Symptoms Of Manic Depression

Manic depression causes episodes of mania and depression. Someone with bipolar disorder may experience the highs of manic episodes with alternating periods of depression. Other symptoms accompany these manic and depressive episodes.

The symptoms of mania include excessive energy, activity, and restlessness and euphoria. The person may also experience irritability, racing thoughts and talking very fast, and distractibility. The often have a decreased need for sleep. They may experience an increased sexual drive. They may exercise poor judgment, which can lead to spending sprees, risky gambling, aggressive behavior, promiscuity, and drug abuse.

These changes in behavior must be for a significant period of time for it to be classified as a true manic episode. A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least a week. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.

People in a manic episode or experiencing hypomania may deny that anything is wrong. That is because the euphoria experienced during a manic episode feels good. If they have been receiving treatment for bipolar disorder, they may stop treatment if the treatment stops the manic episodes. Some people with bipolar disorder also stop treatment if they feel the treatment is interfering with their creativity.

Depressive episodes occur with more than just a sad mood. People in a depressive episode also experience feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, and decreased energy or fatigue. They often have a loss of interest in things they used to enjoy, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and physical pain. They may have changes in sleep and appetite. Suicidal thoughts, thoughts of death, or suicide attempts may occur. A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks.

Sometimes, people who have bipolar disorder do no experience the extremes of a true manic episode. Their periods of elevated mood may not be as intense or troublesome as a manic episode. This is called hypomania. Dysthymia is a milder form of a depressive episode.

Severe episodes of mania or depression can cause psychotic symptoms. Psychotic symptoms are hallucinations (hearing, seeing, smelling, or otherwise sensing the presence of things not actually there) and delusions (false, strongly held beliefs). Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder tend to reflect the extreme mood state at the time. Delusions such as believing they have special powers or wealth may occur during mania. Delusions of guilt or worthlessness, such as believing that one is ruined and penniless or has committed some terrible crime, may appear during depression. People with bipolar disorder who have psychotic symptoms are sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as having schizophrenia.

Next article: Symptoms Of Psychosis