Mania
and Hypomania
Mood can be thought of as a spectrum,
with depression at the ‘low mood’ end and mania at the other.
Mania refers to
periods of over-active, excited behaviour. The fast ideas start coming too fast
and there are far too many ... overwhelming confusion replaces clarity ... you
stop keeping up with it … memory goes. Infectious humour ceases to amuse. Your
friends become frightened ... everything is now against the grain ... you are
irritable, angry, frightened, uncontrollable, and trapped.
Hypomania is often
described as a milder form of mania. At first when I'm high, it's tremendous
... ideas are fast ... like shooting stars you follow until brighter ones
appear... All shyness disappears, the right words and gestures are suddenly
there ... uninteresting people, things become intensely interesting. Sensuality
is pervasive; the desire to seduce and be seduced is irresistible. Your marrow
is infused with unbelievable feelings of ease, power, well-being, omnipotence,
euphoria ... you can do anything ... but somewhere this changes.
Although a hypo manic episode is not as
severe as full mania, it can still have a serious impact on the way you
normally live your life.
For most people, mania or hypomania is
experienced as part of bipolar disorder, but this is not always the case.
The following features are associated
with mania and also occur in hypomania to a less severe extent:
Ø
Increased energy and activity
Ø
Feeling full of ideas with racing thoughts
Ø
Increased confidence and self-esteem
Ø
Decreased need for sleep
Ø
Talkativeness
Ø
Being easily distracted, and darting from one activity to
another
Ø
Elevated mood, but sometimes increased irritability that can
quickly turn to anger
Ø
Increased sociability and over-familiarity
Ø
Increased sexual desire and decreased inhibitions
Ø
Increased involvement in pleasurable activities with little
thought for consequences, such as going on a spending spree or making reckless
financial decisions
Ø
Lack of insight, or denial that behaviour has changed
Ø
Increased awareness of senses such as smell and touch.
Ø
These symptoms are things people may experience from time to
time, but for most people will not be considered severe enough to receive a
diagnosis or require treatment.
Symptoms
v
Bipolar
Symptoms
o
The primary symptoms of bipolar disorder are dramatic and
unpredictable mood swings.
v
Mania
Symptoms
o
Mania symptoms may include excessive happiness, excitement,
irritability, restlessness, increased energy, less need for sleep, racing
thoughts, high sex drive, and a tendency to make grand and unattainable plans.
v
Depression
Symptoms
o
Depression symptoms may include sadness, anxiety, irritability,
loss of energy, uncontrollable crying, change in appetite causing weight loss
or gain, increased need for sleep, difficulty making decisions, and thoughts of
death or suicide.
Types
Ø
Bipolar
Types
There are
several types of bipolar disorder; all involve episodes of depression and mania
to a degree. They include bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothymic disorder, mixed
bipolar, and rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.
Ø
Bipolar I
A person
affected by bipolar I disorder has had at least one manic episode in his or her
life. A manic episode is a period of abnormally elevated mood, accompanied by
abnormal behaviour that disrupts life.
Ø
Bipolar II
Bipolar II
is similar to bipolar I disorder, with moods cycling between high and low over
time. However, in bipolar II disorder, the "up" moods never reach
full-on mania.
Ø
Rapid
Cycling
In rapid
cycling, a person with bipolar disorder experiences four or more episodes of mania
or depression in one year. About 10% to 20% of people with bipolar disorder
have rapid cycling.
Ø
Mixed
Bipolar
In most
forms of bipolar disorder, moods alternate between elevated and depressed over
time. But with mixed bipolar disorder, a person experiences both mania and
depression simultaneously or in rapid sequence.
Ø
Cyclothymia
Cyclothymia
(cyclothymic disorder) is a relatively mild mood disorder. People with
cyclothymic disorder have milder symptoms than in full-blown bipolar disorder.
Ø
Bipolar Spectrum
Learn about
the bipolar spectrum, what it means, and how bipolar is categorized.
Causes
Mental health problems are complex and it
is generally felt that they develop through a combination of factors rather
than one single identifiable cause.
If you had a difficult or abusive
childhood, or are going through challenging life experiences such as
bereavement, domestic violence or unemployment, you are more susceptible to all
mental health problems.
High levels of stress, lack of sleep and
stimulants such as drugs or alcohol are common triggers for mania or hypomania;
however, on their own, they are unlikely to lead to more than one episode or to
more long-term bipolar disorder.
If you experience mania or hypomania as a
feature of bipolar disorder, then you might have family members with the same
diagnosis, suggesting a genetic link. Many people with the diagnosis, however,
have no family history of it, and research has not so far identified a single
gene that could be responsible.
Management
ü
Cognitive
behaviour therapy (CBT).
ü
Longer-term
psychotherapy,
ü
Interpersonal
and social rhythm therapy
Whom
to contact for Hypomania Counseling & Treatment
Dr. Senthil Kumar is well experienced
Homeopath & Psychologist who treats many cases such problems with successful outcomes. Many of the clients
get relief after Taking treatment & attending psychological counseling with
him. Dr. Senthil Kumar visits Vivekanantha Homeopathy Clinic &
Psychological Counseling Center, Velachery, Chennai. To fix an appointment,
please call or mail us:
Vivekanantha
Clinic & Psychological Counseling Center, at
Chennai:- 9786901830
Panruti:- 9443054168
Pondicherry:- 9865212055 (Camp)
For appointment please
Call us or Mail Us
For
appointment: SMS your Name -Age – Mobile Number - Problem in Single word -
date and day - Place of appointment (Eg: Rajini - 99xxxxxxx0 – Hypomania – 21st
Oct, Sunday - Chennai), You will receive Appointment details through SMS.
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