Mania is a temporary but extreme emotional high. It often occurs in individuals with bipolar disorder, but may also be prevalent in those suffering from depression. In bipolar disorder, manic episodes are offset by extreme emotional lows. As such, mania can be clearly recognized by people interacting with or observing the affected individual, but the individual may not recognize it in themselves.

Mania is characterized by sudden and intense changes in mood, thought patterns, energy levels, and even self-esteem. These changes can cause an individual to engage in risky behaviors during a manic episode. Risky behaviors can put the individual’s health at risk and are a major concern related to mania.

Receiving treatment as soon as possible is essential in the management of mania. Manic episodes may worsen and lead to increasingly dangerous behaviors when left untreated.

If you have mania, the people around you will notice. This condition is mainly characterized by changes in mood, but there are other important symptoms, too:

Mood swings

Mood swings are one of the most evident signs of mania. Someone experiencing mania may have intense excitability, inflated self-confidence, extreme friendliness or sociability, feelings of superiority, and unexpected changes to anger or irritability.

Erratic judgment

People experiencing a manic episode may have impaired judgement and make poor or risky decisions. This may involve making commitments that they can’t keep, such as agreeing to new projects without the time or resources to complete them. Or, the individual may participate in risky activities like gambling, spending large amounts of money, or engaging sexual activity impulsively.

Poor judgement during a manic episode can have long-lasting implications. For example, if an individual spend their entire life savings during a manic episode, they could experience financial hardship for years to come.

Shifts in thought processes

Someone with mania may appear to think in a completely different way during an episode. The individual may have huge boosts in creativity and claim to have an epiphany (or several). Mania may also cause racing thoughts, a sudden fixation on religion, disorientation, or “flight of ideas”, which is a symptom commonly associated with bipolar disorder.

Changes in energy level

Mania usually causes sudden and extremely high energy levels. High energy can cause the individual to move constantly for no apparent reason and have a sudden interest in accomplishing goals (completing a project, for example). High energy levels can also lead to restlessness, talkativeness, an inability to sit still, and difficulty sleeping.

Psychosis

Severe cases of mania can cause symptoms of psychosis. This most commonly occurs in bipolar patients. Symptoms of psychosis include hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions.

There are two main treatment methods for mania: medications and psychotherapy. It’s important to seek professional treatment as soon as possible when you recognize symptoms of mania. An individual with mania may not recognize the symptoms in their own behavior, so intervention of a friend or family member may be necessary.

Medications

Doctors often prescribe medications to treat mania, especially in patients with bipolar disorder.

Lifestyle changes can accompany medications to reduce the risk of manic episodes. These include regular exercise, a balanced diet, a consistent sleep schedule, and limited caffeine intake.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy to treat mania often involves cognitive behavioral therapy. This therapy method identifies the thought processes that lead to mania and related behaviors. It can help pinpoint triggering or troublesome thought patterns then gradually replace them with healthier thoughts and behaviors. Over time this method may reduce the chances of having a manic episode.