LingYuk]

Thanks Quirky, likewise I greatly appreciate you sharing your experience with me. It helps me enormously to know that I am not alone in this and have a very caring community I can turn to for support.

Warmest regards,

LingYuk

[quirkywords]

Ling yuk,

Thanks for replying. This is a great caring place to read about others' experiences and to know we are not alone.

Feel free to post and ask questions anytime you want to.

Quirky

[Steph2]

Hi Lingyuk,

I am a sufferer of anxiety and depression, so I my message is only related to these medical issues. Firstly have confidence with your employer and discuss any concerns you have. If you have a contract and are meeting all the minimum requirements of your work description, they have no valid reason (other than redundancy) for your dismissal. If you have concerns about work related contract issues, make sure you get all the information required from fair work. Have you perhaps decided to talk about your medical issues with your employer?

In regards to the side affects of medication, this is in most cases normal. However stay in touch with your GP or specialist and describe your symptoms to them. They are the professionals and can give you more advice. It took me about 12 months to finally find a medication which best suited me. In saying that do not feel disheartened as this is just my experience, it may not take this long for someone else. If you can not deal with the side effects or they do not settle down, there are always other medications/options. There is no magic pill, but be rest assured with the right help and medical advice, you will get through this.

Anxiety/Panic attacks put me in a very dark place, a place I thought I would never be able to recover from. Looking back (1 year) I have come along way. I used to read this forums and hope that one day I could be on the recovery side. I know where you are coming from and how you feel.

You WILL get through this and you WILL learn a lot about yourself and how to manage these illness's.

Sending you positive vibes and big cuddles.

Steph.