What is Hypomania and Mania in Bipolar Disorder?

Mania (mania) and hypomania (hypomania) are periods in which a person feels elated, very active and energetic. Hypomania is a milder form of mania than Mania.

Mania and hypomania are possible symptoms for a patient with bipolar disorder. However, they can also occur in people who do not have bipolar disorder.
1.1. What is euphoria?
The manic phase is the period when the person feels full of energy to be able to do things. It is a mental disorder that leaves the person uncharacteristically full of energy, both physically and mentally. Manic episodes can be so severe that they require hospitalization.
Manic episodes often occur in people with bipolar I disorder. In many cases of bipolar I disorder, manic episodes alternate with depressive episodes. However, for people with bipolar disorder, they do not always experience depressive episodes.
1.2. What is hypomania?
Hypomania or hypomania is a milder form of euphoria. If the patient is experiencing a hypomanic episode, their energy levels will rise higher than normal, but not as excessively as in a manic state. However, the symptoms of hypomania may be enough to make others notice.
Hypomania can cause problems in a person's life, but is usually not severe enough to cause mania to occur. If hypomanic is diagnosed, you probably won't need to be hospitalized for treatment. People with bipolar II disorder may experience alternating mania with depression.

The main difference between mania and hypomania is the intensity of the symptoms. The symptoms of mania are much more intense than those of hypomania.
2.1. Symptoms of mania and hypomania
Although they vary in intensity, most of the symptoms of mania and hypomania are the same. The main symptoms include:
Feelings of euphoria, full of energy; Restlessness or inability to sit still; Sleeping little or not feeling drowsy; Confidence is always high, accompanied by a large ego; Talkative; Always come up with new ideas or plans even though they are not really accurate; Easily distracted; Tried to get many quests but couldn't complete them; Reduce inhibition; Increase sex drive; Engaging in high-risk behaviors, such as impulsive sex, gambling with life savings, or spending more aggressively than usual. During a manic or hypomanic episode, the person may not notice these changes in themselves. If those around them realize and let them know that they are acting out of the ordinary, they may deny it altogether.
2.2. More severe manic symptoms
Unlike hypomanic episodes, manic episodes can lead to serious consequences. When the manic episode subsides, the person may be left with feelings of regret or depression for what they did in the over-excited state. With hypomania, a person may also experience certain psychological disturbances after the manic episode has passed. Psychotic symptoms may include: perceptual disturbances (visual or auditory hallucinations), delusions or even paranoia that may lead to suicidal thoughts.

Mania and hypomania are symptoms of bipolar disorder. However, they can also appear in people who:
Lack of sleep ; Side effects of medications; Use of alcohol; Use narcotic . The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown. However, scientists found that genetic factors may play a role in the occurrence of the disease. People who have a close relative with a history of bipolar disorder are at higher risk than others.
Bipolar disorder can also be related to a chemical imbalance in the brain. Patients are more likely to develop mania or hypomania if they have had previous neuropsychiatric problems. They may also be at increased risk if they have bipolar disorder and do not take medications as prescribed by their doctor.

During the appointment, the doctor will likely review the patient's medical history and order a physical exam. It is important that patients provide their physician with all information about the prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) and dietary supplements they take, as well as any unusual medications. legal ones they may have ever used.
Diagnosing mania and hypomania can be more complicated than diagnosing bipolar disorder. For example, a person may not be aware of some symptoms or how long they have had them. Also, if they are depressed but the doctor is unaware of the manic or hypomanic behavior, they may misdiagnose the patient as having depression instead of bipolar disorder. In addition, other health conditions can also cause mania and hypomania. Plus, an overactive thyroid can cause mania- or hypomanic-like symptoms.
Diagnosis of mania: In most cases, symptoms must last for at least a week for a doctor to diagnose mania. However, if a patient's symptoms are so severe that they require hospitalization, a doctor may be able to make a diagnosis even if symptoms persist for a shorter time. Diagnosis of hypomania: A person must have had at least three of the symptoms listed above in the “Symptoms” section for at least four days for a doctor to diagnose hypomanic disorder.

To treat mania and hypomania, a doctor may prescribe a combination of psychotherapy along with medication.
Medications for mania and hypomania may include mood stabilizers and antipsychotics. Your doctor may need to try many different medications before finding the right combination of drugs to get the most out of your treatment. It is important for the patient to take the medicine exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Even if patients experience side effects from their medication, symptoms of mania and hypomania can be dangerous if they stop taking the medication without their doctor's approval. If you have any problems with side effects, talk to your doctor to find out how.
For anorexia nervosa, it is usually curable without medication. Healthy living habits can be helpful in supporting the treatment of bipolar disorder. Maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly every day and go to bed at the same time every night. Not getting enough sleep can also cause euphoria. The person may also be asked to avoid too much caffeine.
The following tips can help you deal with mania and hypomania:
Find out all you can about your own health: Mania and hypomania can can be managed. Learn to recognize risk factors for bipolar disorder so you can have a plan to avoid them. Mood journaling: By charting your moods, you can spot the early warning signs of a mood disorder. Then, with the help of your doctor, you can also prevent the condition from getting worse. For example, if you know how to spot the early warning signs of a manic episode, you can alert your doctor to help you manage it. Continued treatment: If you have bipolar disorder, treatment is key. It may even be a good idea if your family is involved in therapy. Mania and hypomania, as well as bipolar disorder, cannot be completely treated. However, patients can absolutely take measures to reduce the effects of this condition. Maintain treatment regimens as directed by doctors, take medications on time as prescribed and stay in touch with doctors or psychologists, along with family support, symptoms of Disease can be controlled and quality of life will be improved.
To protect their own health, therefore, patients need to go to a reputable hospital to conduct examination and treatment as soon as there are signs of bipolar disorder. Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the leading prestigious hospitals in the country, trusted by a large number of patients for medical examination and treatment. Not only the physical system, modern equipment: 6 ultrasound rooms, 4 DR X-ray rooms (1 full-axis machine, 1 light machine, 1 general machine and 1 mammography machine) , 2 DR portable X-ray machines, 2 multi-row CT scanner rooms (1 128 rows and 1 16 arrays), 2 Magnetic resonance imaging rooms (1 3 Tesla and 1 1.5 Tesla), 1 room for 2 levels of interventional angiography and 1 room to measure bone mineral density.... Vinmec is also the place to gather a team of experienced doctors and nurses who will greatly assist in diagnosis and detection. early signs of abnormality in the patient's body. In particular, with a space designed according to 5-star hotel standards, Vinmec ensures to bring the patient the most comfort, friendliness and peace of mind.

Reference sources: webmd.com, healthline.com