Manic behavior is a symptom of bipolar disorder, characterized by high energy levels, risk-taking behavior, and unusual behaviors. It can be treated with medication and psychotherapy, but can lead to severe depression if left untreated. Lithium is a common medication used to treat manic behavior, but antidepressants can sometimes trigger mania. Proper treatment can help patients lead productive lives.
Manic behavior, or mania, is a term used to describe the “up” part of manic depression, also called bipolar disorder. People in this state are usually unusually happy, even when it’s not appropriate. They often experience high energy levels and some may even require little or no sleep during this time. Mania is also characterized by patients displaying unusual behaviors, such as increased risk-taking, aggression, or violent mood swings. This is often followed by a period of severe depression.
Although manic behavior is generally associated with bipolar disorder, periods of mania may occur without being followed by a period of profound depression. Some patients with bipolar disorder may have more problems with manic episodes than with depression, with some patients rarely having a depressive episode. Medications are usually given to stabilize mood and calm patients. Some patients don’t like to give up manic behavior because they may feel happy or giddy during this time and unhappy at any other time.
Despite the often positive feelings patients may experience during a period of manic behavior, it is still a serious problem and should be treated as such. During these episodes, patients often engage in risky or promiscuous behavior, thus affecting their personal relationships and careers. Poor money management, gambling, and high-risk sexual behavior are common in patients with mania. They often consider themselves invincible. When something inevitably goes wrong due to irresponsible behavior, this can lead to a steep decline in depression.
The most common medicinal treatment for manic behavior is lithium, a drug that has been shown to be effective in ending one manic episode and preventing new ones from occurring. Treatment is usually most effective when combined with psychotherapy with a qualified mental health professional. When depression is also a problem, additional medications, such as an antidepressant, may be needed. This can create difficulties for some patients because many drugs used to treat depression can lead to manic behavior. Rarely, an antidepressant drug can lead to mania in someone who doesn’t have bipolar disorder.
Manic depression has no cure, but it can be controlled with proper treatment. Many patients are able to lead productive lives once they are diagnosed and treated. In some severe cases, patients may need to be hospitalized and undergo more extreme evaluations and treatment. This is becoming less common as researchers learn more about bipolar disorder and effective ways to treat it.
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