Mania and hypomania are phases of bipolar disorder characterized by elevated “highs” in mood and behavior that are in stark contrast to the depressive “lows” of the emotional cycle.

Mania is a facet of type I bipolar disorder in which the mood state is abnormally heightened and accompanied by hyperactivity and a reduced need for sleep. By contrast, hypomania (often described as “mania-light”) is a type II bipolar disorder which neither has the range nor severity of symptoms that classic mania has.

If left untreated, bipolar mania can spin out the control and affect your ability to function on a daily basis. Recognizing the symptoms is the first step toward seeking the appropriate treatment and care.

Click here to see more of this article on Recognizing the 8 Signs of a Manic Episode.

**************************

I have had some severe manic phases during my lifetime. Racing thoughts, feelings of grandeur, hypersexuality (which causes the possibility of very unsafe sex, which caused me a lot of grief), out-of-control spending (spending thousands of dollars I didn’t have and causing having to file bankruptcy 2 times), etc. I also had to deal with psychosis during my mania.