Bug? Swatch Panel (and other tools) close while working on file

Working on some art, yet every time I click within the file, the tool panel I would like to use immediately minimizes/closes/collapses.

For example, would like to re-color art.  Swatch panel is open, I select a vector with the white arrow tool I would like to change. Swatch panel closes/minimizes back into the menu before I have a chance to change the color. This has never happened before, any suggestions?  How do I keep the swatch panel open while recoloring? It's becoming very frustrating, happening with all the tools in the menu.