Is it Anxiety, Bipolar, or Both? (And How to Tell the Difference)

It is a common misconception that anxiety is just part of the package when you live with bipolar disorder. While anxiety can certainly be a symptom of a mood episode, for many people, it is its own distinct, comorbid diagnosis. In this episode, Gabe Howard (who lives with bipolar and anxiety) and Dr. Nicole Washington get real about the overlap between bipolar disorder and anxiety. Dr. Nicole explains the clinical difference between being a "worrier" and having a pathology, while Gabe shares personal stories of suffering from – and overcoming – anxiety. Listeners Will Learn: How to tell if your anxiety is a symptom of mania/depression or its own disorder. Why anxiety ruminations feel like an endless scroll of negative thoughts. Dr. Nicole’s genius (and socially acceptable) tactic for escaping an anxiety-inducing situation. How to avoid the suffering Olympics when it comes to bipolar and anxiety Whether you’re dealing with anxiety related to emails from your boss or you’re afraid to leave the house, we’re sharing practical, real-world strategies to help you pull back instead of pushing through. Listen Now! "My best anxiety coping skill, unfortunately, still involves me having that initial momentary terror. But it sure beats the old skill where I panicked, freaked out, and yelled at everybody." ~Gabe Howard, Host Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning podcast host, author, and sought-after suicide prevention and mental health speaker, but he wouldn’t be any of those things today if he hadn’t been committed to a psychiatric hospital in 2003.Gabe also hosts Healthline's Inside Mental Health podcast has appeared in numerous publications, including Bipolar magazine, WebMD, Newsweek, and the Stanford Online Medical Journal. He has appeared on all four major TV networks, ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX. Among his many awards, he is the recipient of Mental Health America’s Norman Guitry Award, received two Webby Honoree acknowledgements, and received an official resolution from the Governor of Ohio naming him an “Everyday Hero.” Gabe wrote the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are available directly from the author with free swag included! To learn more about Gabe, or to book him for your next event, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Our host, Dr. Nicole Washington, is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she attended Southern University and A&M College. After receiving her BS degree, she moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to enroll in the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed a residency in psychiatry at the University of Oklahoma in Tulsa. Since completing her residency training, Dr. Nicole has spent most of her career caring for and being an advocate for those who are not typically consumers of mental health services, namely underserved communities, those with severe mental health conditions, and high performing professionals. Through her private practice, podcast, speaking, and writing, she seeks to provide education to decrease the stigma associated with psychiatric conditions. Find out more at DrNicolePsych.com. Please LIKE, SHARE, & SUBSCRIBE! Sharing the show with the people you know is how we grow!