eleveno
Bipolar is almost impossible to self diagnose but I want to make sure you understand that it also has varying degrees. Bipolar people for the most part do well on medication with the help of a help person to monitor them and make sure they know when they are switching phases. I am the monitor person for a bipolar person and she is doing well.
That said in answer to your question, yes extreme anxiety can be mistaken for bipolar and only a psychiatrist can say for sure and at that it is still some times a case of trial and error with meds. Criteria also is that you have to have mood swings in a pattern. Being manic does not mean you are bipolar. Some people with PD use mania to escape the anxiety or panic. Also if it was before you understood about panic disorders it could just be pre nervous breakdown. (trying to escape the anxiety) (trying to be better than you need to be)
Even with PD you can have mood swings but they usually do not go quite as far either way.
An example. In the manic phase my friend can not sit still and tends to get mad real fast and uncontrollably she works till she collapses and has grandiose plans that are unreasonable. She also spends uncontrollably.
In the depressed phase she sleeps a lot, partly do to the medication but partly because the depression is so strong she wants to do nothing else.
In her present stage on medication she is half way between, with a bit of anxiety but not bad.
She functions perfectly fine living a normal life with none of the symptoms of anxiety which also were not there in her manic phase.
Like I said there are varying degrees of bipolar so it is hard to tell from other disorders. also, She did not know she was nor did I spot it.
Be careful diagnosing because with PD we tend to look for reasons why we are the way we are and we tend to look for the worst.
I presume you will get a professional opinion. I highly recommend it if for nothing other than peace of mind.
In the mean time do not let the thought that you might be bipolar increase your anxiety.
Paranoia does run with bipolar, but it also happens with confusion.
As an aside. I spent some time in a psych ward for a rest and they did the tests looking for bipolar among other things and I am not even though I was suicidal. I also was not depressed, just tired from years of fighting chronic Staph infection. I still get sad when I get behind because of my Arthritis but this too is different from actual depression. It always passes in a day or two.
I hope this helps you. Remember this is still personal experience and in no way to replace seeing a professional. I have to put that in.
Davit.
