Manic Episodes
Manic episodes are when you experience three or more of the symptoms listed below for most of the day for at least a week at a time. Manic episodes are severe and may cause problems in your relationships and an inability to function normally. When in the throes of a manic episode, you may:
- Feel elated, high, or ecstatic
- Have lots of energy and feeling restless or jumpy
- Feel agitated, edgy, or irritable
- Have trouble sleeping
- Be more active than usual
- Feel as if your brain is racing
- Talk loudly, fast, or more than usual
- Be agitated, irritable, or “touchy.”
- Overschedule or multitask to the extreme
- Engage in risky behavior
Manic episodes will usually last at least a week in those patients with bipolar I or bipolar II disorder. In cyclothymic bipolar disorder, the manic and depressive episodes last about half that time. Sometimes, hospitalization may be necessary during a manic episode to ensure safety.
Hypomanic Episodes
If you experience hypomanic episodes, they exhibit the same symptoms as a manic episode, but they are less severe. They do not cause as many problems as manic episodes and last for about four days.
Once your mood swings to a depressive episode, you may:
- Feel down, extremely sad, empty or hopeless
- Have deficient energy and feel tired all the time
- Decrease your activity levels and no longer enjoy things you used to
- Have trouble sleeping – either too much or too little
- Changes in appetite
- Feel worried and anxious
- Have trouble focusing, concentrating, and forgetting things
- Have frequent thoughts of death or suicide
A major depressive episode is defined as lasting for two weeks, and you have at least five of the above symptoms, including one of the first two.