Symptoms of Mania in Bipolar Disorder

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptoms of Mania in Bipolar DisorderDiagnosisTreating Mania in Bipolar DisorderTakeaway

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Table of Contents

Symptoms of Mania in Bipolar Disorder

Diagnosis

Treating Mania in Bipolar Disorder

Takeaway

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By contrast, hypomania (often described as “mania-light”) is a type II bipolar disorder that does not have the range nor severity of symptoms that classic mania has.

If left untreated, bipolar mania can spin out of control and affect your ability to function in your daily life. Recognizing the symptoms is the first step toward seeking the appropriate treatment and care.

At a Glance

Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee

The appearance of one or twosymptomsof mania doesn’t necessarily mean that you have bipolar disorder. There may be other explanations for your sudden change in mood, including an emotional trauma, a brain injury, a drug reaction, or an undiagnosedanxiety disorder.

To better understand the nature of these symptoms, you would need to explore the root behaviors that characterize bipolar mania.

Changes in Thought Patterns

People who regularly interact with an individual can often easily spot these changes in thought patterns. They may manifest as a sudden burst of creative insight or appear fractured and nonsensical.

Examples include:

Development of Psychosis

Psychosis is a severe manifestation of bipolar disorder which can affect people in a manic or depressive mood state. Psychosis is defined as a break from reality which typically requires medical treatment and hospitalization. It is not a feature one would expect to see in a hypomanic phase.

Symptoms may include:

The symptoms of psychosis tend to match the mood state. If it occurs during a manic phase, you may believe you have special powers and engage in reckless behaviors.If bipolar psychosis occurs during a depressive episode, you may believe that someone is out to harm you.

Impaired Judgment

Mood Changes

Speech Disruptions

Speech disruptions are probably the easiest way to recognize amanic episode. A person may be described as having a “motor mouth” and be difficult or even impossible to interrupt.

Speech disruptions may include:

Sudden Changes in Energy

It is one thing to have a sudden rush of energy; it is another when the energy is relentless, prolonged, and overwhelming. As with mood changes, the sudden upshot of energy would not be considered normal and can switch off as quickly as it was switched on.

How Is Mania In Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed?

According to the DSM, bipolar mania can be diagnosed if you experience at least three of the following symptoms for no less than a week:

If you are experiencing manic symptoms that are impairing your ability to function, find a mental health professional in your area able to diagnose your symptoms and offer treatment, if needed.

You can ask your family doctor for a referral or contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) hotline at 800-950-NAMI from Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Mania in bipolar disorder is treated with medication, psychotherapy, and lifestyle modifications. There is no cure for the condition, but it can be managed with the right treatment

Medications

Medications that are often prescribed to treat bipolar mania include antipsychotics (which are often used to treat acute episodes) and mood stabilizers (which can help prevent future episodes).

Therapy

Psychotherapy can help people learn to recognize triggers that contribute to episodes of mania. Types of therapy that can be helpful include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and family therapy.

Lifestyle Changes

Caring for your health can also be an important part of managing episodes of mania in bipolar disorder. This can include getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet.

Adhering to your healthcare provider’s treatment recommendations is essential.

Mania is a hallmark symptom of bipolar I disorder and involve excessively heightened mood, increased energy, and decreased need for sleep. Signs of mania include poor judgment, changes in thoughts, psychosis, mood changes, increased energy/activity, and speech disruptions. If you or someone you know is experiencing such sympotms, it is important to talk to a doctor to get an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

If you or a loved one are struggling with bipolar mania, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with bipolar mania, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

What It Really Feels Like to Live With Bipolar Disorder

14 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gold AK, Sylvia LG.The role of sleep in bipolar disorder.Nat Sci Sleep. 2016;8:207-14. doi:10.2147/NSS.S85754Burton CZ, Ryan KA, Kamali M, et al.Psychosis in bipolar disorder: Does it represent a more “severe” illness?.Bipolar Disord. 2018;20(1):18-26.  doi:10.1111/bdi.12527NYU Langone Health.Diagnosing bipolar disorder in adults.Abdel hamid AAL, Nasreldin M, Gohar SM, Saleh AA, Tarek MA.Sexual and religious obsessions in relation to suicidal ideation in bipolar disorder.Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2019.  doi:10.1111/sltb.12540Lima IMM, Peckham AD, Johnson SL.Cognitive deficits in bipolar disorders: Implications for emotion.Clin Psychol Rev. 2018;59:126-136. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2017.11.006Chakrabarti S, Singh N.Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder and their impact on the illness: A systematic review.World J Psychiatry. 2022;12(9):1204-1232. doi:10.5498/wjp.v12.i9.1204National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.Culpepper L.The diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder: decision-making in primary care.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(3).  doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01609Santana RP, Kerr-Gaffney J, Ancane A, Young AH.Impulsivity in Bipolar Disorder: State or Trait?Brain Sci. 2022;12(10):1351. doi:10.3390/brainsci12101351Downey J, Friedman RC, Haase E, Goldenberg D, Bell R, Edsall S.Comparison of sexual experience and behavior between bipolar outpatients and outpatients without mood disorders.Psychiatry J. 2016;2016:5839181.  doi:10.1155/2016/5839181Picardi A, Fonzi L, Pallagrosi M, Gigantesco A, Biondi M.Delusional themes across affective and non-affective psychoses.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:132. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00132Brout JJ, Edelstein M, Erfanian M, et al.Investigating misophonia: A review of the empirical literature, clinical implications, and a research agenda.Front Neurosci. 2018;12:36. doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00036Weiner L, Doignon-Camus N, Bertschy G, Giersch A.Thought and language disturbance in bipolar disorder quantified via process-oriented verbal fluency measures.Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):14282. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-50818-5Brieler JA, Keegan-Garrett E.Diagnosis and treatment of bipolar illness in the primary care office.Mo Med. 2022;119(3):213-218.Additional ReadingCanuso, C; Bossie, C.; Zhu, Y. et al.Psychotic symptoms in patients with bipolar mania.J Affective Dis.2008;11(2-3):164-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2008.02.014.National Institute of Mental Health: U. S. Department of Health and Human Services.Bipolar Disorder. Bethesda, Maryland; updated April 2016

14 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gold AK, Sylvia LG.The role of sleep in bipolar disorder.Nat Sci Sleep. 2016;8:207-14. doi:10.2147/NSS.S85754Burton CZ, Ryan KA, Kamali M, et al.Psychosis in bipolar disorder: Does it represent a more “severe” illness?.Bipolar Disord. 2018;20(1):18-26.  doi:10.1111/bdi.12527NYU Langone Health.Diagnosing bipolar disorder in adults.Abdel hamid AAL, Nasreldin M, Gohar SM, Saleh AA, Tarek MA.Sexual and religious obsessions in relation to suicidal ideation in bipolar disorder.Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2019.  doi:10.1111/sltb.12540Lima IMM, Peckham AD, Johnson SL.Cognitive deficits in bipolar disorders: Implications for emotion.Clin Psychol Rev. 2018;59:126-136. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2017.11.006Chakrabarti S, Singh N.Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder and their impact on the illness: A systematic review.World J Psychiatry. 2022;12(9):1204-1232. doi:10.5498/wjp.v12.i9.1204National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.Culpepper L.The diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder: decision-making in primary care.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(3).  doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01609Santana RP, Kerr-Gaffney J, Ancane A, Young AH.Impulsivity in Bipolar Disorder: State or Trait?Brain Sci. 2022;12(10):1351. doi:10.3390/brainsci12101351Downey J, Friedman RC, Haase E, Goldenberg D, Bell R, Edsall S.Comparison of sexual experience and behavior between bipolar outpatients and outpatients without mood disorders.Psychiatry J. 2016;2016:5839181.  doi:10.1155/2016/5839181Picardi A, Fonzi L, Pallagrosi M, Gigantesco A, Biondi M.Delusional themes across affective and non-affective psychoses.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:132. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00132Brout JJ, Edelstein M, Erfanian M, et al.Investigating misophonia: A review of the empirical literature, clinical implications, and a research agenda.Front Neurosci. 2018;12:36. doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00036Weiner L, Doignon-Camus N, Bertschy G, Giersch A.Thought and language disturbance in bipolar disorder quantified via process-oriented verbal fluency measures.Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):14282. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-50818-5Brieler JA, Keegan-Garrett E.Diagnosis and treatment of bipolar illness in the primary care office.Mo Med. 2022;119(3):213-218.Additional ReadingCanuso, C; Bossie, C.; Zhu, Y. et al.Psychotic symptoms in patients with bipolar mania.J Affective Dis.2008;11(2-3):164-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2008.02.014.National Institute of Mental Health: U. S. Department of Health and Human Services.Bipolar Disorder. Bethesda, Maryland; updated April 2016

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Gold AK, Sylvia LG.The role of sleep in bipolar disorder.Nat Sci Sleep. 2016;8:207-14. doi:10.2147/NSS.S85754Burton CZ, Ryan KA, Kamali M, et al.Psychosis in bipolar disorder: Does it represent a more “severe” illness?.Bipolar Disord. 2018;20(1):18-26.  doi:10.1111/bdi.12527NYU Langone Health.Diagnosing bipolar disorder in adults.Abdel hamid AAL, Nasreldin M, Gohar SM, Saleh AA, Tarek MA.Sexual and religious obsessions in relation to suicidal ideation in bipolar disorder.Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2019.  doi:10.1111/sltb.12540Lima IMM, Peckham AD, Johnson SL.Cognitive deficits in bipolar disorders: Implications for emotion.Clin Psychol Rev. 2018;59:126-136. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2017.11.006Chakrabarti S, Singh N.Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder and their impact on the illness: A systematic review.World J Psychiatry. 2022;12(9):1204-1232. doi:10.5498/wjp.v12.i9.1204National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.Culpepper L.The diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder: decision-making in primary care.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(3).  doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01609Santana RP, Kerr-Gaffney J, Ancane A, Young AH.Impulsivity in Bipolar Disorder: State or Trait?Brain Sci. 2022;12(10):1351. doi:10.3390/brainsci12101351Downey J, Friedman RC, Haase E, Goldenberg D, Bell R, Edsall S.Comparison of sexual experience and behavior between bipolar outpatients and outpatients without mood disorders.Psychiatry J. 2016;2016:5839181.  doi:10.1155/2016/5839181Picardi A, Fonzi L, Pallagrosi M, Gigantesco A, Biondi M.Delusional themes across affective and non-affective psychoses.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:132. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00132Brout JJ, Edelstein M, Erfanian M, et al.Investigating misophonia: A review of the empirical literature, clinical implications, and a research agenda.Front Neurosci. 2018;12:36. doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00036Weiner L, Doignon-Camus N, Bertschy G, Giersch A.Thought and language disturbance in bipolar disorder quantified via process-oriented verbal fluency measures.Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):14282. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-50818-5Brieler JA, Keegan-Garrett E.Diagnosis and treatment of bipolar illness in the primary care office.Mo Med. 2022;119(3):213-218.

Gold AK, Sylvia LG.The role of sleep in bipolar disorder.Nat Sci Sleep. 2016;8:207-14. doi:10.2147/NSS.S85754

Burton CZ, Ryan KA, Kamali M, et al.Psychosis in bipolar disorder: Does it represent a more “severe” illness?.Bipolar Disord. 2018;20(1):18-26.  doi:10.1111/bdi.12527

NYU Langone Health.Diagnosing bipolar disorder in adults.

Abdel hamid AAL, Nasreldin M, Gohar SM, Saleh AA, Tarek MA.Sexual and religious obsessions in relation to suicidal ideation in bipolar disorder.Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2019.  doi:10.1111/sltb.12540

Lima IMM, Peckham AD, Johnson SL.Cognitive deficits in bipolar disorders: Implications for emotion.Clin Psychol Rev. 2018;59:126-136. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2017.11.006

Chakrabarti S, Singh N.Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder and their impact on the illness: A systematic review.World J Psychiatry. 2022;12(9):1204-1232. doi:10.5498/wjp.v12.i9.1204

National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.

Culpepper L.The diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder: decision-making in primary care.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(3).  doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01609

Santana RP, Kerr-Gaffney J, Ancane A, Young AH.Impulsivity in Bipolar Disorder: State or Trait?Brain Sci. 2022;12(10):1351. doi:10.3390/brainsci12101351

Downey J, Friedman RC, Haase E, Goldenberg D, Bell R, Edsall S.Comparison of sexual experience and behavior between bipolar outpatients and outpatients without mood disorders.Psychiatry J. 2016;2016:5839181.  doi:10.1155/2016/5839181

Picardi A, Fonzi L, Pallagrosi M, Gigantesco A, Biondi M.Delusional themes across affective and non-affective psychoses.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:132. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00132

Brout JJ, Edelstein M, Erfanian M, et al.Investigating misophonia: A review of the empirical literature, clinical implications, and a research agenda.Front Neurosci. 2018;12:36. doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00036

Weiner L, Doignon-Camus N, Bertschy G, Giersch A.Thought and language disturbance in bipolar disorder quantified via process-oriented verbal fluency measures.Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):14282. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-50818-5

Brieler JA, Keegan-Garrett E.Diagnosis and treatment of bipolar illness in the primary care office.Mo Med. 2022;119(3):213-218.

Canuso, C; Bossie, C.; Zhu, Y. et al.Psychotic symptoms in patients with bipolar mania.J Affective Dis.2008;11(2-3):164-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2008.02.014.National Institute of Mental Health: U. S. Department of Health and Human Services.Bipolar Disorder. Bethesda, Maryland; updated April 2016

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