Bipolar Mania -- Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Bipolar disorder, also called manic depression, is recognized by dramatic emotional highs and lows called episodes. Episodes will be either depressive or manic and may occur for days, weeks or even months. Sometimes, sufferers will have a normal period in between their bipolar episodes. Depression is easy enough to diagnose. Symptoms include sadness, despair, crying, low energy and lack of interest in normal activities. A depressed person is often unable to find pleasure in anything, even if it is something they used to love. Bipolar mania is a bit trickier for many sufferers and even doctors.

Bipolar mania can be either full blown or hypomania. Hypomania is a less severe form of mania where symptoms may be the same, but are not severe enough to interrupt everyday life. Sometimes, these symptoms can be confused with normal feelings of happiness or enthusiasm. The difference lies in the duration of symptoms, as mania and hypomania will last four days or longer without interruption. The symptoms that define mania and hypomania are, not surprisingly, the polar opposite of depression.

During mania, energy levels skyrocket. The sufferer may feel the need for less sleep. Speech may be accelerated, and thought patterns may be wild or disjointed. The sufferer may come up with crazy schemes or plans. They may suffer from grandiose or narcissistic delusions. It's not uncommon for someone suffering from mania to make poor decisions with no regard to consequences. Promiscuous sexual behavior and spending sprees are two possible occurrences. The sufferer may try to max out their credit cards, write bad checks or even give money away. One of the most challenging things about mania is getting the sufferer to recognize they have it, as they often think there is nothing wrong with them during a manic episode.

Bipolar mania is often treated with antipsychotic medications, mood stabilizers or a combination of the two. Antipsychotics are prescribed for severe episodes or psychosis, usually for the short term. Mood stabilizers, on the other hand, may be taken daily for an extended period of time. Antidepressants are often avoided because they can trigger mania or make it worse than normal. In addition to medication, psychotherapy can also benefit those with bipolar disorder. Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, can help bipolar individuals come to terms with their disorder and learn helpful methods of coping.

Copyright 2007 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved

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