ocdengineer

Also, racing thoughts is kinda vague. If the thoughts cause you anxiety and panic then you can clearly differentiate between Bipolar and Anxiety Dissorder. People with Bipolar usually don't feel anxiety as a result of the racing thoughts, they do things. Now, I have limited experience with Bipolar dissorder, so I am going to tread lightly here. Classic Bipolar dissorder is characterized by realy high euphoric highs and really low depression periods and while the racing thoughts are happening the Bipolar suffer is usually in their extreme high mode. These thoughts don't cause anxiety in fact this stage is almost like a feeling of invincibility.

Anxiety dissorder and more likely OCD can cause anxiety and depression which seems like Bipolar because we go through OK times and depressed times. For me I would wake up and feel like to day I am going to be strong and I would battle with my OCD for a few months non-stop and fight relaly hard to feel good and better and then I would exhaust myself and crash into a depression for a few days. I'd cry to my wife and start battling again shortly thereafter. So you can see how a cycle would start to form. I think this cycle is classic for everyone with anxiety dissorder. There is only so much battling you can do before you doubt the effort you are putting in and crash and burn. Medicine has helped a lot and meditation has done wonders for me.

I hope this helps. I think we are all a little Bipolar, but not in the classic sense, so I don't think you have anything to worry about. From what I have read of your posts you are definitely a Pure O pal. I used to worry about Schizophrenia and Bipolar as well and all that did was create more doubt and anxiety. With Schizophrenia and Bipolar you don't realize that what is going on isn't right so ther anxiety isn't there. If you are anxious a lot, which I think you are then you are probably suffering from an anxiety dissorder.

Take care,
OE