6 Potential Signs of a Bipolar Manic Episode

“Bipolar” is a term that’s often loosely used to describe someone who’s moody or has frequent mood changes. However, when you’re living with a type of bipolar disorder, you know that this mental health condition can be debilitating and severely impact your mood and state of mind. 

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that’s marked by periodic but intense emotional states that significantly impact your mood, energy levels, and behavior. The periods can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, and they can be manic or depressive. 

While depressive episodes are often viewed as the more negative of the two mood episode types, mania can be just as dangerous as depression. And sometimes, it can be difficult to recognize you’re amid the mania. 

At Sydea Medical Practice in Newport Beach, California, Venice Sanchez, MD, and the rest of our team understand the toll that the ever-fluctuating mood episodes of bipolar disorders can take on your life. We also want to help you better understand your condition, including how to recognize when you’re in the midst of a manic episode. 

So, in this blog, we discuss what mania can look like and how we can help manage your manic episodes.  

Defining mania

Mania is a high, and it produces extremes in mood, energy, and behavior. Typically, with mania, other people can immediately notice a change from your normal emotional state and behavior as you ride the huge boost in mood and energy level. 

Mania can make you feel like you’re invincible, which can lead to lots of reckless actions and choices that may pose a serious threat to your physical and mental well-being. These periods of mania can last a week, and sometimes longer if you don’t get treatment.  

Mild cases of mania that don’t disrupt your daily life or ability to function are referred to as hypomania, and it may only last a few days. However, if it becomes severe, lasts for a week or more, and even leads to hospitalization, it’s referred to as acute mania.

Signs of manic episodes 

If you deal with episodes of acute mania with your bipolar disorder, it’s very important that you recognize the signs of a manic episode before you put yourself in danger. While not everyone will experience mania the same way, these are some common signals of a bipolar manic episode:

1. Difficulty sleeping or not sleeping at all while still feeling rested
2. Impatience and hostility towards others
3. Speech and thoughts move rapidly from one thing to the next
4. Grand ideas and thoughts, especially that you’re invincible 
5. Hallucinations
6. Intense feelings of excitement and euphoria

All of these things can cause you to lose a sense of reality, leading to impulsive decisions and reckless and even dangerous behavior. It’s not uncommon for those during a manic episode to misuse drugs and alcohol, engage in unsafe sex, and spend money with abandon. 

Getting help for your manic episodes

If you’re not currently being treated for your bipolar disorder, it’s imperative that you seek mental health treatment. Managing your bipolar disorder can improve your quality of life, your ability to function, and your relationships with others in professional and social settings. 

At Sydea Medical Practice, Dr. Sanchez discusses your symptoms and major areas of concern to better understand what types of treatment might work best for you. Treatment for bipolar disorder, especially when severe, involves medication and psychotherapy to help regulate the aggressive shifts in mood episodes and encourage you to be aware of your specific triggers. 

If you’re already being treated for bipolar disorder, but you’re unhappy with your current treatment plan, Dr. Sanchez can discuss treatments you’ve tried and learn what changes need to be made. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy can help when other treatment methods have been ineffective. 

To learn about how Dr. Sanchez can help you take control of your mental health, schedule an appointment by calling our office or using our online booking feature today.