Knowing Manic Attacks

Many people have argued that they could do a better job in major roles such as president or judge, have had days of extreme irritability and confrontation, and have even gone on shopping sprees and engaged in foolish business ventures.  For most of us, these represent times in which we throw caution to the wind and then wake-up the next morning with serious regrets.  For others, these behaviors continue for weeks at a time. Worse yet, they are followed by long periods of depression and suicidal thoughts.  They are symptoms of the onset of a Manic Attack.  

Manic episodes are common among people who suffer from Bipolar disorder.  As with any disease, there are preventative measures that can be taken.  In order to be proactive, one must recognize that any combination of three or more of the following symptoms, are likely identifiers of a manic attack. These symptoms include a decreased desire or need for sleep, engaging in unusually excessive talking, presentation of inflated self-esteem, or exhibition and feelings of grandiosity, flightiness, increased attention to unimportant or irrelevant items, an increase in goal-directed activities in social, academic, work or sexual activities, and consuming oneself with excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences, such as unrestrained buying sprees, foolish business investments, and sexual indiscretions.

It’s important to remember that in order to be classified as a manic episode, the relating symptoms should be apparent for at least one week and severe enough to cause disruption in basic functioning.  Also important to remember when trying to identify whether or not you are experiencing the onset of a manic attack is that use or abuse of alcohol, medications, drugs, and other such substances can also trigger identical symptoms.