Manic Depression Symptoms
70Bipolar Disorder Symptoms
Manic warning signs, and how to recognize a manic episode
There are a number of warning signs that someone who is suffering from bipolar disorder is in the midst of having a manic attack. These are as follows:
Mood changes: The sufferer is irritable or excitable, and can become hostile or aggressive if challenged. At the same time, they might suffer sudden explosions of extreme exhilaration and happiness to counterbalance the irritability.
Belief or perception changes: When the sufferer is undergoing a genuine manic episode (as opposed to a less severe episode of hypomania), they may become delusional and begin to hallucinate. It is not uncommon for the sufferer to become totally paranoid, and for them to believe that they are capable of doing things which they are in fact totally incapable of.
Bad judgment: People who are suffering a manic attack are often incapable of making sensible judgments of the type that people would normally consider to be representative of nothing more than common sense. For example, they may be guilty of inappropriate or offensive behavior or humor. They are liable to behave extremely impulsively with this newly discovered impulsiveness often displayed through extreme financial extravagance.
Changed thinking: Manic people often become extremely creative and prone to free-flowing thought. Unfortunately, these thoughts are often left unformed and disjointed, so that you have something akin to a stream of consciousness that is never fully conscious. They are distractible with new ideas literally popping into their head every second, but never getting much further than that.
Changed speech: Someone who is undergoing a manic episode will probably be speaking extremely quickly and making very little sense. If their speech is not completely incoherent, the jumble of ideas in their head almost ensures that they do not make cogent, logical sense.
Heightened sexual energy: People who are undergoing a manic episode will often experience heightened levels of sexual desire, probably matched with inappropriate behavior.
Increased energy: Manic people never slow down because they have a surfeit of energy which they need to burn off. Consequently, they are likely to need considerably less sleep than normal, be far more restless than usual and do not ever seem to become tired.
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Bipolar Disorder
Now that we know that these are the kind of warning signs that would indicate a manic episode, how can one use this information? The answer is that it really depends on who it is that is suffering the manic period.
For example, if a member of your family or your partner is someone who suffers from bipolar disorder, you can use this information to help recognize when they are suffering a manic episode. Armed with this information, you can then help them to seek treatment at the most appropriate moments.
For instance, if someone in your life seems to get by on only a couple of hours sleep every night but nevertheless always seems to have excess energy to burn, it might suggest manic behavior. Be alert to increased levels of talkativeness, and watch what they are wearing, because it is a sign of someone in a manic episode that they will dress far more flamboyantly and colorfully than they would normally do.
All of these could be signs of manic behavior and should therefore be noted and pointed out to the person who is acting in this way.
However, care should be exercised, because remember that in these circumstances, it is not unknown for people to become aggressive and hostile and they have a great deal of energy at the same time. In short, pick your moment carefully, because otherwise it could be dangerous even if the person involved is your closest loved one.
For this reason, if you are in a situation where you share your life with someone who suffers a bipolar disorder, it makes sense to discuss their condition when you have a window of normal behavior.
Get them to agree that you should record evidence of manic behavior when it happens and be able to present it to them without risk of aggression or censure. There is no guarantee that this will work – when they are manic, they lose the ability to think logically and perhaps to remember what was previously agreed – but it is a start nevertheless.
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Really, it is very hard of them who is suffering from bipolar disorder. The information you provided is very knowledgeable and informative. Thanks for this good stuff!
Bipolar Disorder is one of the most dangerous decease, and this hub provides very important things to handle these type of people......
Really good stuff, thank u so much!
Bipolar disorder is decease that must be stopped. But unfortunately the medicine companies do not pay enough attention on this problem.
Bipolar diorder is awful decease. People that have it are so tired, exhausted and confused that they in a moments do not know where are they. Really awfull.
Thanks for this. I think you may have just described my sister :o(
If she does have Bipolar Disorder it would explain some of the weird stuff she's been up to.
People who has bipolar disorder should be cared well and they needed careful + extra attention all the more. This is a very informative hub... thanks for sharing!
I've noticed that I have to be careful not to get too compulsive or obsessive about stuff because that seems to trigger off hypomania. I find writing about things that bother me help me to find creative ways to move forward - so I guess I USE it to work for me. Because depression immobilises me I try to do as much as I can when I can - which obviously triggers the mania and depression cycle. By learning to take smaller steps I can keep moving forward whereas before I'd leap into something and drown because of the resulting depression. Self-awareness as you point out is the first step. Good hub.
Bipolar disorder is very devastating. It has hurt a lot of people. I've known 3 people that have BP II and they were devesated, but they will get through it. I learned a lot from the website manicdepressioninfo.com
Such good information for someone who is trying to understand loved ones illness,thank you
Hi,
I feel for anyone who has suffered or is suffering from depression. I went through years of depression searching for an answer as to why I was how I was.
i am trying to help my mother through her depression. It is hard for both the sufferer and the loved ones.
How do you stay away from a manic depressive, switching the logic to you yourself is the one that is manic depressive. I have done my best to feel life at the fullest, optimistic, and hopeful. Manics lie cheat manipulate others very well.How can anyone avoid getting hurt, special when they are your boss.
My husband has bipolar and i think sometimes he will really hurt me or my 3 girls. he has a son who is autistic and together they feed off each others weirdness. i swear he vandelized his own car! he had some lame excuse ... but was looking for a new car 3 weeeks before the "vandelism". he lies alot he is frustrated and yells over the littliest things...like spilling a drop of frosty in his car!!! he is really crazy and the kicker is he never told me about him or his son's problems until after we were married...its like he shut it off until we were married!!!
Excellent, informative hub about a serious illness!
i have to say that i have bipolar and it is the hardest thing i have had to deal with but i am able to control a little i am working really hard to help myself i have 4 children to think about and a husband that has a hard time with me and my moods and when i am manic and so i have to say that if i can do it so can anyone we just to have support and love if not then we will be in trouble....
Ok, i’ve had a history of manic depression and anxiety. Sometimes early in the morning around 5-7am im the happiest even if i stay up all night. I always put myself down and say things in my head like “your an idiot.” and all kinds of hurtfull things espesially when i cant do somthing right. Ive been on a lot of medications from seritonin inhibitors to tricyclics to xanax to seriquel. I hate taking medicine cause im afraid of the long term effects and the negitive side effects. Im very shy when it comes to people I don’t know or large crowds i get so shy that I do not say anything I get sweaty and i put myself down cause i do not communicate with the people around me i get very nervous around people and i make myself look stupid. I can not take it anymore this has made me drop out of school and im afraid to get a job.. i dont know what to do im so scared of the future cause of my problem im afraid ill never get a job or get a good education or even thoughts of suicide will come back...:(
Good information. Thank you.
Kulsum Mehmood Level 2 Commenter 3 years ago
It is really very difficult to live with a person with bipolar disorder. One of my near and dear one is suffering from it and your hub has given me a lot of info on the condition so thank you very much.