Psychomotor Agitation Puns

Hello, the biggest problem I’m facing is that “I can’t stop walking back and forth around the room, it’s really difficult for me even to sit and stay calm”. I really get distressed because of it. It disturbs my concentration when I play musical instruments, the activity that I love the most.

The meds that I’m currently taking is: Amitryptyline (antidepressant), Aripriprazole (antipsychotic), and Depakote (mood stabilizer) but I’m still not comfortable with myself, it doesn’t work that much.

Do you guys have ever been in the same mental state like me? What’s the solution? What medication will helps?

Let me know, I really appreciate your answer!

Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with TS and agitation. At the moment I feel like I'm on edge all the time and it's unbearable, I'm pacing around and shaking and it's unbearable. Not even sure if it's related to my TS or not but does anyone have any tips to deal with this.

Help. I can’t read a book because of this. PLEASE DON’T say “Do yoga and meditate” because I AM doing yoga and meditation (twice a day) and have been for years and It literally does nothing for psycholmotor agitation at least for me. I am so restless that I cannot read without getting up and moving, I tried that but then I am focusing on moving and not reading. Want want to read but my brain just so RESTLESS. Like it would rather just burn off energy then do productive things. Does anyone have this? What do you do to manage it or what did you do to get rid of it? It’s affecting my schoolwork.

Anyone else get all twitchy and jittery from their pain and feel the need to redirect all those movements into a specific movement like tapping ur fingers or feet repetitively to distract u from the pain?

And then feeling anxious because u know other people can see u being all energetic

If I dont move I get anxious and if I do move I get anxious

Just seeing if anyone else relates to this! I have an anxiety disorder and am currently on medication for it. My main symptom is psychomotor agitation, so involuntarily pacing and fidgeting and such. Does anyone else have this and has cannabis been helping?

It’s helping me lots, by turning me into a couch potato lol :)

I was on Zoloft for about a year. Once increasing to a therapeutic dose, I felt very "out of it." My focus was terrible and I actually received a borderline ADHD diagnosis (i don't think that part of my brain actually has those characteristics, but the symptoms are quite similar). I felt like I was in a fog and nothing was interesting to me. I experienced an extreme depressive episode, and wanted to get off the Zoloft.

Then I switched to Prozac. I felt great on 10 mg and had TONS of energy- I felt the most like myself in forever. However around the time I upped to 20mg (a week ago) a lot of my depressive symptoms were back. I'm having alot of trouble focusing and thinking quickly. I work as a barista, and noticed that im having a lot of difficulty putting my tasks in order, being motivated to talk friendly to customers, and just "wanting" to give people quality service/drinks. I didn't have any issues beforehand.

I have psychomotor issues, which put me in either an agitated state where I'm jittery, twitch a lot, or am clumsy and lack spatial awareness, OR im in a slower, psychomotor retardation like state where my body and thoughts cannot seem to move fast enough. Does anyone else experience these symptoms, especially the psychomotor stuff on SSRI's? They really bother me, and I don't want to get too involved with Prozac if it means dealing with this stuff

i’m just wondering if anyone experiences this symptom of anxiety and what they do to cope with it. medications, mindfulness, meditation, etc. are all good advice. just let me know what your experience is! (i might have bipolar disorder which is the more common cause of this. i may cross post something in their sub too.)

explanation of what psychomotor agitation is

I'm hoping this doesn't get flagged for Rule 1, as it's more complex than that.

I know that anxiety, panic and irritability are objectively considered common components of a pandemic, but to clarify, all of my stressors are probably at a 12 month low.

Despite that, for some reason I can barely drive my car or go to the grocery store without having a complete hyperventilating panic episode. As well as restlessness and discomfort that prevents sleep.

The reason why I ask is, although I've always had moderate generalized anxiety disorder and occasional panic attacks, I've felt WAY different since mid-December and it's getting in the way of my life. And I know that conversation on reddit does not substitute going to the doctor.

But something I find peculiar is how my friend across the country, my coworkers wife, and myself, have all gotten these gigantic life-dampening anxiety symptoms. It's not crazy for me to have anxiety, but my friend, he's never had anxiety in his life and is the healthiest dude. And all three of us in the past seven or so months have sought Urgent Care and gotten EKG's due to feelings of impending doom, but have never had a fever or cough. It happened to my friend and I in July, and to my coworkers wife in December, and now I'm feeling entirely on edge once again. Last time I had the most immense shortness of breath I've ever experienced for about 4-6 weeks, but this time its higher baseline constant anxiety and muscle spasms.

So I cant help but wonder if some individuals get solely neurological symptoms, and I guess I'm looking for validation on that hypothesis. Not just that, but I'm also asking to see if there are other people with my set of symptoms who have gotten a positive test to better discern if that is what is making me feel this way. If so, I feel like its a troublingly covert component to the pandemic, as these neurological symptoms may often get misdiagnosed as just Stress from the Pandemic.

I guess I'm just looking for insight on if I could potentially be in a several week recovery phase of a covid-19 infection, or if that is unlikely and that it could be something else. I haven't gotten a test because they aren't amply available where I live and because I'm 28 with only neurological symptoms I may get turned away under the presumption that I'm not in need of one. I'd do a mail-in one if they weren't $100. I've done as much research as I can and have found neurological symptoms defined on a website or two, but not

Guys, I think I’m in the throes of a shitty mixed episode. I have been high and low today, feeling risky and done a lot of things outside my normal. I haven’t been able to get a damn thing done today because I’ve maybe worked on 47 different projects 15% each!

I’ve started and stopped 10 different movies and shows today, there’s this pressing need to do something but I can’t make up my mind what. I’ve always been a lip biter and skin picker but this is a whole new level of agitation I don’t know what to do with!

Does anyone have tips/suggestions for harnessing psychomotor agitation? This is the fucking worst!

I’m already diagnosed. Not a “do I have bipolar” post. Just trying to start logging episodes as I’m new to that.

Also does your hypo come on gradually/builds or does it hit? I used to think it’d just “hit” me but I’m really trying to monitor any levels of elevated sensitivity/optimism to make sure these aren’t precursors to an episode.

Currently. I have only slept a total of 8 hours in the last two days..I’m not overly physically active but I’ve been non stop communicating with strangers online and have been getting overall tingly/goosebumps especially with music and nature all over my body and can’t stop aggressively smushing and picking at everything even my own body.

Any and all experiences/advice would be super appreciated

Thank you xoxo

I know it’s a symptom I just don’t see much on it and wanted to know if other relate .

Also...increased screen/phone time. Like I cannot put my phone down.

But it’s unbearable. I wake up all tensed up my Fkn chest feels like it’s caved in, my guts are all rigid and sticky, back is scrunched up and rigid as hell, shit even my legs I can feel are tense my facial muscles and scalp. I have this churning internal irritability and agitation that drives me insane. I’m pretty sure it’s just being chronically stressed out that causes it and then it turn like a vicious cycle it causes more stress obviously. I’m so burnt out from the physical symptoms of mental illness I rly can’t take it anymore. The physical agony I life with it is just Fkn ridiculous. It isn’t pain like I said it’s just this severe, I mean SEVERE discomfort. Hyper vigilance and being horribly self aware all the time contribute no doubt as well. I feel so blunted and numb besides these symptoms from being so stressed for so long. My face shows it as well I look like shit from this horror show actually surprised I don’t look worse given how I feel. Even when I’m asleep I can feel it I have these vivid nasty dreams that wake me up and when I do tension and agitation upon waking is even more horrible. There’s like no escape. Nothing “healthy” provides relief of these symptoms. No coping mechanism I try provides relief either...I feel so disgusting gross and uncomfortable all the time it’s driven me Fkn nuts.

End of rant. Kill me

I started a new job today, a desk job — for the first time in my life. I’ve always done work that allows me to move around to a greater or lesser degree. Today was a humbling experience. I thought I would be able to focus and work well and efficiently for long stretches of time, because I was super excited and apprehensive for this new opportunity, but I simply couldn’t. I had to get up and move around every 10-15 minutes. Thank god that this job is from home because any supervisor and/or boss would be utterly perplexed to see somebody getting up all the time to just pace around aimlessly. I have always been restless and active and love (well, actually hate) to pace around, especially when manic. I understand that this is all a result of psychomotor agitation which is caused by Bipolar and OCD (my comordity). I managed to get a lot of work done today — that is, considerably more than what was expected of me, which felt great and made me feel like a success on my first day on the job. But, I just couldn’t stay focused and put in a decent shift in one sitting and it’s really stressed me out. I just want to be able to work ‘normally’ and not just hyperfocus and get done in 15 minutes what should take me an hour. Does anyone have any advice about how to get this restlessness and agitation under control, because I really hope this job progresses so that I can go into the office, but won’t be able to work how I normally do if I make it to the office.

TL;DR: I cannot focus on work and have to get up every 15 mins to pace around. How can I control this agitation and work in a more focused and ‘normal life way?

I cannot stop moving (pacing, tapping foot, tensing and untensing muscles, etc.) and it is becoming difficult to deal with (on day 6 of this now, lol). Is there anything I can do to make this. Like. Less??? Edit: I'm not on any medication

It is tremendously hard for me to relax. Even whenever I take medication that is made to help relaxation. It actually makes me scared and I move around a lot. For example: whenever I had wisdom teeth surgery, I was proscribed hydrocodone and it made me really jittery and the same thing happend whenever I tried smoking marijuana. Both things that are known for its relaxation element made me feel extremely agitated and scared. My friend told me to look into psychomotor agitation and believes that I may have hidden trauma that keeps me from making myself relax? How do I overcome that and relax.

My psychomotor agitation has been pretty manageable up until this point (except for one period where I couldn't stop jumping despite a back injury), but recently I've started grinding my teeth and I'm afraid it's going to affect my dental health. Are there any ways to manage it?

Anyone has this in euthymia? Tapping feet, snapping fingers, funny movements when talking etc.

I know tics are really only for people with tourettes but for me they appear similar though DEFINITELY not as hard to suppress as tics, obviously.

So all my life I've had these like unusual powerful bodily movements when I'm manic. When I was younger, along with the normal pacing, I would also start sprinting randomly, and hopping, skipping and making spontaneous short but somewhat loud squeals? squeaks? kinda like "eeeeEEEEE!". Growing up I don't really do that as much but I definitely still do pace a lot and talk to myself/talk as if I'm playing out social scenerios (like shower conversations! lol)

But pretty normally when manic, I'll have these kinda, and its hard to describe whats exactly going on during these but, I wanna say, a quick spontaneous build up of body tension, that I let out in very odd ways. I think it's a form of psychomotor agitation although I've never read about anything similar to this, only stuff about pacing and fidgeting.

I'll get really excited out of nowhere and tense a muscle/muscle group basically til I'm shaking, sorta "convulsing" even. I mean, not completely involuntary like real convulsions but it's the best way to describe it. It only lasts a second or two, and when I'm alone is only when I do them. So it's not completely uncontrollable, but it definitely is when I'm alone.

Some examples are:

• I'll make a grimacing face, clench my teeth really hard and tense all the muscles in my forearm and hands.
• When lying in bed I'll tense up and bury my face in my pillow and start kinda flailing.
• I'll make a tense extremely exaggerated smiling face and hold up almost like, peace sign hand signs, (again while my whole body is extremely tense and locking up, that the common theme here lol.) Almost feels like I'm posing for a picture haha
• Burying my face in my hands and clenching all the muscles in my face (cringing? lol)

These can happen for no reason when I'm manic but they usually happen when I'm watching and reacting to something, like something funny, or cute, embarrassing or exciting. It's basically just the way I express my emotions when I'm alone and manic lol.

Do other bipolar people experience this as well? Is this psychomotor agitation or something else?

Sorry, I didn't know whether to list this under General or Med Question but I feel like General is slightly better since I'm not Specifically looking for medical advice as much as I am asking about personal experiences.

If so what do you do?

I usually pace back and forth a lot, more often when thoughts are racing and ideas pouring in.

Does it bother you?

For me it's only inconvenient when I have to sit still, I'll have this urge to move so I'll start tapping my feet / fingers on the table. Sometime's the urge comes when I'm trying to go to bed, and I'll be pacing back and forth until I feel tired.

Interested in reading your quirks.

Edit: It's been an interesting read, thanks for sharing!

I used to be on seroquel for an antipsychotic to help with this for the most part. I can’t take it now because I’m (26 +4 weeks) pregnant. I didn’t even know that psychomotor agitation was a thing until I found it somehow. I have bipolar 2 and this part so hard to handle. I went to a friend’s baby shower yesterday and everyone had their heads up their butts and it was VERY uncomfortable. I don’t get out much because it’s very draining for me and my social anxiety is hard to manage sometimes, but I really wanted to be there to support my friend. By the time I left, I was so stressed out I felt like my brain was going to explode and come out of my ears. The psychomotor agitation advanced into the evening where I just stayed in my bed and didn’t want to watch tv with my fiancé because the sound irritated me even more than what I was already feeling. He already had a long day from work and wasn’t dealing with my shit attitude and was calling me dramatic. I started sobbing and I could tell he just wanted to go to bed. So I went into the living room and messaged a friend about how I was feeling (this is at 1 am this morning) and felt slightly better with her kind words. I did a few “deep calm” and “box” breathing exercises and practiced accepting what I felt and tried climbing back into bed. Maybe got 3 hours worth of sleep. I’m back up feeling the same and I just want to hide away forever. No one else I know has bipolar, so it’s difficult to find someone who knows how to handle this shit. If you know any tips, please comment below.

I'm starting a new job soon. I've been doing so good with my mood. Then, POW! Mania. I have a love/hate relationship with my mania, and I'm sure that's how most people with bipolar are. The thing that bothers me is the psychomotor agitation. I keep clenching my jaw and kicking my legs while I'm trying to sleep. Not that I'm tired, but I'm sure I will be tomorrow. I don't want this recent episode to mess with my new job. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to deal with psychomotor issues?

Hi All, has anyone figured out how to curb psychomotor agitation? I've been off meds for a bit and I've started back on again but it'll be some time before I see full effects. In the meantime I really want to figure out how to stop picking at my skin 🤔 BP1

So have any of y'all experienced psychomotor agitation?

I am having trouble with it right now, since I think I am going into hypomania. I've been feeling like I'm going "up" for a week now, but trying to fight it. I just have an intense need to pace around or just be constantly moving (ex. leg tapping, lip chewing). Additionally, when I feel uncomfortable due to intrusive thoughts (and sometimes for no reason at all) I feel the need to just move or focus my attention on something else. For example, earlier today in the car with my mom, I felt the need to look away from outside the car and so I looked over at my dog (luckily he was there or it would have been weird). But when I turned my head to look at him in the backseat, it wasn't planned, and it was very much "out of no where" and a jerky kind of motion. These are motions that I can't control. Luckily, if my dog is with me then I can just focus on him real quick and rub his head or something. But when he isn't around then it's pretty weird. I guess I'm just worried. I don't know what to do or if this is normal... I've read that psychomotor agitation is pretty common in bipolar though, which is why I'm reach out to y'all (I have BPII). Could anyone share their experience with me? And what they have done to help out? Is it more common when in hypomania/mania/mixed states for you?

It’s 5am.

I’vr had psychomotor agitation (what the doctor calls it) for 3 days now.

I’m going into a mixed hypomanic episode, and really can’t keep still. 3 hours sleep each night isn’t enough. I can feel myself getting back into delusions and paranoia too.

ITS LIVING HELL

What can I do to help it temporarily?

Something that can replace pacing, tapping fingers, racing speech and mind etc? I’ve tried art but I can’t keep my hand still enough!

Hi all,

Hope this is within the subreddit’s rules.

I’ve been getting medication for depression for about a year now; moclobemide. This medication is now being tapered off, due to being diagnosed Bipolar 1 since a few months, after a psychosis. For that I am on Lithium and Olanzapine. Since a few weeks there has been a restlessness insideme that’s fiercer than I have known before. Google suggests it’s psychomotor agitation or akathisia. It is now managed with Lorazepam, which my psychiatrist prescribes with great hesitation. She insists it’s my addiction - I am 12 weeks clean from cocaine, with 1 relapse. I have only had these symptoms while on Lithium.

Any clues where the restlessness could conefrom, and if there are non-benzo means of management?

Daily doses: Moclobemide 225mg Olanzapine 10mg Lithium 1200mg Lorazepam 0,5-1mg

Thanks in advance for any hints.

For example someone who suffers from Major Depressive Disorder have a symptom from pshycomotor agitation like rubbing his skin at the same time with delayed movements, speech, and thinking from psychomotor retardation at the same time ?

My mom wasn't diagnosed as having celiac disease until 10 years ago at age 60. She is very stubborn and never did anything about it because she had no symptoms, and her doctor never seemed to care.
This past May she started having strange issues she never had before. High blood pressure, elevated liver enzymes, extreme anxiety, psychomotor agitation, depression, brain fog, severe weight loss, and hair loss. Would that happen just all at once? She has been to doctors and nothing else seems to be wrong... she has become a completely different person and it's terrifying. It's been this crazy snowball effect. I just started her on a gluten free diet a few days ago, and have seen no change. I guess I need info. The medical professionals (every test she has had) all just shrug and tell her to quit eating gluten- which we are now. I just really miss who my mom was and I'm hoping this resolves it... anyone on here that experienced mental health related symptoms that improved?? She went her whole life eating gluten because she never had any symptoms so no one suspected anything... is it too late for her?

https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/19/5914/htm

Some highlights in no particular order:

> "Among the substances investigated, the essential oils of Myristica fragrans (nutmeg), Heracleum transcaucasicum, Heracleum anisactis, Anethum graveolens (dill), Apium nodiflorum, Petroselinum crispum (parsley), Pycnocycla bashagardiana and Piper sarmentosum, all containing high concentrations of myristicin, ranging between 12% and 96% of the composition, are noteworthy. "
>
>" An interesting publication discusses the anticonvulsant and inhibitory effects on glial activation of Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) extract. This material, containing about 11% myristicin, was tested in male NMRI rats that were induced to have seizures. Behavioral studies have shown that pretreatment with nutmeg extract effectively reduced seizure behavior, decreased cell death in the hypothalamus and improved glial activation [71]. "
>
>" A publication on the aqueous extract of the aerial part of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) sought to investigate the antihypertensive activity of the plant. In vivo studies were performed with male albino rats, and an in vitro study used isolated thoracic aorta rings. The results show a potent vasorelaxant activity in aortic vascular rings, while in animals the extract induced a decrease in blood pressure parameters. More detailed studies showed that there was a blockage of calcium channels present in the vascular wall, but also suggest that other pathways may be involved in the antihypertensive effect such as, for example, increased nitric oxide synthesis [67].
>
>The ability of myristicin to protect neurons from hypoxia-induced injuries was investigated. To conduct these assays, rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were used. The results showed that myristicin reduced the viability of neurons when exposed to concentrations greater than 50 mM. However, at lower concentrations, it significantly increased cell viability in neurons when exposed to hypoxia, as it protected against hypoxic injury, not causing apoptosis. Complementary trials showed that myristicin decreased cleaved caspase-3 and bcl-2 levels in these hypoxia-induced neurons. Therefore, it was observed that it can reverse hypoxia-induced apopto

Hey everyone, starting to see a lot of the same questions and we’re looking at creating a master FAQ and info. If you have suggestions please comment and leave your source linked and we will add it. Thanks!

Info and FAQ straight from the National Alliance on Mental Illness(NAMI)

Brand names:

Celexa® Tablets: 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg Citalopram Tablets: 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg Liquid: 10 mg/5 ml

Generic name: citalopram (sye TAL oh pram)

All FDA black box warnings are at the end of this fact sheet. Please review before taking this medication.

What Is Citalopram And What Does It Treat? Citalopram is an antidepressant medication that works in the brain. It is approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).

Symptoms of depression include:

Depressed mood - feeling sad, empty, or tearful Feeling worthless, guilty, hopeless, and helpless Loss of interest or pleasure in your usual activities Sleep and eat more or less than usual (for most people it is less) Low energy, trouble concentrating, or thoughts of death (suicidal thinking) Psychomotor agitation (‘nervous energy’) Psychomotor retardation (feeling like you are moving and thinking in slow motion) Suicidal thoughts or behaviors

Citalopram may also be helpful when prescribed “off-label” for obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social phobia (also known as social anxiety disorder), posttraumatic stress disorder, eating disorders such as binge eating disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). “Off-label” means that it hasn’t been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for this condition. Your mental health provider should justify his or her thinking in recommending an “off-label” treatment. They should be clear about the limits of the research around that medication and if there are any other options.

What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About Citalopram? Do not stop taking citalopram even when you feel better. With input from you, your health care provider will assess how long you will need to take the medicine.

Missing doses of citalopram may increase your risk for relapse in your symptoms.

Stopping citalopram abruptly may result in one or more of the following withdrawal symptoms: irritability, nausea, feeling dizzy, vomiting, nightmares, headache, and/or paresthesias (prickling, tingling sensation

So I'm very hypomanic right now and I'm not having a good time. It's not a mixed episode, no depression or suicidal ideation (thankfully!) But I'm so uncomfortable. The psychomotor agitation is bad, my thoughts are intrusive and everywhere at once, I'm waking up way to early and I want to crawl up the ceiling.

I made a doctors appointment but she's on holidays and I can't talk to her till the 25th, but I need something now. Since it's just hypomania, I'm BP2, am I over reacting going to the hospital? I'm on lamotrigine and latuda since my depressions are really bad. I know both meds kinda help with the upper end but it's not helping at all right now.

Has anyone gone to the hospital for hypo? I thought this way I could get help right away, but I feel like I shouldn't take up space for people that are really in need. Thanks in advance!

I’ve been in sort of a manic episode for the past two months, spent 5 weeks in psychiatric hospitals. The whole time I was given risperidone. I’m currently just doing IOP and got put back on risperidone after I had stopped if, and I’m absolutely hating it. It feel poisoned, my mind sucks, I’m slower, I can’t think, I can’t feel anything, I can barely read. I absolutely hate it. So far it’s been a nightmare and I’m very close to just quitting it. My mania wasn’t even bad, it was mainly a religious experience with some dissociation but i was harmless, sweet and loving to everyone around me. What are people’s experience with this drug?

I’m pro vaccine

I wanted to share this in case there are others have experienced the same, and to caution other people who experience mood shifts not to forgo the vaccine but to be aware of how it could ~possibly trigger an immune reaction which could affect mood

I received my first Moderna dose and maybe 5 hours later started feeling a familiar manic energy and before actually pinning it as such actually wondered what was in the vacccine to give me so much mental clarity lol. I hyperfocused on a single subject for the next 8 hours straight, and then stayed up the whole night dilly dallying. I slept a few hours and for the next day I was extremely irritable which happens with my hypomania at times. I’ve still been needing less sleep since the day of my vaccine 4 days ago and when I do sleep I have very vivid, mythical dreams which is normal for me when I’m hypomanic. I also have psychomotor agitation which feels like I can’t really sit still comfortably and perform ritual-like “tics”, which again are tied to hypomania (or stimulant use - not applicable in this case though) and don’t occur otherwise for me.

Anyways, I do realize this could be happening independently of the vacccine and yes “correlation doesn’t equal causation” but I did chose to report to https://vaers.hhs.gov and will be telling my doctor soon as well. This wouldn’t be of note if I had any of these signs in the days or hours leading up to the vaccine, but they came on suddenly and clearly within hours so I believe it’s worth mentioning. So I’m wondering if my hypomania could’ve been triggered not by the vaccine as such, but via the immune response caused by the vaccine. In any case it’s worth reporting if you notice a marked change like this, and of course bring it up to your doctor if you do. You can self-report at https://vaers.hhs.gov but if you describe it to your doctor they legally have to report your side effects if they determine it could be related to the vaccine.

What’s everyone’s relationship like with alcohol? I’m happy during the moment being drunk and have fun, but I overshare and the next day get myself into a situation of having extreme psychomotor agitation, having self harm and suicidal ideation. I think everyone hates me (more than I normally do) and basically just spiral into a horrible episode. It’s hard because when I’m drunk I have such a good time for the most part it’s the day after I seriously struggle with. Does anyone else have similar issues?

Hi- I was wondering if it’s possible to have short lasting Hypomania- like 24-48 hrs? I know the typical definition is 4 days (I think?), but last week I had a few days where I felt really good (I have been depressed a lot), so I thought i was just coming back to a “normal” place. But then it seemed to accelerate, and the next day I was extra up, felt euphoric, super productive and goal-oriented at work, and then had tons of excess energy. I was super hyper and then that night I fell asleep for 2 hours and then woke up and was extremely hyper- had psychomotor agitation (felt like my skin was crawling and couldn’t stop moving my feet). My mind was going a million miles an hour, and I almost got up and did a work out (but didn’t because I didn’t want to alarm my partner sleeping). That day I had also had other symptoms like hyper sexuality and tons of new ideas, and distractability.

The next day I still felt very good, but not as intense. Was able to sleep like 5 hours that night.

Then woke up yesterday and the happiness/positivity was over! I felt extremely irritable, annoyed with coworkers, angry and had little patience.

Today I feel shitty again (anxious, low energy and mildly depressed).

So it really felt like one very hypomanic day/night, but then some days around it that were leading up to it or coming down.

Does this sound like it was Hypomania, or is it too quick and I’m imagining it?

I haven’t been hypomanic in a long time and am trying to understand when its happening better.

Thanks!

Do your worst!

Hi AAT!

25y/o man - Canada

POST IS LONG SO I'M SORRY I have a doctor's appointment next week to talk about our first steps but in general I don't have much confidence in my province's system and want to be armed with all the knowledge I can

This is gonna sound like a huge ask but idk what's going on with me at all, I've speculated a lot and have made slight inroads into seeking help but the system is really intimidating and confusing and it took me a long time to get over some stigma toward therapy/medication impressed on me by parents and my most recent (now ex-) partner.

I've experienced a lot of different mood/executive/emotional issues from a young age that I mostly ignored and it's only been in the last 4 years or so that I've started thinking hmm maybe counselling seems like an ok idea? Took a long time to work up the nerve. I tried counseling last year for suspected ADHD and anxiety through my graduate school program but it was really dissatisfying and I was given Ritalin SR for a month just to see what would happen (helped marginally but in hindsight, I think it was just placebo effect/excitement).

I've oscillated between ADHD, OCD, depression, and anxiety for years in all my pondering and research since I seem to fit all four of them so well, but I have no idea what's going on. The only thing I've noticed consistently is this kind of cycle where I will feel super anxious and energized for a month or two, then that subsides and depression and lethargy take their place before subsided for anxiety, ad nauseum.

In the last few years, I've experienced many of these symptoms on and off, and some of them are constant (constant in italics, nothing in any particular order):

• social anxiety
• picking/ripping at fingernails
• symmetry obsession (eg if one side of my body gets bumped or hit in some way I get really distraught until I can do the same thing to the other side, particularly on arms, legs, and waist)
• various psychomotor agitations
  • off the list from Wikipedia
  • fidgeting
  • incapable of finding a comfortable position
  • agitation
  • racing thoughts/incessant talking
  • restlessness
  • pacing
  • hand-wringing
  • picking at skin (mainly at scabs or pimples)
  • tapping fingers and feet
  • starting and stopping tasks abruptly,
  • talking very quickly
  • moving objects around for no reason
  • taking off and putting on clothes
• Hyperfocus
• Distractibility
• Intrusive thoughts
• Executive paralysis
• D

Title kinda asks the question, but I’ll explain further.

So before I knew I was Bipolar I would be at school in a weird state mentally and notice in the practice room mirror (yay music school) that my hands would shake, if I smiled my my cheeks would kinda shake/twitch, things like that were noticeably visible. My neck also felt kinda tense and twitchy, and I would feel kind of dizzy? I don’t know if that’s the right word but it would almost feel like a jolt would go through my body and that I almost had to catch myself. Lump in my throat too. Things like that. I remember texting my mom about it and her saying I was probably just stress.

Anyway, fast forward to about a year and a half ago to me getting diagnosed bipolar and I get put on meds (Seroquel and Lithium). I notice all these weird symptoms go away pretty quickly. The only thing that remained was a small shake in my hands here and there, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Now, fast forward to today, where about 2 weeks ago my doctor and I decided to try a new medication (Risperidone in place of Seroquel). It clearly was not for me because I started going manic. And with that came the weird, twitchy feelings again. Now I’m back on Seroquel hoping to be recovered soon.

Long story short, just wondering if anyone experiences these types of symptoms in tandem with mania? I’ve read about psychomotor agitation which rang true with me as well, and I’m wondering if this could kind of fall into that category. It’s crazy just how physical mental illnesses can become.

For context I'm a Refuse Driver (Garbage man) & today I was on food waste. After I'd tipped I was checking the wagon for any defects when I spotted a lone pea balanced on the lifts.

I said "hey look, an escaPEA"

No one near me but it didn't half make me laugh for a good hour or so!

Edit: I can't believe how much this has blown up. Thank you everyone I've had a blast reading through the replies 😂

With so many books on depression, it’s tough to weed through them to determine which ones you want to dedicate your time reading. We have done the research for you by compiling what we believe are the best books on depression.

We made an effort to provide some variety so that everyone can find a book that speaks to them. Our collection includes workbooks that allow the reader to actively address the symptoms of depression, an author’s personal account of depression, and others that discuss depression in general.

Depression is a general term that is commonly used to describe the experience of feeling down, sad, or blue. This is how the general public sees depression, but true depression is a diagnosable and treatable psychiatric disorder. Depression differs from grief, in that there is no specific loss or precipitating factor to trigger the symptoms, though unresolved grief can turn into depression when it doesn’t resolve normally.

Incidence of Depression

Approximately one in 6 adults will suffer from depression at some point in their lifetime. Symptoms of depression usually develop in the late teens or early adulthood. The following symptoms, adapted from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), are commonly seen in individuals with Major Depressive Disorder.

The DSM-V is the professional reference that mental health providers use for diagnosing depression and other mental health disorders. While these symptoms and behaviors of depression are commonly observed in people with depression, not everyone will experience all of them.

Symptoms of Depression

Symptoms of depression may include. Remember that you don’t have to experience ALL of these symptoms to qualify for a diagnosis of depression.

• Feeling sad, down in the dumps, or blue.
• Loss of pleasure and interest  in activities you used to enjoy
• Increased or decreased appetite
• Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
• Loss of energy
• Fatigue
• Psychomotor agitation (an increase in purposeless activity)
• Psychomotor retardation (slowed movements and/or speech)

Best Books on Depression

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy

One of the best books on depression is Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by Dr. David Burns.  This Best Seller has been around for years.  Dr. Burn’s book is written in layman’s terms, which makes it easy readi

Cocaine (from French: cocaine, from Spanish: coca, ultimately from Quechua: kúka)[13] is a tropane alkaloid and stimulant drug obtained primarily from the leaves of two coca species, Erythroxylum coca and Erythroxylum novogranatense.[14] It is most commonly used as a recreational drug and euphoriant.[15] After extraction from coca leaves, cocaine may be snorted, heated until sublimated and then inhaled, or dissolved and injected into a vein.[11] Mental effects may include an intense feeling of happiness, sexual arousal, loss of contact with reality, or agitation.[11] Physical symptoms may include a fast heart rate, sweating, and dilated pupils.[11] High doses can result in high blood pressure or body temperature.[16] Effects begin within seconds to minutes of use and last between five and ninety minutes.[11]

Cocaine crosses the blood-brain barrier via a proton-coupled organic cation antiporter[17][[18]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine#cite_no

They’re on standbi

I started a new job today, a desk job — for the first time in my life. I’ve always done work that allows me to move around to a greater or lesser degree. Today was a humbling experience. I thought I would be able to focus and work well and efficiently for long stretches of time, because I was super excited and apprehensive for this new opportunity, but I simply couldn’t. I had to get up and move around every 10-15 minutes. Thank god that this job is from home because any supervisor and/or boss would be utterly perplexed to see somebody getting up all the time to just pace around aimlessly. I have always been restless and active and love (well, actually hate) to pace around, especially when manic. I understand that this is all a result of psychomotor agitation which is caused by Bipolar and OCD (my comordity). I managed to get a lot of work done today — that is, considerably more than what was expected of me, which felt great and made me feel like a success on my first day on the job. But, I just couldn’t stay focused and put in a decent shift in one sitting and it’s really stressed me out. I just want to be able to work ‘normally’ and not just hyperfocus and get done in 15 minutes what should take me an hour. Does anyone have any advice about how to get this restlessness and agitation under control, because I really hope this job progresses so that I can go into the office, but won’t be able to work how I normally do if I make it to the office.

TL;DR: I cannot focus on work and have to get up every 15 mins to pace around. How can I control this agitation and work in a more focused and ‘normal life way?