I was diagnosed with depression in 1975. Given Tofranyl, I began to feel better for the first time in years. I frequently asked my wife, “Is this the way normal people feel all the time?”
The euphoria lasted only a few months and then I was back to the fear and the rage. It was not until 2008 that I found an accurate description of what I was really feeling.
In the context of mental illness, a mixed state (also known as dysphoric mania, agitated depression, or a mixed episode) is a condition during which symptoms of mania and depression occur simultaneously (e.g., agitation, anxiety, fatigue, guilt, impulsiveness, irritability, morbid or suicidal ideation, panic, paranoia, pressured speech and rage). Typical examples include tearfulness during a manic episode or racing thoughts during a depressive episode. One may also feel incredibly frustrated in this state, since one may feel like a failure and at the same time have a flight of ideas. Mixed states can be the most dangerous period of mood disorders, during which substance abuse, panic disorder, suicide attempts, and other complications increase greatly.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agitated_depression
http://www.angelfire.com/home/bphoenix1/mixed.html
http://health.discovery.com/centers/mens/articles/depression_02.html
