Mania
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What is Mania?
Mania is a drastic change in someone’s behavior that affects their ability to function in daily life over a certain period of time. Mania is a feature of several mental health diagnoses, such as bipolar disorder. Doctors may prescribe medications to treat mania, and people can use other treatments, such as talking therapy, to help them manage life with mania.
Mania is a state of extremely heightened energy or a drastic change in a person’s usual behavior and thought patterns. Mental health professionals often link mania with bipolar disorder.
Mania can cause people to act impulsively and recklessly, have racing thoughts, or feel euphoric. People may also refer to mania as a manic episode or manic phase.
People can experience mania on its own, or it may be part of a mental health condition, such as:
- bipolar disorder
- schizoaffective disorder
- substance induced mania
- bipolar disorder secondary to another medical condition
Symptoms of Mania
Symptoms of mania, or a manic episode, are behaviors that are an extreme change from a person’s usual behaviors, and last for one week or longer.
People may have some of the symptoms of mania, such as high energy or talking quickly, but if that is normal behavior for them, it is probably not a manic episode.
Symptoms of mania can include:
- extreme high energy
- a reduced need for sleep
- euphoric feelings, such as extreme happiness, excitement, or feeling “high”
- feeling invincible
- racing thoughts
- being very talkative
- speaking very fast
- unusual behavior compared to a person’s normal behaviors
- being easily distracted or irritated
- impulsiveness
- grandiosity
- increased goal-directed actions
- intense anxiety
- psychosis, which is a detachment from reality
- an increase in reckless behaviors, such as increased drug use, unprotected sex, or excessive spending
- delusions, such as paranoia
- hallucinations
Diagnose Mania
To diagnose mania, a doctor may carry out a number of tests to check for any underlying causes, and to rule out any other conditions. Tests may include:
- a complete blood count
- complete metabolic panel
- thyroid panel
- urine drug screening
- brain imaging tests, such as CT or MRI scans

Signs And Symptoms

Those who were deemed as having an internet addiction (using Dr. Young’s Internet Addiction Test) had significantly more trouble dealing with their day-to-day activities. This included life at home, work/school-related duties, and their ability to socialize in the real world. Individuals with these types of addictions also exhibited significantly higher amounts of depression and anxiety symptoms.
There is debate over whether a computer, cell phone, or online addiction is the cause or consequence of such mental health issues. ADHD symptoms, such as difficulty planning ahead, poor time management, and higher-than-average levels of attentional impulsivity, are also common among those with an internet addiction. Additionally, those with an addiction are more likely to have a co-occurring disorder that requires special care and treatment.
Treatments
People can see their doctor to discuss a treatment plan for mania. Treatment options may include:
Medication
People may take antipsychotic medications to treat mania. These include:
- haloperidol
- risperidone
- olanzapine
- quetiapine
If people also have a mood disorder, they may take a drug to help stabilize their mood, such as:
- carbamazepine
- lithium
- valproate
If people are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, they can talk to their doctor about the safety of taking medication for mania. Taking valproate during pregnancy can increase the chances of a baby having birth defects or learning disabilities.
Other treatment options available to people living with mania include:
- Therapy: If people experience mania due to a mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder, they may benefit from talking therapy or counselling.
- Community support: If mania is affecting people’s ability to carry out everyday tasks, people may benefit from social support, such as a social worker.
- Emergency help: If people have severe symptoms, or a manic episode is continuing for a long period, people may need immediate medical treatment in a hospital. People can go to their nearest emergency room or call 911.
- Electroconvulsive therapy: In rare cases, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be an option if mania becomes life-threatening, or for people who have bipolar disorder which does not respond to other treatments. ECT passes controlled currents of electricity through the brain to cause a brief seizure in order to affect certain chemicals and neurons within the brain.
