Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition defined by extreme mood swings that reach opposite ends of the emotional spectrum. On one end, patients experience severe depression, hopelessness, and listlessness. On the other end, patients experience euphoric, energetic highs called mania. The swings between the highs and lows can affect behavior, judgment, sleep patterns, energy levels, and the ability to think clearly. Episodes can occur rarely or several times a year.
While the appearance of one or two symptoms of mania might be the result of another condition including emotional trauma, anxiety disorder, a brain injury or a drug reaction, manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder usually include some or all of the following symptoms:
Burst of euphoria
In contrast with the depressive lows of a manic episode, the “highs” include bursts of euphoric feelings, such as an abnormally upbeat mood and exaggerated sense of well-being and self-confidence. The intense nature of the euphoria makes it easy to distinguish from natural happiness or wellbeing.
Breaking from reality
One of the clearest symptoms of a bipolar-related manic episode is the sudden development of psychosis, which is defined as a break from reality. Patients may experience delusions and believe things that are not real, such as having special powers, or feel sudden strong paranoia about unfounded fears. Patients can also experience sensory hallucinations, such as seeing, hearing, smelling or feeling things that don’t exist.
Impaired judgment
Questionable judgment that can’t be explained by a momentary lapse of reason might include a sudden burst of passion, generosity or goodwill, but mania-related impaired judgment can also include risky and dangerous behaviors. People experiencing a manic episode often act in ways that display a lack of understanding of consequences, including extreme impulsiveness and inappropriate behavior. Specific behaviors may include gambling, high-risk sports and other activities, hypersexuality, and extravagant spending.
Increased energy
Sudden bursts of relentless, overwhelming energy are hallmarks of manic behavior, especially when combined with a decreased need for sleep and little to no fatigue as a result. The energy boosts are usually accompanied by a sudden focus on specific goals or projects, along with restlessness and an inability to remain still. These intense periods of excess energy often switch on and off abruptly.
Changes in thought patterns
Changes in thought patterns are harder to spot than other symptoms of mania. People who have regular interactions with bipolar patients are usually best equipped to identify the symptoms. Examples of these changes include bursts of creative insight or inventiveness, rapid succession of thoughts that bounce from one idea to the next, and racing streams of thought that are usually repetitive. Another noticeable mania-related change in thought patterns is a new or renewed interest in religion or religious activity, and overall disorientation or disjointed thinking.
Speech disruptions
Many symptoms of bipolar mania are often dismissed as eccentricities or temporary shifts in behavior, but one of the clearest symptoms of a manic episode is a sudden onset of speech disruptions. The patient’s speech can be incoherent, rapid, or pressured, as if they can’t speak as fast as they are thinking. Mania-disrupted speech can also include clang associations, in which similar-sounding words are grouped together and make little sense.
New treatments for bipolar disorder
If you or a loved one has experienced symptoms of bipolar disorder, it’s crucial to seek treatment with a mental health professional. If you’ve already been diagnosed and you’re interested in participating in a clinical research trial, call Synergy Research Centers. We’re currently enrolling eligible participants in research studies aimed at discovering and developing effective strategies, medications, and treatment options for bipolar disorder in our research study as well as a range of other medical and mental health conditions. For more information, call us at (619) 304-1726.