Yes, a manic episode can be deeply traumatic, both during the experience and especially in the aftermath, leading to shame, confusion, and even PTSD due to risky behaviors, impaired judgment, or situations like involuntary hospitalization that result from the mania itself. While mania isn't always a direct trauma response, the consequences and the disconnect from reality can create significant psychological distress, with some individuals developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) secondary to their manic experiences, notes National Institutes of Health (NIH) and APA PsycNet.
The occurrence of manic symptoms can have a traumatic impact on a patient unaware of her/his diagnosis, especially during symptom remission.
Early signs (called “prodromal symptoms”) that you're getting ready to have a manic episode can last weeks to months. If you're not already receiving treatment, episodes of bipolar-related mania can last between three and six months. With effective treatment, a manic episode usually improves within about three months.
After a manic or hypomanic episode you might:
Bipolar Disorder: Helping Someone During a Manic Episode
You can use a 48 hour rule where you wait at least 2 full days with 2 nights sleep before acting on risky decisions. Review your decision to avoid a tempting, but risky, behaviour.
Only 22.5 % recognized that they had experienced a (hypo)manic episode, only 17.5 % had consulted a health professional for a (hypo)manic episode, and only 12.5 % remembered having received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and had received minimally adequate treatment.
Ignoring a person with bipolar disorder can escalate their mood swings and trigger their negative emotions. It can be harmful to a person and your relationship with that person. This is because such a person might experience frequent changes in emotional stability.
The primary signs that mania is ending include the return of normal sleep needs, decreased energy levels, slower speech and thinking, normalized appetite, and the ability to sit still or concentrate on single tasks.
A bipolar blackout means that even though you were conscious, you're unable to recall what occurred during your mood changes from your manic episode. A bipolar blackout can occur when your brain becomes extremely overwhelmed and tired by the rapid changes and severity of your moods during manic episodes.
Sometimes, if caught early enough, people experiencing mania can be kept out of the hospital. However, most episodes of mania require hospitalization in a psychiatric hospital for safety and stabilization.
While depressive episodes [19] may also affect brain structure, several lines of evidence suggest that manic episodes are detrimental for the integrity of cortical structure.
Mania is a disruptive condition involving erratic behavior and an unusually high level of physical and mental activity. During a severe manic episode, you might experience a break with reality, or psychosis. The leading symptoms of psychosis include delusional ideas, hallucinations and paranoia.
A manic breakdown or episode is an emotional state where an elevated or irritable mood exists for at least one week. The symptoms can disrupt your daily life and relationships. While manic episodes are not a disorder in themselves, they may be a symptom of bipolar and should be taken seriously.
Mania has a significant impact on your ability to do your usual day-to-day activities. It can disrupt or stop these completely. Severe mania is very serious, and often needs to be treated in hospital.
The Takeaway. A poor diet can contribute to bipolar mood episodes, and certain food choices may help manage them. People with bipolar disorder should avoid or limit caffeine, alcohol, sugar, salt, and saturated fats.
Bipolar disorder is frequently inherited, with genetic factors accounting for approximately 80% of the cause of the condition. Bipolar disorder is the most likely psychiatric disorder to be passed down from family.
“The best advice I can give to anyone who's loved one is going through mania is to watch their behavior, spend more time with them, try to let them get out all their hyped-up feelings and listen to them, don't make faces that they're crazy or anything.” – Karen R.
What causes hypomania and mania?
During manic episodes, they might lie to exaggerate their abilities or status, while during depressive phases, they might lie to conceal substance abuse or other behaviors.
Take medication as prescribed
Bipolar medicines are also often crucial for stabilizing mood and preventing future episodes. Adhering to a prescribed medication plan is key in managing mental disorders like bipolar disorder. Take mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, or other medications as prescribed.
During manic or mixed episodes, people with bipolar disorder may experience intense anger or rage. This can lead to them saying hurtful things they don't mean.