Signs and Symptoms of Mania

by Garreth Myers

Mania is one of the symptoms of bipolar disorder. A person suffering from mania will experience heightened energy levels and an elevated state of arousal. The person’s mood may border on the euphoric and he or she may feel capable of accomplishing anything in the world. This elevated mood may result in the person undertaking risks that he or she would not normally take – Be they physical, financial, or sexual. The person may also be very irritable and take offense quickly if anyone contradicts what he/she is saying or doing. These are some of the signs and symptoms of mania.

Mania is essentially a heightened state that is the opposite of depression. Bouts of mania are usually followed by bouts of depression. These symptoms are typically seen in a person suffering from bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is essentially a disorder in the brain that causes a person’s moods to seesaw between the manic and the depressive. While everyone goes through highs and lows as a part of their normal lives, in a person suffering from bipolar disorder, these highs and lows are greatly exaggerated. Sometimes, a person may even experience dysphoric mania symptoms wherein the manic and depressive states are exhibited concurrently.

Some of the risk factors of mania and bipolar disorder include:

  • Genetic: Bipolar disorder and mania runs in families. If someone in your family has a history of bipolar disorder, this increases your chances of getting affected as well. However, genetics is just one of the risk factors of mania.
  • Environmental: If you are genetically predisposed to developing bipolar disorder, and you are exposed to a stressful and traumatic environment or event, your chances of exhibiting symptoms of bipolar disorder greatly increase.
  • Substance Abuse: The use of recreational drugs and unwarranted use of certain medication has also been linked with an increase in the chances of developing bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder may also be present from childhood. It is important to identify the signs at an early stage so that the proper treatment modalities may be implemented. Some of the symptoms of mania in children include.

  • Heightened periods of energy and activity followed by periods of listlessness can be indicative of bipolar disorder. However, since most children tend to exhibit these characteristics, albeit to a lesser degree as compared to a child suffering from bipolar disorder, it may not be possible for new parents to make a diagnosis with any amount of certainty.
  • Children with bipolar disorder also tend to be more irritable than other children their age.
  • The child may have trouble focusing his/her attention on one subject for long. This might affect the child’s performance in school.
For more information on diagnosing and treating the symptoms of mania in children, do visit http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-in-children-and-teens-a-parents-guide/complete-index.shtml.


Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.


Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.
More articles from the Diseases and Ailments Category