Bipolar mania is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a "distinct period of unusual and persistent elevated, expansive or irritable mood that lasts at least one week, requires hospitalization, or results in psychosis." Not all people diagnosed with bipolar disorder experience bipolar mania. In fact, only people with Bipolar I experience full-blown mania–people with bipolar II experience a less intense, but still dangerous, form of mania called hypomania.
Skin issues and tinnitus are just a few physical signs of mania to be on the lookout for—recognizing them can help you be prepared. If video is not showing, click here Lingering Episodes & Confusing Crashes When you live in a perpetual hypomanic haze—as I did for years—it’s hard to know whether you’re simply feeling...
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Manic episodes in bipolar I disorder play out differently for different people but often have scorching consequences. Learning about triggers, symptoms, and effective treatments is imperative. When Keely describes her first manic episode, she lists what might be considered “classic” symptoms. “I had lots of energy, a case of the giggles, and racing thoughts,” says...
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It’s all in the eyes! Mania profoundly affects the entire eye, from lids and lashes to pupils and color rings. Julie A. Fast, pictured above, discovered correlations between changes in her eyes and mania, then brought her findings to the attention of the bipolar and research communities. These cutting-edge connections and questions have inspired new—and...
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Given the widespread effects of “spring fever,” it’s not surprising that this season can push some of us with bipolar disorder toward the manic end of the mood spectrum. “Spring Fever” & Spontaneity There’s something ridiculously alluring and intoxicating about spring—with her tulips and daffodils and cherry blossoms, not to mention her festivals, fairs, and farmers’...
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I love giving gifts and celebrating. Mania used to “manage” my wallet and holiday festivities for me. Now, I actively resist the urge to overspend, managing my money, moods, and seasonal stress. Well, it’s that time of year again. Time to shop for gifts for others, buy food for parties—and don’t forget about new outfits...
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Because they associate it with violence, some people fear the psychosis that can accompany bipolar manic episodes. But my experience of psychosis made me a better person. A Changed Perspective on Psychosis Living with bipolar disorder can be challenging and confusing, and some find themselves at the mercy of one particular symptom: psychosis. There is...
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In a world that rewards overdoing it, especially around the holidays, it is easy to be tempted into mania. Here is how I stay stable throughout the season. While we are in the thick of the “holiday season”—which, to me, begins with Halloween in October and doesn’t end until Valentine’s Day in February—I have to...
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After selling my business, I had $10,000 in cash on hand … and a budding manic episode. Now I appreciate the importance of minding my mood—especially after a period of stability. Opening Up about Manic Episodes There are not a lot of personal essays or articles about the mania of bipolar disorder. That is because...
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Mania may feel good in the moment, but afterward it can leave you feeling full of regret. Romanticizing mania is never a good thing. Mania Feels Amazing … Mania, in my opinion, has the greatest public relations team in the history of the world. Let me explain why. See, when I’m manic, everything looks and...
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Especially during depressive episodes, mania might seem appealing. I know from experience, though, that welcoming mania means holding the door open for depression, too. Mania’s Appeal & Relationship to Depression I know as well as anyone that certain kinds of mania feel incredible. This is especially true if you experience a lot of depression and...
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I started college early and pursued multiple degrees in different fields over many years. Navigating it all with bipolar meant overcoming tricky issues of disclosure, accommodation, and managing expectations and emotions. Seeking Dual Enrollment for Higher Education Once the summer of 1987 was over, I went to school on the first day of my senior...
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A common barrier to seeking treatment for bipolar is the fear that life will be dull and unproductive without the energy of mania or hypomania. Although the manic episodes of untreated bipolar disorder may do some serious damage to your relationships, finances, employment, and possibly even physical health and safety, it may still be hard...
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Hypersensitivity to cues in the environment—clutter, noises, the wrong kind of fabric—can trigger or be part of a mood episode. Does that happen to you? HYPERSENSITIVY MAKES noises, bright lights, and certain environments almost intolerable. This was quite a struggle in some of my workplaces and contributed to my decision to apply for disability. I...
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Giving up mania’s bursts of excitement, elation, and heightened productivity for stability may be one of the most challenging things to do. For many, choosing stability over mania can be daunting. It can be hard to think about adjusting to a new normal—because change is difficult, regardless of what it is—and easy to wonder what...
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When mood episodes turn our lives upside-down, the emotional fallout can seem overwhelming. Here’s how I learned to mitigate these “blowouts” and manage the hard feelings that follow. What Is a “Bipolar Blowout”? Sometimes we face difficult, damaging, even traumatizing life experiences. As trying as they may be, the importance lies in how we handle...
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In mania, I have a ton of energy and confidence, and an urge to indulge. It feels great! Until it doesn’t. Here are two strategies that curb the “costs” of my mania. Manic Impulsivity & Grandiose Thinking In my experience, manic episodes aren’t 100% bad. At times, they certainly aren’t the best—especially when they result...
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If you do something inappropriate during a mood episode, does it always define you? Will you forever be “that guy” who did that one regrettable thing? Have you ever done something so uncomfortably out of character that you’re overwhelmed with regret when you think about it? Something so humiliating that you bury your feelings deep...
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I love the extra energy of mania. But the splitting of consciousness, lack of self-control, ill-conceived compulsions, and subsequent self-shaming? Those I could do without. Sharing My Struggles with Self-Shame Sometimes, the self-shaming kicks in when I think back on what I’ve done during manic episodes. I get lost in judgmental, negative thought loops: “Ugh!...
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With bipolar disorder, I have a tough time reconciling the manic, depressed, anxious, and normal “me.” How do I determine my identity, when my ever-changing mood disorder causes “out of character” behavior? Bipolar Disorder & Questions of Identity I have been living with active bipolar disorder for decades, and I have struggled with the question...
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I’m confident—the most attractive person in the room. And I can “read” everyone. That’s what mania tells me. But I’ve lost touch with reality, and I’m taking big risks. From a Long Depression to Peak Mania A few years back, around the time that my daughter was graduating from college, I was struggling with a...
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My mania is subtle but consistent—and convincing. At one family gathering, it even had me thinking that my mother-in-law was attracted to me. Perhaps the most famous scene from the classic movie The Graduate is when Dustin Hoffman’s fiancé’s mother tries to seduce him at his graduation party. I had my own “Mrs. Robinson” moment...
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When I’m dealing with racing thoughts, mania, or depression, going into nature—the local beach or nearby woods—calms my mind and soothes my soul. Racing Thoughts, My Nonstop Bipolar Symptom My world is so busy. There are so many things going on, and my brain is all over the place. There is work, which occupies most...
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A busy, stressful workday triggers my anxiety and my bipolar. Mania takes the wheel, and I’m making all the wrong turns—all the wrong “decisions.” Feeling Productive, Wired, and Stressed It was a good workday. I felt great about it. I have a good job. I was busy and very productive. I talked to a lot...
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