People engage in unusual behavior and may have an inflated opinion of oneself.
In severe manic episodes, an individual might hallucinate and experience psychosis.
Factors like experiencing a trauma orsleep deprivationcan trigger a manic episode, Dr. Galynker adds.
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If someone has symptoms that result in psychosis or hospitalization, thats also considered a manic episode.
Its worth noting that only people diagnosed with bipolar I will experience full mania.
A common misconception about mania is that its always a strictly euphoric experience.
That definitely does happen, but there are exceptions.
For example, a person mayhave a mood elevation with irritability or anger.
Nothing bursts your bubble.
You don’t need sleep.
You might not even need to eat.
It’s like living life at hyper-speed, she says.
Her worst hypomanic episode was the summer before her senior year of high school, she recalls.
I got three hours of sleep on that schedule for two months.
But I felt euphoric.
You feel like Superman.
Even the most unrealistic goal seems easy and attainable, he tells SELF.
How did that feel at the time?
Initially, I felt shy, then I got over it, he says.
Its a common experience for people with bipolar disorderto spend a ton of money during manic episodes.
Ive had patients waste their fortunes or go into debt, Dr. Galynker says.
These are classic examples of risky behaviors associated with mania in bipolar disorder, Dr. Marsh adds.
It feels almost as if you have taken Adderall or cocaine.
Gracie, 30, has experienced these issues firsthand during hypomania.
When I was manic I thought I could take on the world.
I craved attention from anyone.
I was unfaithful to my live-in boyfriend whom I love beyond words and never wanted to hurt.
(She was diagnosed with bipolar II in 2010.)
Even now, people call me energetic, though I don’t see myself that way at all.
Prevention and management of bipolar episodesalmost always involves medication, but therapy can also be incredibly beneficial.
So, a persons bipolar disorder treatment is very nuanced and may need to be adjusted over time.
If you take your medication, oftentimes a mood elevation can be treated very quickly.
*Name has been changed.
