Coping with Mania: Tips, Recovery, and Prevention

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes people to experience extreme highs and extreme lows — these episodes are referred to as mania and depression. Manic episodes can be quite jarring and disruptive to daily life. They can also wreak havoc on personal relationships and work performance. But, there are ways to cope with and limit manic episodes. In this post, we’ll go over our expert mania tips.

What is Mania?

Mania is a symptom of bipolar 1 disorder. During a manic episode, people experience:

• An abnormally elevated mood
• A persistently irritable mood
• An unusually energetic mood

According to the DSM-5, to be considered a manic episode, the symptoms of mania must last for at least one week, unless the patient is in the hospital. Symptoms may last less than one week if a patient is hospitalized and successfully treated.

During a manic episode, the person’s behavior is extremely different from their normal behavior. While it’s true that we all have different energy levels, people experiencing mania have abnormal levels of energy, irritability, and even goal-directed behavior.

Other symptoms that people experience during manic episodes include:

• Feelings of inflated self-esteem and self-importance.
• Feeling as if sleep isn’t necessary.
• Being easily distracted.
• Becoming unusually talkative.
• Having racing thoughts.
• Engaging in risky behaviors, like going on shopping sprees, sexual indiscretions, or large purchases and investments.

Manic episodes should not be taken lightly. They affect performance at school, work, and social activities. It’s important to seek help immediately if you think you are experiencing a manic episode.

Coping with Manic Episodes

Mania varies from person to person. Some people have the ability to recognize when they’re heading toward a manic episode. But, others may often deny the severity of their symptoms. If you experience mania, you likely won’t realize you’re having a manic episode during the heat of the moment. This is why preparation is key when it comes to coping with mania.

• Contact your healthcare team – First and foremost, you must reach out to your mental health provider — whether it’s a psychiatrist, counselor, social worker, or other mental health professional. If you start to worry that a manic episode may be coming on, reach out to your mental health provider immediately. They can help walk you through your symptoms and give you coping skills to try to avert or deal with the episode in real time.
• Avoid triggers that worsen your mania – Common triggers that contribute to manic episodes include alcohol, illegal drugs, and mood-altering prescription drugs. Avoiding these substances can help keep you emotionally balanced, and it can also help make recovery easier.
• Maintain healthy habits – Following a regular eating, exercise, and sleeping schedule, creating and sticking to a budget, and taking any required medications are all fantastic ways to keep manic episodes at bay. An overall healthy lifestyle can significantly help you manage mania. Daily reminders can help you stick to your good habits. For example, a reminder at 8 p.m. every night that it’s time to get ready for bed and another one at 9 p.m. that says “bedtime.”

Recovering from Manic Episodes

During recovery, it’s time to begin to regain control over your life and daily routine. After an episode, talk it out with a trusted loved one or your mental health provider. Discuss what you’ve learned from the episode, what possible triggers there could have been, and how to avoid those triggers in the future.

Learning the Warning Signs of Mania

Identifying your triggers can help you prevent future manic episodes. Examples of common mania triggers include:

• Needing less sleep, skipping sleep.
• Feeling more active.
• Drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs.
• Straying off your diet.
• Feeling unusually happy, irritable, or energetic.
• Stopping or skipping medications.
• Skipping therapy.

Routines are key for people with mania to prevent manic episodes. But, it’s important to note that it won’t prevent them altogether.

If you experience mania, the good news is that you can take the above-discussed steps to lower your risk of manic episodes. It’s particularly important to follow your treatment and medication plan diligently and avoid your triggers. If you’re continuing to struggle with severe manic episodes, it might be time for in-patient treatment.

Summit Detox Can Help

Mania recovery is possible, and Summit Detox is here to help. At Summit Detox and Mental Health, we provide an elevated level of comfort for our patients, as this helps to promote mental and physical wellness.

We offer short-term residential programs for people struggling with mental health issues. We provide exceptional medical and clinical care for our clients. Our team is experienced and compassionate and works with each client’s unique treatment needs to provide the highest level of care.

Our 24/7 medical supervision, caring staff, and premium rooms with amenities provide a solid foundation for recovery. Contact us today to learn more.

References:

• https://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/mania#about-mania
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519712/table/ch3.t7/
• https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/ty6584