Having an abnormally high level of activity or energy. Feeling extremely happy or excited — even euphoric. Not sleeping or only getting a few hours of sleep but still feeling rested. Having inflated self-esteem, thinking you're invincible.
Pearls and Other Issues
One of the major illnesses which may mimic bipolar disorder and have manic-like symptoms is cyclothymic disorder. Cyclothymic patients may have large mood swings which do not meet the full criteria for a manic or hypomanic episode. These patients may also have many periods of depression.
Hypomania is a less severe form of mania. Signs and symptoms of hypomania include: Increased energy and less need for sleep. Rapid speech and racing thoughts.
A common bipolar disorder symptom is mania, an extremely elevated mood state with increased alertness and energy. There are three stages of mania: hypomania, acute mania and delirious mania. Classifications of mania are mixed states, hypomania and associated disorders.
One criteria of mania is heightened activity, which can look like the hyperactivity associated with ADHD. The irritability of mania looks like the low frustration tolerance that comes with ADHD. The poor judgment of mania looks like impulsivity of ADHD. Both include distractibility.
Anxiety and mania may also both be characterized by racing thoughts or distractibility. So while they may be similar, and mania can cause anxiety, mania and anxiety are definitely two separate conditions.
Drastically reduced energy for everyday activities, like preparing food or interacting with friends. Uninterested in normal hobbies, particularly those that tend to go into overdrive during a manic phase. Dramatic changes in appetite, either eating too much or too little. Suicidal thoughts; may attempt suicide.
Mania goes beyond normal mood and energy changes. The symptoms of mania are so intense that they can affect a person's relationships, job, or well-being. Having mania does not always mean that the person feels happy. While mania can cause a feeling of euphoria, it can also cause extreme irritability.
Sleep. Probably the most notable way to tell the difference between a good mood and a hypomanic episode is how much sleep you need. Although hypomanic episodes are less intense than manic episodes, they typically have two things in common: you have a lot more energy than usual and you need less sleep.
High levels of stress. Changes in sleep patterns or lack of sleep. Using recreational drugs or alcohol. Seasonal changes – for example, some people are more likely to experience hypomania and mania in spring.
Both a manic and a hypomanic episode include three or more of these symptoms: Abnormally upbeat, jumpy or wired. Increased activity, energy or agitation. Exaggerated sense of well-being and self-confidence (euphoria)
A person with bipolar disorder may be unaware they're in the manic phase. After the episode is over, they may be shocked at their behaviour. But at the time, they may believe other people are being negative or unhelpful. Some people with bipolar disorder have more frequent and severe episodes than others.
Grandiosity and overconfidence. Easy tearfulness, frequent sadness. Needing little sleep to feel rested. Uncharacteristic impulsive behavior.
That is, patients with manic symptoms had lower empathy for other people's pain compared to non-manic patients due to specific processing deficits.
A mixed episode, sometimes called a mixed state, is when you feel both high and low. You may experience symptoms of depression, plus mania or hypomania at the same time. For example, you may feel very energised and impulsive, while feeling upset or tearful.
Bipolar disorder can be confused with other conditions, such as depression, schizophrenia, BPD, anxiety, and ADHD. Detecting and diagnosing bipolar disorder may take some time. But getting a correct, early diagnosis often results in better outcomes.
To diagnose bipolar disorder, a doctor performs a physical exam, asks about your symptoms, and recommends blood testing to determine if another condition, such as hypothyroidism, is causing your symptoms. If the doctor does not find an underlying cause of your symptoms, he or she performs a psychological evaluation.
What tests will the doctor use to make a bipolar diagnosis? Your doctor may have you fill out a mood questionnaire or checklist to help guide the clinical interview when they assess mood symptoms. In addition, your doctor may order blood and urine tests to rule out other causes of your symptoms.
It's normal for your mood to change in response to different situations, news, or challenges you encounter throughout a day. But if your mood shifts dramatically between extreme highs and lows, it may be a sign of bipolar disorder. Mood episodes lasting at least four days are a sign of bipolar disorder.
Psychotic features usually appear during manic rather than depressive episodes. Mood-congruent delusions (e.g., grandiosity) and mood-incongruent delusions (e.g., paranoia) are the most common psychotic features. Psychosis often presents as a form of thought disorder (e.g., tangentiality).
Bipolar disorder is primarily a mood disorder. ADHD affects attention and behavior; it causes symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. While ADHD is chronic or ongoing, bipolar disorder is usually episodic, with periods of normal mood interspersed with depression, mania, or hypomania.