'Hues of mania' Natsaha Simon
Mania involves excessively happy, elevated, or irritable mood and at least 3 or 4 of the following symptoms:
- Excessive confidence or inflated sense of importance (grandiosity)
- Not needing much sleep or sleeping much less
- More talkative than usual
- Being easily distracted
- Increases in goal directed activity (e.g. at work, socially or sexually) or restlessness and agitation
- Do lots of pleasurable activities with a high risk of negative consequences (e.g. buying sprees, gambling or sexual indiscretions).
- Racing thoughts
An manic episode occurs when a person has:
- Been manic for at least a week or needs hospitalization
- These symptoms disrupt their work, relationships or daily functioning
Psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations (when people perceive things that are not actually there), delusions (strong beliefs that are not based on reality) or disordered and confused thinking can occur as part of manic episodes.
For more about dealing with mania in someone you care about see:
