Mania is a symptom of bipolar disorder. In fact, having had a manic episode is both a necessary and sufficient condition for being diagnosed with Bipolar I, the most acute form of the disorder (provided there are no drugs involved). Mania can be frightening, both for the person who is having the manic episode and for those who observe the episode. In this article, I will discuss some of the most common signs of a manic episode to help you better recognize what is going on. these signs are derived from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV.
Mood Shifts
Someone who is having a manic episode will have an extremely elevated or irritable mood. what this means is that the person will be extremely happy, or will have a very quick temper, sometimes leading to extremely powerful angry outbursts.
Insomnia
Insomnia will often occur in a manic episode. This doesn't just mean that the person has trouble getting to sleep at night, but is then tired during the day. When a manic person is sleepless, that person will not feel tired during the episode.
Pressured Speech
People who are manic think incredibly quickly, so quickly, in fact, that they have trouble saying everything that they are thinking. This can lead to a phenomenon called pressured speech, in which the person is talking extremely quickly, and even seems to be talking over himself or herself, or speaking very loudly and forcefully.
Disjointed Ideas
Someone who is having a manic episodes will have thoughts moving very, very quickly, often in ways that are disjointed. Often what they say will make little sense, or there will be large leaps of logic or content from one sentence to the next.
Trouble Focusing
Someone who is manic will often find it difficult to focus on what you are saying, or on a task at hand. they will instead be distracted by insignificant details and fixate on them.
Restlessness
People in manic episodes will have difficulty staying still, often fidgeting or needing to pace constantly. they will also have a tendency to constantly need to accomplish something, often inventing grandiose goals for themselves.
Risky Behaviors
People in manic episodes are especially prone to risky behaviors, usually those that include immediate gratification. This quite often takes the form of what is called hypersexuality, a heightened need for sex, and spending sprees, in which the person can spend a great deal of money in a very short period of time.
Psychosis
People who are manic can become psychotic, which can lead them to irrational thinking, such as believing that they are someone else or that they are dead. because this is often tied to a grandiose mood, the manic person may believe he or she is someone important, like a religious figure.
Conclusion
Manic episodes are very serious. if you are having or believe someone else is having a manic episode, be sure to get medical help immediately.
Bipolar Disorder - Signs of Mania
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