Re: Gerry has posted 253 times in the past two days!
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Manic Phase
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Date: February 16, 2016 11:37PM
Phases of Bipolar Disorder
Mania
During this phase, people have an elevated mood, or “high,” which includes feelings of increased self-esteem and uniqueness. They often overestimate how much they can do and the quality of their ideas. Judgment becomes impaired and patients feel powerful over painful consequences. They feel “bulletproof” and have little regret or concern for their actions. They may have many ideas and lots of energy to carry them out.
The abundance of thoughts may be difficult to follow; such thoughts are called racing thoughts or pressured speech. People in manic episode may feel such an extreme pressure to keep talking that others do not have the opportunity to interrupt them. Manic patients’ minds are working so fast that they come up with rhymes or sing-song phrases, burst out in song or start dancing spontaneously. Their daily behavior can become disorganized or even dangerous to the point that they require hospitalization.
Manic episodes can also have psychotic symptoms present. Psychosis is a state in which a person is unable to tell the difference from reality and unreality. Psychosis symptoms include hallucinations, false beliefs about having special powers or identity (such as superhuman strength or X-ray vision). Psychotic symptoms indicate a severe mood episode that requires immediate medical attention and treatment.
People experiencing mania might begin several activities at once, never doubting that they can complete all of them. They may have so much energy that they operate on two or three hours of sleep each day. All of this energy can exhaust the family, friends and co-workers of a person with bipolar disorder.