For the bipolars out there, what is a manic episode like?

Question

For the bipolars out there or for those who know them well, what is a manic episode like?

Answer 1

During a manic episode, you may be abnormally happy, energetic, or irritable for a week or more. You may spend a lot of money, get involved in dangerous activities, and sleep very little. After a manic episode, you may return to normal, but your mood may swing in the opposite direction to feelings of sadness, depression, and hopelessness. When you are depressed, you may have trouble concentrating, remembering, and making decisions; have changes in your eating and sleeping habits; and lose interest in things you once enjoyed.

The mood changes of bipolar disorder can be mild or extreme. They may develop gradually over several days or weeks, or come on suddenly within minutes or hours. The manic or depressive episodes may only last a few hours or for several months.

I have Bipolar but my manic episodes aren't as severe as my depressive episodes. For me, mania is usually a day when I accomplish a LOT more than usual. (house gets spotless, etc)

Answer 2

The manic side of bipolar is a major high with the person feeling energized and on top of the world. This is still an unrealistic feeling and can affect decision making. Spending sprees or believing that they can do more than they really can.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder

This is a great explanation of bipolar and accurate. Note that not everyone goes through their manic and depressive phases the same, nor to they all commit to the same actions in these modes. But in a nutshell, mania is like being on top of the world and the depressive can be like the lowest low you could hope for. Some people who suffer mania can still be violent if those are their tendencies.

Answer 3

Well, let's see! Before diagnosis I could be very manic at times, luckily I live in the South with the good ole boy system and was part of that through family. I had to pee once real bad, but refused to get out of the checkout line and lose my place, so I peed on the candy and National Enquirers. I didn't see the wrong in it at the time. No sleep for days on end tend to add to the freaky deakyness! I drove 4 hours just to tell someone I hated them, but by the time I got there I was so worked up i was arrested for disturbing the peace. I attended a Billy Joel(yeah I know read the rest first) concert with my MOM(see even more lame) and tried to attack the man on stage. Probably his only stage diver ever! I am not making this stuff up. These are quite tame episodes though. The others are rated R to XXX and I don't want to be suspended!

Answer 4

My manic episode have nothing to do with happy or sad. I feel giddy, hyper and often go overboard in my excitement. I usually can't sleep, my record is 7 days, no sleep, at all. I get jittery, like I've had too much caffeine, even though caffeine has no effect on me.

The worse part is towards the end of the cycle. I often become paranoid, thinking I'm crazy even though I know it's just the bi-polar, and I cry a lot the last few days.

But thankfully the meds I'm on keep me pretty level so now I usually just feel hyper and dance around a bit to work off the energy, or I wrestle with my dog, that helps too.

Answer 5

When I am in the manic stage - I am very creative. I write curriculum. Come up with great ideas for programs. I sleep very, very little, but don't feel tired. I feel great. I wish I could stay in manic stage all the time. I get so much more accomplished. I am extra friendly, gregarious, can sell my ideas during this time - kind of charismatic. I have made mania work for me. I have managed to avoid the other problems like promiscuity, gambling, drug or alcohol binges, overspending.

About the only down side is that I have less patience when driving or when around slow (normal) people. I just keep thinking hurry up, hurry up, hurry up!

Answer 6

cooldog is pretty close. I'm bi-polar. When I have a manic episode it's like I'm the Enegerizer Bunny, I can't stop. I may not sleep for two or even three days. I feel like I have to keep moving. It wears me out but I just can't stop. Then when the episode fianlly crashes, I'm completely spent and exhausted. I may spend the next three to five days in bed. I have other illnesses as well, so when that happens, I hurt like hell all over my body.

Answer 7

Here is a tiny portion from my forthcoming book about my experiences with bipolar disorder. I just picked out a couple of anecdotes.

"When my moods soared to unrealistic “highs,” I firmly believed that I would become President of the United States. Late one night, to the consternation of my wife, I sent telegrams to all the major TV networks and to United Press International, announcing my impending candidacy. Immediately after I finished my phone calls, I realized the foolishness of my action.

On several occasions I’d jump into my car with no goal in mind. Usually I’d end up in Maryland, Washington, D.C., or Atlantic City, New Jersey. On the way to gambling Mecca, I hallucinated, “seeing” a radio station antenna tower in the middle of the interstate. I pulled to a rest stop and slept.

As was the case after each “high,” my self-respect evaporated. I felt weak, and fell into bed confused and sick to my stomach.

When I paid $60 for a set of complex house plans, my wife asked me to show her on paper how we could afford such an edifice. When I was unable to do so, it intensified my sense of shame and certainty that she was “right” in most circumstances.

When I read my wife’s divorce deposition, I was amazed to discover that, in the presence of a lawyer, both she and a reliable ministerial witness swore that I was “of sound mind.” I had been told otherwise for 23 years."

Answer 8

I'm in one right now and all of the above is correct. It's killing me to take time to put spaces betwn word right now. i think i'll learn Arabic and buy some skates and go skating for 4 hours and then i'll cook for the week adn then i'll read the 16 librabry books i checked out and hten i'll do a few sudokus and then i'll get that letter out to my friend in the peace corps...and on and on. i think i can get all of this done tonight.
One bad thing that can happen w/mania is anxiety, which for me is less frequent but infinitely worse than depression. depress is like being super cold and cant get warm adn the anx/mania is like being supre hot can't get cooled off. i really actually felt like I was going to climb walls for real one time in a bad fit
it sux-

Answer 9

Iam Not Bipolar. But I Think It Depends On The Person.

Answer 10

Go to the public library or to your nearest book store and look this up in a book called, "DSM IV."