Mania and Hypomania
Mood
can be thought of as a spectrum, with depression at the ‘low mood’ end and
mania at the other.
Mania refers to periods of over-active, excited behaviour. The fast
ideas start coming too fast and there are far too many ... overwhelming
confusion replaces clarity ... you stop keeping up with it … memory goes.
Infectious humour ceases to amuse. Your friends become frightened ...
everything is now against the grain ... you are irritable, angry, frightened,
uncontrollable, and trapped.
Hypomania is often described as a milder form of mania. At first when I'm
high, it's tremendous ... ideas are fast ... like shooting stars you follow
until brighter ones appear... All shyness disappears, the right words and
gestures are suddenly there ... uninteresting people, things become intensely
interesting. Sensuality is pervasive; the desire to seduce and be seduced is
irresistible. Your marrow is infused with unbelievable feelings of ease, power,
well-being, omnipotence, euphoria ... you can do anything ... but somewhere
this changes.
Although
a hypo manic episode is not as severe as full mania, it can still have a serious
impact on the way you normally live your life.
For
most people, mania or hypomania is experienced as part of bipolar disorder, but
this is not always the case.
The
following features are associated with mania and also occur in hypomania to a
less severe extent:
Ø Increased energy and activity
Ø Increased confidence and self-esteem
Ø Decreased need for sleep
Ø Talkativeness
Ø Being easily distracted, and darting from one activity to
another
Ø Elevated mood, but sometimes increased irritability that can
quickly turn to anger
Ø Increased sociability and over-familiarity
Ø Increased sexual desire and decreased inhibitions
Ø Increased involvement in pleasurable activities with little
thought for consequences, such as going on a spending spree or making reckless
financial decisions
Ø Lack of insight, or denial that behaviour has changed
Ø Increased awareness of senses such as smell and touch.
Ø These symptoms are things people may experience from time to
time, but for most people will not be considered severe enough to receive a
diagnosis or require treatment.
Symptoms
v Bipolar
Symptoms
o The primary symptoms of bipolar disorder are dramatic and
unpredictable mood swings.
v Mania
Symptoms
o Mania symptoms may include excessive happiness, excitement,
irritability, restlessness, increased energy, less need for sleep, racing
thoughts, high sex drive, and a tendency to make grand and unattainable plans.
v Depression
Symptoms
o Depression symptoms may include sadness, anxiety, irritability,
loss of energy, uncontrollable crying, change in appetite causing weight loss
or gain, increased need for sleep, difficulty making decisions, and thoughts of
death or suicide.
Types
Ø Bipolar
Types
There are several types of bipolar disorder; all involve
episodes of depression and mania to a degree. They include bipolar I, bipolar
II, cyclothymic disorder, mixed bipolar, and rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.
Ø Bipolar I
A person affected by bipolar I disorder has had at least one
manic episode in his or her life. A manic episode is a period of abnormally
elevated mood, accompanied by abnormal behaviour that disrupts life.
Ø Bipolar II
Bipolar II is similar to bipolar I disorder, with moods cycling
between high and low over time. However, in bipolar II disorder, the
"up" moods never reach full-on mania.
Ø Rapid
Cycling
In rapid cycling, a person with bipolar disorder experiences
four or more episodes of mania or depression in one year. About 10% to 20% of
people with bipolar disorder have rapid cycling.
Ø Mixed
Bipolar
In most forms of bipolar disorder, moods alternate between
elevated and depressed over time. But with mixed bipolar disorder, a person
experiences both mania and depression simultaneously or in rapid sequence.
Ø Cyclothymia
Cyclothymia (cyclothymic disorder) is a relatively mild mood
disorder. People with cyclothymic disorder have milder symptoms than in
full-blown bipolar disorder.
Ø Bipolar
Spectrum
Learn about the bipolar spectrum, what it means, and how bipolar
is categorized.
Causes
Mental
health problems are complex and it is generally felt that they develop through
a combination of factors rather than one single identifiable cause.
If
you had a difficult or abusive childhood, or are going through challenging life
experiences such as bereavement, domestic violence or unemployment, you are
more susceptible to all mental health problems.
High
levels of stress, lack of sleep and stimulants such as drugs or alcohol are
common triggers for mania or hypomania; however, on their own, they are
unlikely to lead to more than one episode or to more long-term bipolar disorder.
If
you experience mania or hypomania as a feature of bipolar disorder, then you
might have family members with the same diagnosis, suggesting a genetic link.
Many people with the diagnosis, however, have no family history of it, and
research has not so far identified a single gene that could be responsible.
Management
ü Cognitive
behaviour therapy (CBT).
ü Longer-term
psychotherapy,
ü Interpersonal
and social rhythm therapy
For More details and Treatment feel free to contact
us
Call: +91
9786901830, +91 9443054168
Chennai (Head Office):- +91
9786901830
Pondicherry (Branch Office):- +91
9443054168
Panruti (Branch
office):- +91 9786901830
97869 01830
The “Psychologist” Psychological Counseling Centre Help Line
==--==