Mania and hypomania are periods where a person feels elated, very agile, and full of energy. Hypomania is a milder grade of mania.

Mania and hypomania both involve periods when the individual feels excited or experiences an energized mood. They differ in how severe these mood changes are:

  • Mania is a severe episode that may last for a week or more. A person may feel uncontrollably elated and very high in energy. These symptoms interfere with daily life, and in severe cases, a person may demand to go to the infirmary.
  • Hypomania is an episode that lasts for a few days. People may feel very good and office well. Family unit or friends may observe mood or activity changes, while the person with the hypomania may not.

Mania and hypomania are most oftentimes related to bipolar disorder. They tin can as well occur as role of other mood disorders, such as schizoaffective disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder where a person experiences changes in their mood, energy, activity levels, and thought patterns.

People who have bipolar I disorder experience mania, while people with bipolar II disorder will feel hypomania.

In this article, we look at the differences between mania and hypomania, including their symptoms, treatments, and prevention.

Woman out at night with possible mania or hypomania Share on Pinterest
Symptoms of mania can include uncontrollable excitement, high free energy levels, feeling overconfident, and a lack of social inhibitions.

Mania goes beyond normal mood and energy changes. The symptoms of mania are and then intense that they can affect a person's relationships, task, or well-being.

Having mania does not e'er mean that the person feels happy. While mania can cause a feeling of euphoria, information technology tin also cause extreme irritability.

Symptoms of mania tin can include:

  • uncontrollable excitement
  • feeling very happy or elated
  • feeling irritable or very agitated
  • high energy levels that the person finds hard to control
  • high activity levels, such as excessive running, fidgeting, or moving around
  • difficulty paying attention or focusing
  • unrealistic and very high self-esteem, feeling overconfident
  • a lack of social inhibitions
  • racing thoughts
  • less demand for sleep or not sleeping at all
  • taking risks or reckless activities
  • thoughts of suicide or self-harm

People can experience psychotic symptoms during an episode of mania. These may include:

  • hallucinations, or seeing or hearing things that are not there
  • grandiose delusions, or believing that they are invincible, very powerful, or famous

The National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) say that manic episodes in bipolar disorder final for at least 7 days, or for whatsoever duration if the symptoms are so severe that the person needs hospital care. Betwixt episodes, the individual may experience normal or have mild, lingering symptoms.

Hypomania is a milder course of mania. People who have bipolar two disorder have hypomania. If a total manic episode occurs, a diagnosis of bipolar 1 is usually more advisable.

Symptoms of hypomania tin can include:

  • having a higher, happier mood than usual
  • higher irritability or rude behavior
  • feeling overconfident
  • higher activity or free energy levels than usual without a clear crusade
  • a powerful feeling of physical and mental wellbeing
  • existence much more social and talkative than usual
  • having a stronger desire for sex than usual
  • feeling the demand to sleep less than usual

Hypomania and mania share many symptoms. The distinguishing factor is the severity of these symptoms.

Both mania and hypomania involve mood and beliefs changes across normal, everyday changes.

Mania is so severe that a person cannot carry on with their usual activities. In more farthermost cases, they may need immediate hospital intendance.

A person with hypomania may be able to comport on as usual. Family unit and friends may notice that the individual is acting differently even if the person does not realize it is happening. Even so, they should still seek medical help for their status to prevent the symptoms worsening.

Although hypomania is not as severe equally mania, information technology tin can likewise be dangerous and have negative effects on a person's overall well-beingness.

I study found that people were more likely to appoint in risky beliefs during hypomanic episodes. This included spending big amounts of money, using alcohol or drugs excessively, dangerous driving, or engaging in risky, sexual behavior.

People experiencing mania but not hypomania may also have delusions, hallucinations, or manic stupor.

If a person does non receive effective treatment for hypomania, they may exist at risk of it developing into mania, although this is not e'er the case.

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Staying out late and partying can exist a trigger for mania and hypomania.

The symptoms of both mania and hypomania involve feeling very happy, on an emotional high, and feeling more energetic and creative.

In some cases, an episode of mania or hypomania can be mixed with one of depression. Specialists phone call this a mixed features episode.

When this mix happens, a person may feel energized while also feeling depressed, hopeless, or empty.

Sure life events or activities can cause an episode of mania or hypomania. These episodes are called triggers.

A pocket-sized-calibration study on a group of young people who had bipolar disorder found that triggers for mania and hypomania included:

  • falling in dearest
  • using recreational drugs, particularly stimulant drugs
  • starting a new creative project
  • staying out late or partying
  • going on vacation
  • listening to loud music

Another study found the following factors could too trigger mania:

  • stress
  • lack of slumber
  • use of antidepressant medicines

If a person notices mood changes that seem to be stronger than normal, they should encounter a healthcare professional. Bipolar disorder can be hard to diagnose, but a comprehensive health history, concrete examination, and discussion of moods and symptoms can help.

If a friend or family fellow member appears to accept symptoms of mania or hypomania, those closest to them may want to talk to them about seeing a doctor and getting treatment.

At that place is no cure for mania or hypomania, just people can manage their symptoms with medication and talking therapies. These treatments can aid forbid episodes of mania and hypomania, every bit well as episodes of depression.

A person must have their medications equally prescribed by a doctor, which is continuous, typically, to prevent episodes of mania or depression.

Medications that tin assistance people manage bipolar disorder include:

  • mood stabilizers, such as lithium and antiseizure medicines
  • second generation or atypical antipsychotics, which treat mania and hypomania
  • antidepressants, which may help treat the depressive episodes of bipolar disorder in some cases
  • slumber medications may be useful for a limited duration for people who accept trouble sleeping

Many people benefit from a combination of medication and talk therapy. Also known as psychotherapy, talk therapy tin provide support, guidance, and education for people with bipolar disorder.

People who are on medication for mania or hypomania should non terminate taking this medication without talking with their physician. Suddenly stopping medication tin can pb to more than severe symptoms if mania comes back. A person can also experience dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Although lifestyle changes solitary cannot treat mania and hypomania, people can try the following to aid manage their symptoms and possibly avoid triggers:

  • Eat a healthful diet and avoid skipping meals.
  • Practise adept slumber hygiene. Get to bed and wake up at the same time every 24-hour interval if possible. Avoid staying out late and keep a consequent sleep schedule each day.
  • Continue a journal of mood changes or use a mood chart. These tin help a person spot mania or hypomania coming on, then they can work with their therapist to care for it.
  • Nourish appointments and have medicines as a medico has prescribed.
  • Get assistance right abroad for thoughts of self-damage or suicide.

A person cannot preclude bipolar disorder, but they can accept steps to avert or manage its symptoms with proper medical care.

Mania and hypomania are symptoms of mood disorders, nearly notably bipolar disorder. People with bipolar 1 disorder may feel mania, while people with bipolar 2 disorder are more likely to experience hypomania.

Hypomania is a milder version of mania. The two conditions have similar symptoms, though these are more astringent and disruptive during episode of mania than hypomania.

People tin manage episodes of mania or hypomania with the guidance of a doc or other healthcare professional person.