What Is a Manic Episode? Here’s a Helpful Guide

A manic episode is more than just a shift in mood – it’s a significant change in energy, behavior, and perception that can greatly impact daily life. Lasting a week or longer, mania often brings heightened happiness, rapid speech, and increased goal-directed activity. However, it can also involve agitation, aggression, hallucinations, and delusions, making it a challenging experience for both the individual and their loved ones.

Manic episodes are a key indicator of bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions. In the past year, Google Trends data shows that Delaware ranks among the top states searching for terms like “bipolar disorder,” “mania,” and “manic episodes.” In other words, there’s a clear and growing need for awareness and support.

At SUN Behavioral Health Delaware, we understand that navigating mental health concerns can feel overwhelming. If you or someone you love is experiencing mania, knowing what it means and how to respond is essential. In this article, we’ll explore manic episodes in depth and discuss the steps you can take to get healthy.

Defining Manic Episodes

Manic episodes are periods where someone has an abnormal change in their mood, emotions, activity, and energy levels. These elevated levels greatly impact a person’s life, making it difficult to manage their home, work, school, or social lives. These changes are also noticeable to other people and might result in someone trying to harm themselves, others, or property. However, the person who is experiencing the manic episode may or may not realize what is going on. They might also not have clear memories of the episode after it happens. While several conditions might have manic episode symptoms, they most commonly occur in bipolar I disorder.

Bipolar I disorder is a mental health condition that is characterized by having “highs” or manic episodes and “lows” or depression episodes. To have this condition, someone has to have had at least one manic episode that lasted 7 days or required hospitalization.

What Causes Manic Episodes and Who’s the Most at Risk?

The official scientific cause is currently unknown. Some studies have shown changes to specific brain regions, primarily the amygdala, hippocampus, basal ganglia, prefrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate when someone is experiencing a manic episode. Why these changes occur is still being studied. With that said, many things make someone more likely to have a manic episode. Having any of these does not automatically mean that someone will experience a manic episode, but it does increase their chances. These include having:

Family history of bipolar disorder
Significant life events, changes, or situations
High levels of stress
Another mental health condition
A physical or neurological condition, like a brain injury, lupus, or a stroke

Understanding What Triggers a Manic Episode for You

Everyone is different, and what triggers a manic episode for one person might be different for you or someone else. It is important to understand your triggers because it gives you the best opportunity to put coping mechanisms in place that will either prevent the episode from happening or lessen the impact it has on your life.

The best way to understand what might trigger a manic episode is to keep a mood diary or journal. This is when you keep track of your mood and anything else that happens during the day. Over time, you might discover patterns that indicate when a manic episode is more likely to occur for you.

You can also ask a close family member or friend to help identify triggers. It can be difficult to notice changes in your mood and behaviors. Having someone close to you who might notice changes before you do is beneficial in learning what they might be.

While triggers can be different for everyone, common ones that people often report are being in highly stimulating situations or environments, a lack of sleep, taking substances or drinking alcohol, and major life changes.

Mania vs. Hypomania: Understanding the Two Main Types of Manic Episodes

There are typically two main types of manic episodes that someone with bipolar disorder might have. People who have bipolar II disorder will always have hypomania. Those with bipolar I disorder could have either type. Below is a chart that explains the similarities and differences between these.

        
                Manic Episode Type
                Differences
                Similarities
        
                Mania
                Typically lasts at least 1 week or more, causes significant concerns in a person’s social, work, and schooling lives, might require hospitalization, and could include hallucinations or delusions.
                Extreme changes in mood, emotions, activity, and energy levels. These changes are different from what is considered normal for that person and are noticeable to other people. For the most part, mania and hypomania have many of the same symptoms that are mentioned below. Hypomania tends to have a less intense version of those symptoms. 
        
                Hypomania
                Typically lasts around 4 days, while it may impact a person’s ability to function, it rarely causes serious or significant concerns, hospitalization cannot be present to classify as hypomania, and does not include hallucinations or delusions.

Manic Episode Type	Differences	Similarities
Mania	Typically lasts at least 1 week or more, causes significant concerns in a person’s social, work, and schooling lives, might require hospitalization, and could include hallucinations or delusions.	Extreme changes in mood, emotions, activity, and energy levels. These changes are different from what is considered normal for that person and are noticeable to other people. For the most part, mania and hypomania have many of the same symptoms that are mentioned below. Hypomania tends to have a less intense version of those symptoms.
Hypomania	Typically lasts around 4 days, while it may impact a person’s ability to function, it rarely causes serious or significant concerns, hospitalization cannot be present to classify as hypomania, and does not include hallucinations or delusions.

More Than Just High Energy and Moods: Understanding the Symptoms of a Manic Episode You Should Be Aware Of

There are many symptoms that someone with a manic episode might have other than a period of extreme happiness, excitement, and energy. Some of these might require you to attend a crisis care center, especially if it puts you or someone else in danger. Common symptoms associated with a manic episode include:

Not sleeping or only sleeping a few hours and still feeling rested
Being more talkative than usual
Being easily distracted
Pacing or fidgeting
Impulsive behaviors that lead to serious consequences, which could include unsafe sex, impulsively starting a new business, or shopping sprees
Racing thoughts
Extremely high self-esteem where you might believe you are invincible or deserve more recognition and praise
Being completely absorbed in a project, idea, or activity to the point that you neglect other responsibilities
Delusions or hallucinations

How You Can Be Diagnosed With Mania in Delaware

Only a healthcare provider can diagnose you with mania. They will first go over your medical history, your family medical history, and any prescription and non-prescription medications you are taking, which include herbal products and supplements. Your doctor might also order blood tests and other exams to rule out other potential causes of the symptoms you are experiencing. Then they will compare your symptoms with the criteria found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Someone who has mania will meet all of the following criteria:

Your symptoms of elevated emotions, energy, and activity have lasted consistently for at least 1 week
You have 3 or more of the above symptoms to a degree that others have noticed the changes
Your symptoms are enough to cause significant concerns in your personal life, require you to be hospitalized for the safety of yourself or others, or you are experiencing hallucinations or delusions
The manic episode is not the result of a medical condition or a side effect of a substance (either illicit or prescribed)

3 Helpful Tips for Managing Manic Episodes

A manic episode might not be able to be prevented, but its impact can be lessened. Other than attending bipolar treatment, which helps you learn and develop the tools necessary for managing this condition, there are a few other things that can reduce the impact.

If possible, avoid people, places, things, and situations that might trigger a manic episode – As mentioned above, identifying your triggers can help you prevent or at the very least lessen the impact of a manic episode. If you can avoid the things that will trigger a manic episode from your findings, there is a less likely chance that one will occur.

Stick to your routine – Maintain your sleep, meal, and exercise routines. Even if you don’t feel like maintaining them, it will still give you a sense of control, which can make any possible manic episodes feel less intense. Also, remember to take all of your necessary medications, even if you don’t think you need them at the moment.

Do not make any major life decisions before talking to a trusted person first – Waiting to make any major decisions during a manic episode allows you to prevent anything that might have extreme consequences once the episode has passed. You can even allow a trusted person to hold on to your finances during a manic episode to prevent impulsive spending.

When You Should Seek Crisis Care for a Manic Episode

Not every manic episode is severe enough to require hospitalization, but some of them do. So, how can you know when crisis care for a manic episode is necessary?

Typically, a manic episode is needed if you are a danger to someone else, yourself, or yours or someone else’s property. This might include things like extreme aggression, not taking care of yourself, suicidal or self-harm thoughts, or homicidal thoughts. Having any of these is a reason to immediately go to a 24/7 crisis care center for stabilization.

what causes manic episodes and who's the most at risk

Getting Help for Manic Episodes and Bipolar Disorder in Georgetown, DE

Manic episodes can feel overwhelming and terrifying. They can make your life feel challenging to navigate. Treatment for bipolar disorder and manic episodes helps make it easier. While it might seem daunting to go to a facility for treatment, many people can find healing from the experience. By attending treatment, you will learn and develop the skills and tools necessary for managing your condition. You’ll meet people with similar circumstances and discover that you are not alone and that a healthier life is possible.

SUN Behavioral Health Delaware solves unmet needs in Georgetown. Our no-cost care assessments allow you and your doctor to work with our team to determine what treatment plan will work best for you to find healing from bipolar disorder. To learn more about our bipolar disorder and manic episode treatment options, call us today at 302-604-5600.