Am I Experiencing Mania Right Now?

Question

Right now, I am going through something that has happens with me so frequently... almost nightly. Suddenly, after feeling lethargic and depressed for most of the day, around late night, I start getting this mountain of energy... but at the same time, I get anxious and scared because I feel as if I'm losing my mind. My head becomes slightly lightheaded, but I can't stop pacing the floors because of this energy. Sometimes I have to blast music and play air guitar or something - and I get into this delusion sometime that it's me playing - to release the energy, while still feeling as if I'm losing my mind. When I get like this, I lose almost all of my concentration and procrastinate big time. I have a paper due today and I cannot finish it, because it feels as if my attention span has been taken away since I got into this state about a couple of hours ago. I don't feel REALLY excited... just energetic, anxious, kinda paranoid, no attention, and can't stop pacing. Is this a mania?

Another symptom right now is that I am becoming a bit agitated. Any help on this will be greatly appreciated. I just feel as if I'm losing my mind right now. Thanks!

Also, in these phases, I can get really creative.

Answer 1

This looks like hypomania. My wife , who was diagnosed bipolar twenty years ago also gets energetic and talkative during this type of episodes. Get help from human conduct specialist (psychiatrist ) in order to control the condition with pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. Don't worry too much .The condition is very common and can be controlled.Good luck.

Answer 2

As a person who has been diagnosed as Bipolar I for the past 14 years, you do have some symptoms associated with this illness. More than 4. Usually lack of concentration and procrastination in a manic episode is due to the tremendous energy due to the chemical imbalance your brain is experiencing and your mind is flooded with so many ideas and thoughts that as soon as you start to do one, another idea pops up and you get easily distracted. You mentioned in your notes that you are feeling agitated now and that too is symptomatic of mania that has gone on for too long. While people hear about manics feeling euphoric and energetic for weeks, months on end, most don't realize that eventually your whirlwind of activity exhausts your mental and physical being and you become easily upset, agitated, even violent at the least provocation. No one can keep up with such an extreme state of hyper-activity forever without getting easily irritated or mad, so that is a real concern.
As for being very creative and imaginative, that is also symptomatic of bipolars. I've always been highly artistic and creative but when the onset of B/P hit at age 30, I found it easy to learn and get employment at jobs that I had no experience in whatsoever and do it so well that my earnings were more than I could spend. I haven't any idea how I managed to do it, but wouldn't want to put myself at such risk to try it again. The best thing for you to do right now is to make an appointment with a qualified psychiatrist who is a licensed medical doctor (always check that he/she is Board Certified) and discuss this current situation. Or, look in the telephone book for referrals to mental health places that can talk to you in person and make an initial evaluation. Don't rely on the general public (like Yahoo Answers) for sound, personal and truly accurate mental health answers. Save it for a real qualified professional to help you out. Best of luck.

Answer 3

If you feel that way all of the time for about a week, or if you alternate back and forth between depression and an elevated state for a week, it's probably mania. Go to a doctor.

If the elevated mood only lasts a few hours or something, it might just be lack of sleep or stress.

I have chronic depression and I have had a few "bursts of energy" like you described, but my understanding is it never lasted long enough to qualify as true mania.

Answer 4

It sounds like you may be bipolar and experience some swings of 'energy' which is mania. Your behavior sounds impulsive and a bit uncontrolled, and if you've been feeling 'lethargic and depressed' all day, it sounds like your mania lies dormant in the daytime and disturbs you at night. I definitely think you should seek treatment (or at least diagnosis) especially if this is interfering with your life (i.e. the inability to focus on your paper that's due).

Another helpful place to get info on this topic:

www.dailystrength.org

You should check out their bipolar community and see what people have to say about dealing with their manic episodes. They offer good treatment tips there from real experience. Good luck!

Answer 5

Yes what you're saying could be a manic episode you should talk to your doctor and see if you're bi-polar. There are many good meds that will help you. If you still in high school talk to your parents if you're in college go to the health office and ask to talk to someone preferably a psychiatrist. In order to be on the safe side and to make sure that you're treated right talk to a mental health professional. They will be able to help you get the help that will make you feel better and to calm things down.

Answer 6

Or it could be a PTSD reaction. The following day you are crashing from the adrenaline bursts.

It could be BPD as another said.

Answer 7

maybe u're bipolar...or maybe not...u sound pretty normal though....don't worry too much about it unless it's affecting your wellbeing and the wellbeing of others. i've always been like that. if it's affecting your studies, just go and see a counsellor at your school.

Answer 8

You do not loose your mind,this symptom occurs only after you are so tired.When your daily life become normal,this symptom will disappear.

Answer 9

Looks like ADHD or bi-polar disorder to me...Poor thing, I feel that way sometimes too cause of my bi-polar disorder...

Answer 10

You could have mania, I would talk to a psychiatrist if I were you.