Bipolar Mania Symptoms

Mania is a state of abnormally elevated or irritable mood or overall state of being, and energy levels. In some ways, it is the opposite of depression.

In addition to mood disorders, persons may exhibit manic behavior because of drug intoxication, medication side effects. But mania is most often associated with bipolar disorder, where episodes of mania alternate with episodes of major depression.

Mania varies in intensity, from mild mania, hypomania to full-blown mania with psychotic features, including hallucinations, delusion of grandeur, suspiciousness, catatonic behavior, aggression.  Because mania and hypomania have also been associated with creativity and artistic talent, it is not always the case that the clearly manic bipolar person needs or wants medical help.

To be classified as a manic episode, while the disturbed mood is present; irritability is present. Expanded self-esteem; reduced need of sleep; talks more often and feels the urge to talk longer;  thoughts race and preoccupy the person; over indulgence in enjoyable behaviors with high risk of a negative outcome, extravagant shopping, sexual adventures.

If the person is concurrently depressed, they are said to be having a mixed episode.

Some people also have physical symptoms, such as sweating, pacing, and weight loss. In full-blown mania, often the manic person will feel as, that there are no consequences or that negative consequences would be minimal, and that they need not restrain the pursuit of what they are after. Hypomania is different, as it may cause little or no impairment in function. The hypomanic person's connection with the external world, and interaction, remain intact, although intensity of moods is heightened. But those who suffer from prolonged unresolved hypomania do run the risk of developing full mania without realizing it.

One of the most prominent symptoms of mania is racing thoughts. These are usually instances in which the manic person is excessively distracted by unimportant stimuli. This experience creates absentmindedness where the manic person’s thoughts totally preoccupy them, making them unable to keep track of time, or be aware of anything besides the flow of thoughts. Racing thoughts also interfere with the ability to fall asleep.

 These behaviors may increase stress in personal relationships, lead to problems at work and increase the risk of altercations with law enforcement. There is a high risk of impulsively taking part in activities potentially harmful to self and others.

Although severely elevated mood  sounds somewhat desirable and enjoyable, the experience of mania is often quite unpleasant and sometimes disturbing, if not frightening, for the person and for those close to them, and it may lead to impulsive behavior that may later be regretted. It can also often be complicated by the lack of judgment and insight regarding periods of the states. Manic patients are frequently grandiose, obsessive, impulsive, irritable, belligerent, and usually refuse that there is something is wrong with them. Because mania frequently includes high energy and decreased need or ability to sleep, within a few days of a manic cycle, sleep-deprived psychosis may appear, further complicating the ability to think clearly.

There are different or states of mania. A minor state is hypomania and, like mania's characteristics, may involve increased creativity, wit, gregariousness, and ambition. Full-blown mania will make a person feel elated, but perhaps also irritable, frustrated, and even disconnected from reality.

Acute mania in bipolar disorder is treated with mood stabilizers or antipsychotic medication or a combination of both. It may be necessary to be temporarily committed until the parson is stabilized. Antipsychotics and mood stabilizers help stabilize mood of those with mania or depression.

When the manic behaviors are gone, long term treatment to stabilize the mood, through a combination of medicine and psychotherapy may prove beneficial.