Home Health Center Mania   Symptoms of Mania

Symptoms of Mania


Signs of manic depression and mania can vary significantly from person to person. Some areas may also be affected more markedly than others in individual cases. Since, symptoms of mania are often not regarded as a problem; experts have found it difficult to decide on exactly what are the signs of a manic episode. However, on the whole, the following symptoms can be regarded as signs of mania or manic depression:

  • Sudden increase in energy levels
  • Decrease in the need for food and sleep
  • Excessive exercising
  • Increase in libido
  • Inappropriate laughter
  • Racing thoughts
  • Speech that is pressured and all over the place in terms of subject matter
  • Rapid-fire conversation / Rapid movements
  • Feelings of invincibility
  • Euphoria
  • Hyperactivity
  • Excitement
  • High self-esteem
  • Irritability
  • Lack of concentration
  • Poor judgment / Recklessness
  • Impulsivity / Extravagance
  • Aggressive or violent behavior / Anger
  • Provocative and hypersexual behavior
  • Delusions
  • Hyper-religiosity
  • Grandiose plans and ideas / Overconfidence
  • Increased use of drugs or alcohol
  • Problems in the work place and at home / Poor social relationships
  • Denial of problems
  • Refusal to seek medical help
Mania and bipolar disorder can also develop in children. Keeping in mind that children are often very active and excitable, it may become difficult to diagnose such conditions. If a child is exhibiting the following symptoms, it may be a case of mania and would require immediate medical attention:

  • Acting silly and laughing hysterically for no apparent reason
  • Children suffering from mania tend to act out of control
  • Manic children have delusions of grandeur. They may constantly talk about how great they are and how they can do things that no one else can
  • Children with mania talk quickly and breathlessly, jumping from one topic to another without a break
  • Such children may have insomnia or need less sleep. Reports from parents mention that they come across their kids moving things or going through their closets looking for things to do even in the middle of the night
  • Children with mania tend to be hypersexual. They are overtly flirtatious; use explicit language and act beyond their years in terms of sexual gestures
  • Rapid mood swings are another symptom of manic-depressive behavior
  • Tantrums that last longer than normal
  • Aggressive behavior and destruction of property
  • Obsession with violence
  • Sensory integration issues
  • Inability to regulate appetite
  • Panic and anxiety attacks
  • Obsessive-compulsive behavior patterns

Causes
Diagnosis
References
  1. W. Greil, W. Ludwig-Mayerhofer, N. Erazo, C. Schöchlin, S. Schmidt, R.R. Engel, A. Czernik, H. Giedke, B. Müller-Oerlinghausen, M. Osterheider, G.A.E. Rudolf, H. Sauer, J. Tegeler, T. Wetterling, Lithium versus carbamazepine in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorders – a randomized study, Journal of Affective Disorders, Volume 43, Issue 2, 1 April 1997, Pages 151-161, ISSN 0165-0327, 10.1016/S0165-0327(96)01427-9.
  2. Colleen Loo, Natalie Katalinic, Philip B. Mitchell, Benjamin Greenberg, Physical treatments for bipolar disorder: A review of electroconvulsive therapy, stereotactic surgery and other brain stimulation techniques, Journal of Affective Disorders, Volume 132, Issues 1–2, July 2011, Pages 1-13, ISSN 0165-0327, 10.1016/j.jad.2010.08.017.
  3. Carmen Andreescu, Benoit H. Mulsant, James E. Emanuel, Complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of bipolar disorder — A review of the evidence, Journal of Affective Disorders, Volume 110, Issues 1–2, September 2008, Pages 16-26, ISSN 0165-0327, 10.1016/j.jad.2008.03.015.