During a manic episode, a person often acts with abnormally high energy, extreme euphoria or irritability, reduced need for sleep, racing thoughts, pressured speech, distractibility, and impulsive, risky behaviors like excessive spending or sexual activity, often coupled with inflated self-esteem and grandiose ideas, sometimes even losing touch with reality (psychosis). They might take on too many projects, talk incessantly, feel invincible, and become agitated when challenged, lacking insight that their behavior is problematic.
Symptoms of a manic episode
Having inflated self-esteem, thinking you're invincible. Being more talkative than usual. Talking so much and so fast that others can't interrupt. Having racing thoughts — having lots of thoughts on lots of topics at the same time (called a “flight of ideas”).
Manic and hypomanic episodes include three or more of these symptoms:
While there isn't one universal "4 stages" model, mania in bipolar disorder is often described as progressing through levels of severity: Hypomania (milder, increased energy), Acute Mania (severe impairment, risky behavior), and Delirious Mania (most severe, psychosis, disorientation), sometimes with an initial Prodromal or "early" stage, reflecting increasing intensity and potential for psychosis or hospitalization.
Bipolar symptoms during a manic phase may include:
getting much less sleep or no sleep. poor appetite and weight loss. racing thoughts, racing speech, talking over people. highly irritable, impatient or aggressive.
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.
A bipolar meltdown could look different depending on the symptoms you're currently experiencing. For example, you might: Go on a “binge,” or “bender,” of continuous reckless activities, like substance use, unsafe sex, or spending money. Become verbally aggressive with someone, even someone you love.
9 tips for how to stop a manic episode immediately
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.
After a manic or hypomanic episode you might: Feel very unhappy or ashamed about how you behaved. Have made commitments or taken on responsibilities that now feel unmanageable. Have only a few clear memories of what happened during your episode, or none at all.
The first red flag of bipolar disorder often appears as significant changes in sleep patterns, mood instability (irritability/euphoria), increased energy/agitation, and rapid thoughts/speech, frequently mistaken for unipolar depression or normal moodiness, with sleep disruption (insomnia or oversleeping) and heightened irritability being very common early signs, notes Better Mental Health.
The duration of bipolar episodes can vary widely. On average: Manic or Hypomanic Episodes: These can last from a few days to several weeks. Hypomanic episodes are generally shorter and less severe than manic episodes.
Here, mental health experts share seven common phrases to avoid saying to anyone with bipolar disorder — and the thoughtful, helpful things to say instead.
What causes hypomania and mania?
“Bipolar disorder” is more of a clinical, medical term and less emotionally loaded than “manic depression.” The term “manic depression” excludes the cyclothymic or hypomanic (bipolar II disorder) versions of the condition.
Five key signs of bipolar disorder involve extreme mood shifts, including manic symptoms like inflated energy, reduced need for sleep, racing thoughts, impulsivity (spending, risky behavior), and irritability, alongside depressive symptoms such as profound sadness, loss of interest, fatigue, significant sleep/appetite changes, and suicidal thoughts, all lasting for extended periods and impacting daily life.
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.
During a manic episode, people with bipolar disorder can have what's called a bipolar blackout. During a blackout, the individual is not aware of their surroundings or actions and has trouble remembering them afterward. This can make interacting with someone in a blackout very frustrating, but it doesn't have to be.
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 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.
Answer questions honestly. But don't argue or debate with a person during a manic episode. Avoid intense conversation. Don't take comments or behaviour personally.
At the outset, bipolar symptoms are commonly mistaken for ADHD, depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, and, in its more severe manifestations, as schizophrenia.
The symptoms of mania include elevated mood (either euphoric or irritable), flight of ideas, pressure of speech, increased energy, decreased "need" and desire for sleep, and hyperactivity.
A bipolar depression crash is usually the emotional fallout of a hypomanic or manic episode. It can also occur when something triggers bipolar depression or as a result of chemical or hormonal changes in the brain.