A person with bipolar disorder needs hospitalization during a mental health crisis, such as severe suicidal/homicidal thoughts, psychosis (hallucinations/delusions), dangerous impulsivity, inability to care for basic needs, severe mania/depression, or when outpatient treatments fail, requiring urgent stabilization for safety and symptom management, often involving close medical supervision for medication adjustments.
If you're experiencing any of these situations, it's essential to call 911 or get to the nearest emergency room: Thoughts of death or suicide. Thoughts or plans of hurting yourself or others. Experiencing hallucinations and delusions.
Here are some ways you can help during a manic episode.
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. Depressive Episodes: These typically last longer, from weeks to months, and can be more difficult to manage.
The terms "mania" and "manic episode" describe a state of mind characterized by high energy, excitement, and euphoria over a sustained period of time. It's an extreme change in mood and cognition that can interfere with school, work, or home life. Mania is also the main feature of bipolar disorder.
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.
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 significant change in your life, such as a divorce, house move or death of a loved one. Difficult life situations, such as trauma or abuse, or problems with housing, money or loneliness. A high level of stress and an inability to manage it. A lack of sleep or changes in sleep pattern.
Getting them to the hospital
If your city has a mobile crisis team, you can call them and they will come to your house to do an assessment. They will ask you a lot of questions, and then help you get your family member to the hospital as needed.
Introduction
Mania is marked by an intense state of euphoria or irritability, while psychosis involves a significant distortion of reality. During a manic episode, a person might feel on top of the world, but in a psychotic episode, they might hear voices or believe in things that aren't real.
Key Warning Signs That Inpatient Mental Health Care May Be Necessary
You can also help by minimizing stimulation, offering support, and encouraging good self-care. If a person experiencing a manic episode is unable to take care of themselves or is at risk of harming themselves or others, then they may require emergency hospitalization.
If you have bipolar disorder for example, and doctors think that you need to be sectioned in order to receive medication for it, then that would be treatment for a mental disorder, and could be given.
“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.
Bipolar rage triggers can include high levels of stress, sleep deprivation, and sudden changes in routine or medication. In that case, it's crucial to recognize that these feelings could be associated with a larger issue like bipolar disorder.
Relationships suffer, careers are lost, and physical health declines. Most importantly, untreated end-stage bipolar disorder symptoms can result in self-harm or suicidal actions. Even with treatment, about 37% of patients relapse into depression or mania within 1 year, and 60% within 2 years.
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.
Research shows bipolar disorder may damage the brain over time. Experts think it's because you slowly lose amino acids. They help build the proteins that make up the insulation around your neurons.
As a manic episode ends, you'll start to feel less frenzied, be able to think more clearly, and get more sleep. You may have to face unpleasant consequences of your actions during the episode. Therapy, medication, and social support are important factors that can help you cope with the end of 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.
Seek Professional Guidance
If your loved one refuses to seek treatment, consider consulting a mental health professional yourself. They can provide guidance on how to handle the situation and offer strategies for encouraging your loved one to seek help.
Bipolar 2 Disorder
Bipolar II disorder is diagnosed when a person experiences a pattern of depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes, but not the full-blown manic episodes found in bipolar I disorder. However, some Bipolar II patients may have longer lasting and more severe bouts of depression.