What is Dysphoric Mania?
Dysphoric mania, also known as agitated or mixed mania is a bipolar disorder mood swing that is often missed due to confusing symptoms.
Dysphoric mania is the opposite of euphoric mania- it’s still a chemically elevated (in terms of energy) mood- but it has none of the good feelings associated with euphoric mania. Dysphoric mania is very confusing for the person in the mood swing. The anger can be so quick and so real.
I am angry at you for many things! I’m just angry! Leave me alone. Stop bugging me!
I don’t have a problem. Why don’t you look at yourself! You are the one with the problem! It can’t always be me. You’ve been getting on my case about this for years. In fact, just last month on the 21st I remember that you said something about my behavior.
I’ve changed. My eyes are open and what I thought I wanted isn’t good enough. I want out. I couldn’t tell you this before because I didn’t know I was so unhappy.
Why do you always want to change me? Can’t you just see that this is who I am and your snooping into my life is just making me want out more than ever.
I’m going to #$%#$% rip the sink out of this #$%#$% wall if you don’t get the #$%#$ out of this kitchen. I hate you! I hate everyone in my #$%#^@# life!
Part 2 of this blog has a bipolar disorder dysphoric manic checklist! You can visit my Facebook page at Julie A. Fast and read more comments on this post.
Julie
Here is a question from Maddie about the above blog:
Hi Julie,
Right now I’m so p.o’d with everyon, even if I don’t want to be and I know I shouldn’t. But omg! I want to say I feel a little psychotic depressive (if its possible to only be a little psychotic) hallucinations, constant anxiety and fear, thoughts of killing (myself and others even though I don’t feel like acting upon them) I imagine my wrists slit open or see myself get hit by a bus, etc. I feel like every person I pass is watching me and is going to do something. Its so bad -does this sound like bipolar psychosis? I am bipolar (not officially so I can’t say if bipolar I or bipolar II etc.)
Maddie.
Hi Maddie,
When I’m pissed off at EVERYONE it tends to be bipolar disorder. It’s pretty hard to be mad at the world- there are usually a few good people who don’t deserve our anger! This is usually anxiety or a mixed episode for me- also called dysphoric mania. You can use your sleep as a guide- if you see significant changes in your sleep, it’s usually mania. If you have trouble sleeping due to restless thoughts- but can still sleep, it’s usually anxiety. Also, what are the possible triggers. I just wrote my latest column for BP Magazine and it’s about giving up the triggers that make us sick, even if we like the triggers!
What you describe 100% sounds like stress psychosis. I get it when life is too hectic- such as when I have to speak in front of a big crowd or I’m in a situation I can’t control. I always called the hallucinations where I saw myself get killed- ‘death images.’ Then I realized it was psychosis. Homicidal thoughts are common too- wanting to kill someone out of anger is a scary feeling. The thinking that people are watching you is typical paranoia. If you are experiencing this with depression, then it could be bipolar. But the only way you can have bipolar is if you have had an obvious hypomanic or manic episode. You can look on my blog subject menu for more information on psychosis and mania. I definitely suggest you go see someone for an evaluation. Psychosis is not super common, so something is going on with your brain that can be fixed! If you want to find out a more general description of bipolar disorder, my book Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder is the best option. I suggest you see if you fit the symptoms for bipolar II and then go get some help. There is no way you want to live like this- and I know from personal experience that you can get a LOT better. Julie
Julie, you describe this so well. I wanted to understand what the symptoms are and you have helped me so much. Thank you. Thank heavens you are not in Spain especially driving a gas guzzling car! Well done Julie.
Julie, You described my daughter – Phyllis. I was not aware of dysphoric mania. I hope I am understanding the meaning properly – This mania is an episode that an individual with the Bi Polar illness might experience.
Beryl
Wow, this sounds like a transcript of my current situation. My long time boyfriends said basically these exact words to me. I stepped bavk, but stayed somewhat near him, as I have learned to do at this time of year, just standing by til he feels well again… now he has filed a PPO, I have to explain to a court next week my side of this situation. I am deviststed, everything i have learned about caregiving is irrelivant, i am alone at this most lonely time, and look like a harrassing girlfriend. The pain of loving someone with bipolar disorder is more now than I can handle. When shall I just walk away?
what is a PPO?
I think this is what i am experiencing right now. Does it come with the other stuff like med non-compiance?
Hi Amanda,
It is absolutely common with non compliance. It’s hard enough to take meds when you’re well. When you feel like @$@# and everyone is making you angry- you’re not in a very receptive state. Why take meds if the problems are with other people and not yourself? Also, dysphoric mania can be so uncomfortable, you actually forget to take your meds. I feel like I’m being pulled apart when the mania is bad- but I know the signs and can usually keep it from going too far.
Julie
Hi Julie! Thanks for this. It really helps me to understand why I suddenly have no slack for people and lash out. I have so much regret for treating people poorly when I am in this state. You mention a blog post below, but I don’t see a link or any text.
Oh, I found it. It is below the comments!
Hi Julie, right now I’m so p.o’d with everyon, even if I don’t want to be and I know I shouldn’t. But omg! I want to say I feel a little psychotic depressive (if its possible to only be a little psychotic) hallucinations, constant anxiety and fear, thoughts of killing (myself and others even though I don’t feel like acting upon them) I imagine my wrists slit open or see myself get hit by a bus, etc. I feel like every person I pass is watching me and is going to do something. Its so bad 🙁 does this sound like bipolar psychosis? I am bipolar (not officially so I can’t say if bipolar I or bipolar II etc.)
Hi Maddie, when I’m pissed off at EVERYONE it tends to be bipolar disorder. It’s pretty hard to be mad at the world- there are usually a few good people who don’t deserve our anger! This is usually anxiety or a mixed episode for me- also called dysphoric mania. You can use your sleep as a guide- if you see significant changes in your sleep, it’s usually mania. If you have trouble sleeping due to restless thoughts- but can still sleep, it’s usually anxiety. Also, what are the possible triggers. I just wrote my latest column for BP Magazine and it’s about giving up the triggers that make us sick, even if we like the triggers!
What you describe 100% sounds like stress psychosis. I get it when life is too hectic- such as when I have to speak in front of a big crowd or I’m in a situation I can’t control. I always called the hallucinations where I saw myself get killed- ‘death images.’ Then I realized it was psychosis. Homicidal thoughts are common too- wanting to kill someone out of anger is a scary feeling. The thinking that people are watching you is typical paranoia. If you are experiencing this with depression, then it could be bipolar. But the only way you can have bipolar is if you have had an obvious hypomanic or manic episode. You can look on my blog subject menu for more information on psychosis and mania. I definitely suggest you go see someone for an evaluation. Psychosis is not super common, so something is going on with your brain that can be fixed! If you want to find out a more general description of bipolar disorder, my book Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder is the best option. I suggest you see if you fit the symptoms for bipolar II and then go get some help. There is no way you want to live like this- and I know from personal experience that you can get a LOT better. Julie
Hi Julie,
I can Relate to this! I remember being high one minute, angry the other and then switch back to being anxious.
These extreme mood swings played havoc with my friendships and my family.
I’m so glad I’m now stable and well but I’m forever vigilant.
Cheers,
Karen Tyrrell 🙂
PS Thanks for the Guest Blogger post. Waiting for your moderation. Thanks.:)
I am in the middle of one of these right now. This is my mania. It sucks. I was depressed last week. Now I haven’t slept in a week more than a couple of hours a night. My relationship is suffering, I am not working, I am going in disability soon. I’m probably going to be depressed again, then back to mania. This hasn’t happened since 2009. It still sucks.
That’s what I always have. So annoying, don’t even get the good feelings of mania.
Hi,
I stumbled upon your page while doing some googling about the different types of mania/hypo mania/mixed states because I’m having a lot of trouble figuring out if the way I feel is the same as how other people feel. I was diagnosed bipolar about… I don’t know maybe 5 years ago – that’s a guess, it could have been six or it could have been three. I know it was around then though because I can remember it was all happening while I was working for one company and then another one after I quit the first one – I was diagnosed with depression by a GP during a depressive phase and she put me on anti depressants because I’ve had two other major depression incidents before, one lasting six years and the other maybe two or three. And I didn’t react very well to the medication which is what led her to think bipolar because I got a bit aggressive on the anti depressants and I’m not a naturally aggressive person although I have panic attacks and sometimes I have rage attacks which is similar to panic attacks only there’s an added component where I lose my marbles a bit and plot revenge upon the entire world for the slightest things that aren’t even real life issues and then I become a bit OCD for a while, mostly becoming disgusted by the germs of everyone ever, feeling a strong need to count and label and repeat my movements, a lot of pacing back and forth, muttering under my breath, and frequent smacking my head into walls, clawing at my own skin, punching walls and screaming bloody murder as though there’s something stuck inside my body and if I don’t shriek and howl it out I’ll explode. I have no control over my unreasonable reactions which are almost always triggered by a change to my routine, not enough sleep, or the actions of certain people who are not nice to me (or whom I perceive to be not nice because I accept that my view may become bias in time even though I like to think of myself as otherwise quite rational). After the GP diagnosed me probably bipolar she put me on a cocktail of meds and made me see a psychiatrist to confirm the diagnosis and by the time I got accepted to his clinic a year and a half later I was feeling much better and he said I was likely in A stable/maintenance phase and I would be safe off medication until my symptoms came back which was good because I already decided I didn’t like the pills and stopped taking them . I’ve had ups and owns since then, but I can probably say that this year has been building up for me to a point where I’m having outbursts and periods of uncontrolled self harm (eg ripping my skin, smashing my head etc like I described) at least a couple of times a week. Don’t call the police on me I’m perfectly fine and have lots of people watching out for my crazy which is humiliating at best. I’m at the point of knowing I need to return to the dr. My concern is that I’m not sure whether what I’m experiencing really is an agitated sort of mania or depression, or whether it’s something else entirely? Could I be something awful like borderline or schizophrenic? I never lose touch with reality completely I don’t think although I’m very imaginative and philosophical and sometimes have very depersonalised experiences, and I’m very empathetic and go out of my way never to target anyone with my panic or rage attacks because I don’t want the attention or to manipulate. I try to keep hidden. its bad at the moment which makes it hard. I’m ok at work surprisingly, but struggle at home. I just don’t seem to have the ability to control my emotions and become filled with a crazy burst of energy which makes my heart race and my blood boil- makes me cry and want to vomit and scream and run and punch and destroy things and I end up phoning all the people I trust just to spew out all my emotional drivel until I’m able to calm myself enough to know that Iim ok. I have complete awareness that I’m being irrational – I just can’t stop it. What do you think? Does this sound like the dysphoric mania you’ve experienced or heard of others experiencing, or do you think I should see a different specialist?